[FEATURE] Add font size adjustment for Code tab in Claude Desktop

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1. https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/40469

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🤖 Generated with Claude Code

I love the new Claude Code on Desktop but the font size is a real issue, it needs to be adjustable. I'm on macOS and there isn't any way to do so.

One more vote for adjusting font size in Claude Desktop App, the recent major change has made the font size very small in the Mac OS Desktop App, makes it hard to read.

I updated to Claude Code desktop version 1.2773.0, and immediately felt the new colour theme and font size for claude code tab is now worse off.

• The old claude code tab theme and the colour theme of the current "Chat" tab is much more enjoyable for me personally, and I think because I am colour blind (protanopia) it is actually easier on my eyes.
• The font size is just way too small. I think the font size was fine the way it was before.

Otherwise, the other changes made were quite phenomenal. I see that the spirit of the changes was to make the UI much more compact because of how feature rich the client is becoming.

+1 please allow for font adjustment, it's quite small and off

I am absolutely astounded at the blatant lack of consideration for those of us with vision issues. The ability to adjust font size within in an app is a TRIVIAL feature, and Code is practically unusable to me right now. This needs to be a priority consideration. And given how quickly you push updates, it's something you should be able to put out quickly.

Deeply disappointed in Anthropic's handling of accessibility right now. This is likely an ADA violation.

PLEASE?

I am on Claude 1.3109.0 (35cbf6) and don't see any font size option under Settings -> General -> Appearance any more. But Burger Menu > View has "Zoom In" (or Ctrl + +) and "Zoom Out" (or Ctrl + -) which increases/decreases the font size in all tabs (Chat, Cowork, Code).

That would mean that a big part of the original description of this issue is now outdated, correct @kimyongrock?

Unfortunately the new options don't help. The first "Zoom In" or Ctrl++ already makes the font in Code too big for my taste - and "Chat", which is fine for me by default, becomes gigantic and pretty much unusable. So for me the challenge is a) that Chat and Code have different default font sizes, and that b) "Zoom In" increases the font size in too big a step for all tabs at the same time.

The general idea of having a different font-size for "Code" I even understand, there is a lot more information to be presented when coding often, especially with the side panel. So maybe the solution here is to let one configure that between (default) ~90%, 95% and 100% (made up numbers, no idea if the default really is 90% of the Chat size). And then of course to make "Zoom In" more granular.

Here is a workaround, courtesy of Claude of course:

Windows MSIX workaround: scale the whole app until the Code tab is readable

If the app does not let us change the font size of the "Code" tab, we increase the size of the whole app. Thankfully it is built with Electron, which supports a parameter to force a different than normal device scale factor. This way, we can scale the whole app to a size that balances the size of Chat vs. Code to something that should work for now.

Details

Claude Desktop on Windows installs as MSIX, which makes passing command-line flags awkward, but it's doable. This launches Claude with Chromium's --force-device-scale-factor so the Code tab becomes usable. The whole UI scales together, so Chat gets bigger too - pick a value that's a reasonable compromise.

Key gotcha: --force-device-scale-factor replaces Windows display scaling rather than stacking on top of it. Multiply: flag = (Windows scale) × (desired zoom). For 150% Windows + 8% bump → 1.5 × 1.08 = 1.62. Adjust in increments of 0.05 to avoid odd layout glitches.

Tested on: Windows 11, Claude Desktop 1.3109.0.0, 150% display scale, flag value 1.62.

All files live in %USERPROFILE% (i.e. C:\Users\<you>\).

Step 1: Launcher script

Save as %USERPROFILE%\Claude-scaled.ps1:

$p = Get-AppxPackage Claude*
Start-Process "$($p.InstallLocation)\app\claude.exe" -ArgumentList "--force-device-scale-factor=1.62"

Uses Get-AppxPackage so it survives Claude updates (the MSIX folder name contains the version number).

Step 2: Extract an app icon

The exe's embedded icon is greyscale - the colored logo comes from MSIX tile assets. Save the following as %USERPROFILE%\Extract-ClaudeIcon.ps1:

$p = Get-AppxPackage Claude*
$src  = "$($p.InstallLocation)\assets\Square44x44Logo.scale-200.png"
$dest = "$env:USERPROFILE\claude.ico"

Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Drawing
$bmp = [System.Drawing.Image]::FromFile($src)

$sizes = 16, 24, 32, 48, 64, 88
$ms = New-Object System.IO.MemoryStream
$bw = New-Object System.IO.BinaryWriter $ms
$bw.Write([uint16]0); $bw.Write([uint16]1); $bw.Write([uint16]$sizes.Count)
$imgData = @()
$offset = 6 + 16 * $sizes.Count

foreach ($s in $sizes) {
    $resized = New-Object System.Drawing.Bitmap $s, $s
    $g = [System.Drawing.Graphics]::FromImage($resized)
    $g.InterpolationMode = 'HighQualityBicubic'
    $g.PixelOffsetMode = 'HighQuality'
    $g.SmoothingMode = 'HighQuality'
    $g.DrawImage($bmp, 0, 0, $s, $s)
    $g.Dispose()

