The quickest and most direct way to exit Windows Magnifier is by using a simple keyboard shortcut.
Exiting Magnifier with a Keyboard Shortcut
To immediately close Windows Magnifier, press the Windows logo key + Esc on your keyboard. This action will turn off the Magnifier feature and return your screen to its standard zoom level.
Other Ways to Close Windows Magnifier
While the keyboard shortcut is the fastest method, there are a couple of other ways you can exit or disable the Magnifier tool:
1. Using the Magnifier Toolbar
When Magnifier is active, a small, transparent toolbar usually appears on your screen (or can be found by hovering over its icon in the taskbar).
- Locate the Magnifier toolbar: This toolbar typically shows controls for zooming in, zooming out, and settings.
- Click the Close button: Look for an "X" icon or a "Close" button on the toolbar. Clicking this will exit Magnifier.
2. Through Windows Settings
You can also turn off Magnifier via the Ease of Access settings in Windows.
- Open Windows Settings: Press Windows logo key + I or right-click the Start button and select "Settings."
- Navigate to Accessibility (or Ease of Access): In the Settings window, click on "Accessibility" (on Windows 11) or "Ease of Access" (on Windows 10).
- Select Magnifier: From the left-hand menu, choose "Magnifier."
- Toggle Magnifier off: You will see a toggle switch labeled "Turn on Magnifier" or "Magnifier." Click this toggle to turn it off.
Handy Magnifier Keyboard Shortcuts
Knowing a few shortcuts can make managing Magnifier much easier:
| Action | Keyboard Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Exit Magnifier | Windows logo key + Esc | Instantly closes Magnifier. |
| Open Magnifier | Windows logo key + Plus sign (+) | Turns on Magnifier and zooms in to the default level. |
| Zoom In | Windows logo key + Plus sign (+) | Increases the zoom level. |
| Zoom Out | Windows logo key + Minus sign (-) | Decreases the zoom level. |
| Switch Views | Ctrl + Alt + M | Toggles between Full screen, Lens, and Docked views. |
| Invert Colors | Ctrl + Alt + I | Toggles between normal and inverted screen colors. |
For more detailed information on Windows Magnifier and its features, you can refer to the official Microsoft Support page on Magnifier.
