Magnify and examine objects around you with iPad

In the Magnifier app , you can use your iPad as a magnifying glass to zoom in on objects near you. You can also use your iPad to filter colors, add contrast, increase focus, and freeze frames. On supported models, you can interpret your environment with Detection Mode.

The Magnifier screen showing a close-up of a flower.

Turn on Magnifier

Open the Magnifier app in any of the following ways:

Tap on your iPad. (If you don’t see the Magnifier app icon on the Home Screen, go to App Library, then look in the Utilities folder.)
Set up and use Accessibility Shortcut.
Open Control Center, then tap .
(If you don’t see , add it to Control Center—go to Settings > Control Center, then tap next to Magnifier.)

You can also set up your iPad to turn on Magnifier by triple-clicking a button (see Quickly open features with Accessibility Shortcut on iPad).

Adjust the image

Open the Magnifier app on your iPad.
To adjust the zoom, drag the slider left or right.
Use any of the following controls:
- Adjust the brightness: Tap .
- Adjust the contrast: Tap .
- Apply color filters: Tap . (See Choose your favorite color filters.)
- Add more light: Tap to turn on the flashlight (available on iPad models with True Tone Flash).
- Lock the focus: Tap .
- Switch to a different camera: Tap to switch to the front or rear camera.
Swipe left to reveal more controls. If you don’t see the controls you want, you can add more controls.

You can save your preferred controls for recurring tasks and situations—like reading a menu at a restaurant, for example. Tap , then tap Save New Activity. To edit your saved activities, tap , tap Settings, tap Activities, then tap the name of the activity you want to edit.

Freeze the frame

You can freeze one or more frames and review them.

Note: Freeze frames aren’t saved to Photos.

Open the Magnifier app on your iPad.
Tap .
To freeze more frames, tap , reposition the camera, then tap .
To review the freeze frames, tap View, then tap the frames you want to see.
To return to the live lens, tap or Done.

Use Detection Mode

On supported models, you can use the Magnifier app to detect people or doors, to get image descriptions of your surroundings, and to read text or interactive labels around you.

Open the Magnifier app on your iPad.
Tap to access Detection Mode.
Do any of the following:
- Detect people: Tap . See Detect people around you using Magnifier on iPad.
- Detect doors: Tap . See Detect doors around you using Magnifier on iPad.
- Describe images: Tap . See Receive image descriptions of your surroundings in Magnifier on iPad.
- Detect text: Tap . See Read all text captured on the Magnifier screen.
- Point at labels: Tap . See Point to speak interactive labels.

Important: Detection Mode should not be relied on in high-risk or emergency situations, in circumstances where you may be harmed or injured, or for navigation.

Helpful?

iPad User Guide

Magnify and examine objects around you with iPad

Turn on Magnifier

Adjust the image

Freeze the frame

Use Detection Mode