    $tmp = New-Object System.IO.MemoryStream
    $resized.Save($tmp, [System.Drawing.Imaging.ImageFormat]::Png)
    $bytes = $tmp.ToArray()
    $resized.Dispose(); $tmp.Dispose()

    $bw.Write([byte]($s % 256)); $bw.Write([byte]($s % 256))
    $bw.Write([byte]0); $bw.Write([byte]0)
    $bw.Write([uint16]1); $bw.Write([uint16]32)
    $bw.Write([uint32]$bytes.Length); $bw.Write([uint32]$offset)
    $offset += $bytes.Length
    $imgData += ,$bytes
}
foreach ($b in $imgData) { $bw.Write($b) }
[System.IO.File]::WriteAllBytes($dest, $ms.ToArray())
$bmp.Dispose(); $bw.Close()
"Wrote $dest"

Run it once:

cd $env:USERPROFILE
.\Extract-ClaudeIcon.ps1

Output: %USERPROFILE%\claude.ico.

(Not the exact current app icon, but good enough for me)

Step 3: Create the shortcut

Right-click in %USERPROFILE% in File Explorer > New > Shortcut. Target:

powershell.exe -NoProfile -WindowStyle Hidden -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "C:\Users\<YOU>\Claude-scaled.ps1"

Name it Claude. Right-click the new Claude.lnk > Properties:

• Run: Minimized (hides the PowerShell flash)
• Change Icon... → %USERPROFILE%\claude.ico

The shortcut should now be at %USERPROFILE%\Claude.lnk.

Step 4: Fix the double-taskbar-icon problem

Without this, pinning gets you two icons: one for the PowerShell launcher, another for the running Claude window. Stamp the shortcut with Claude's AUMID so Windows groups them.

Save as %USERPROFILE%\Set-ShortcutAUMID.ps1:

param(
    [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)][string]$LnkPath,
    [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)][string]$AUMID
)
$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'

$code = @'
using System;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;

public static class LnkAumid
{
    [ComImport, Guid("00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046")]
    internal class CShellLink { }

    [ComImport, Guid("0000010B-0000-0000-C000-000000000046"),
     InterfaceType(ComInterfaceType.InterfaceIsIUnknown)]
    internal interface IPersistFile {
        void GetClassID(out Guid id);
        [PreserveSig] int IsDirty();
        void Load([MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] string f, uint m);
        void Save([MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] string f, [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)] bool r);
        void SaveCompleted([MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] string f);
        void GetCurFile([MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] out string f);
    }

    [ComImport, Guid("886d8eeb-8cf2-4446-8d02-cdba1dbdcf99"),
     InterfaceType(ComInterfaceType.InterfaceIsIUnknown)]
    internal interface IPropertyStore {
        void GetCount(out uint c);
        void GetAt(uint i, out PROPERTYKEY k);
        void GetValue(ref PROPERTYKEY k, [Out] PROPVARIANT v);
        void SetValue(ref PROPERTYKEY k, [In] PROPVARIANT v);
        void Commit();
    }

    [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential, Pack = 4)]
    internal struct PROPERTYKEY { public Guid fmtid; public uint pid; }

    [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
    internal class PROPVARIANT {
        public ushort vt; public ushort r1; public ushort r2; public ushort r3;
        public IntPtr p; public int p2;
    }

    [DllImport("ole32.dll")]
    internal static extern int PropVariantClear(PROPVARIANT v);

    public static void Apply(string path, string aumid) {
        var link = new CShellLink();
        ((IPersistFile)link).Load(path, 2);  // STGM_READWRITE

        var key = new PROPERTYKEY {
            fmtid = new Guid("9F4C2855-9F79-4B39-A8D0-E1D42DE1D5F3"),
            pid = 5
        };
        var pv = new PROPVARIANT { vt = 31, p = Marshal.StringToCoTaskMemUni(aumid) };

        var store = (IPropertyStore)link;
        store.SetValue(ref key, pv);
        store.Commit();
        PropVariantClear(pv);

        ((IPersistFile)link).Save(path, true);
        Marshal.FinalReleaseComObject(store);
        Marshal.FinalReleaseComObject(link);
    }
}
'@

if (-not ('LnkAumid' -as [type])) { Add-Type -TypeDefinition $code -Language CSharp }
[LnkAumid]::Apply((Resolve-Path $LnkPath).Path, $AUMID)
"AUMID set on $LnkPath"

Run it against your shortcut:

cd $env:USERPROFILE
.\Set-ShortcutAUMID.ps1 -LnkPath "$env:USERPROFILE\Claude.lnk" `
                        -AUMID "Claude_pzs8sxrjxfjjc!Claude"

Verify the AUMID matches your install:

Get-StartApps | Where-Object Name -like "Claude*"

The AppID column should be identical to what you passed in.

Step 5: Pin it to the taskbar

Windows 11's default right-click menu on a .lnk only shows "Pin to Start". Either use Show more options from the context menu (or Shift+right-click), or drag-and-drop %USERPROFILE%\Claude.lnk onto the taskbar.

Launch from your pinned shortcut instead of the Start menu entry, otherwise Claude opens at raw Windows scale.

Tadaaa.

I don't have any vision issues and claude code is absolute hell for me to read right now. I hope they update it soon so that we can change the settings.

I have my Windows UI scaled up already, the Chat part of the Windows Desktop app is fine, the Code part is too small.

Pressing Ctrl-+ works too much, I think you could quick fix this by making the ctrl-+ steps 30% or 50% of the current increment, then I could press once or twice to get closer to what I want (and without you coding a whole font choice).

While I think this should be configurable, the new font size is growing on me. It’s better in the laptop than in the larger screen, perhaps due to distance.

We definitely need the ability to change text size, but also an option to customize colors. It would be great to have proper color themes for the UI as well as for text colors. For example, I just can’t get used to the blue.
Codex handles this really well, and that kind of flexibility would make a big difference.
<img width="1436" height="1512" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/40abd196-4577-4617-991a-2051f524c61f" />

Another upvote for this. The size is an issue since I need to either squint or get really close to the monitor to see it (with my glasses!). :/

Another upvote for this.
FONT SIZE (UI, CODE, CHAT), AND CHANGE FONT!

The recent update is great, but the Code tab font size is still a problem for me.

⌘ +/- isn't a real fix — it scales all tabs together, and Chat is already fine at default size. Making Code readable that way just makes Chat too big.

What's needed is independent font size control for the Code tab. A dedicated setting under Appearance, or tab-scoped zoom, would solve it. Codex already handles this well — would love to see it here too.

Same problem here... is critical to me find a solution for a better visualization.

In adittion, I can not understand the decision of having different font sizes for each tabs.

ok so some random person (that I don't know at all) wrote a third party patcher for this and it actually works. been using it for a while now because I can finally f* read Claude Desktop. I don't even wear glasses, I have like 20/20 vision, and the font is still too small on my 2K monitor. that's wild.

DivineLain/lain-claude-patcher

!Lain Claude Patcher demo

what it does: patches a local copy of Claude Desktop, gives you font size sliders, line height sliders, full theming, code block control. doesn't touch your real install, doesn't touch your account. you can revert any time.

looks like the author is looking for contributors to help polish it (Rust / Electron / CSS people especially), so if that's your thing go say hi over there. until Anthropic actually ships a font size slider this is what's keeping my eyes alive.

EDIT for the legal goblins under the bed: I have no relation to Anthropic. I have no relation to the code. I have no relation to the author. I have no relation to the Chinese Communist Party. I have no relation to DeepSeek. I have no relation to Kimi. I have no relation to Qwen, GLM, Yi, or any other model whose name sounds like a Scrabble tile. I have no relation to OpenAI, Meta, Google, xAI, Mistral, or that one guy who keeps tweeting about AGI from a bathtub. I have no relation to the Illuminati, the Freemasons, the Bilderberg group, or my landlord. I have no relation to Sam Altman's eyebrows. I am not a sleeper agent. I have not been radicalized by a font. I just want to read the chat. please.

On my 6K screen the font is killing my eyes. Please:)

In an earlier version of the Claude desktop app there was a font-size control (top-right) that I used regularly to make the text larger and comfortable to read. A recent update removed it. The Settings → Appearance "Chat font" option doesn't apply to the Code tab, so in the Code view I now have no way to enlarge just the text — the only lever is ⌘+/⌘-, which zooms the entire UI (buttons, padding, sidebar included) and isn't usable for this. Please bring back a dedicated text-size setting that also works in the Code tab. This matters for readability/accessibility. 🙏

+1 — this is a real accessibility regression for me too. The old top-right font-size control was genuinely useful; please consider restoring a text-only size option for the Code tab. Whole-UI zoom isn't a substitute.

Update / correction to my comment above: I did find a Transcript text size setting (Small / Medium / Large) under Settings → Claude Code → Appearance — so the transcript text can be enlarged after all (it was relocated there, not removed).

However, the remaining gap is real: that setting only affects the conversation transcript. The composer / message input field text stays tiny and isn't covered by any setting — the only way to enlarge it is whole-app zoom (⌘ =), which scales the entire UI. A dedicated text-size option for the input field (or having "Transcript text size" also apply to the composer) would close this.

I want the OpenDyslexic option in Claude Code specifically

I, too, need the ability to curate Claude Code visually so that my attention is not wondering from the second word in a response.
I have heavily tweaked the responses but have now hit a roadblock with the font and font size.