ZoomText
ZoomText
Overview
ZoomText is a Windows based screen magnification and screen reading tool designed for users with low vision. It enhances visibility through customizable zoom, color settings, pointer enhancements, and built in speech tools. ZoomText offers magnification up to 60 times the original size and provides a range of visual enhancements. The Reader version includes screen reading functions, document reading, typing echo, and audio output to support users with visual impairments.
Video
Magnifier
Zoom Level -sets the zoom level from 1x to 60x and allows you to instantly switch between the Zoom view and 1x view.
Window - Selects the primary zoom window type for the magnified view and allows you to enable additional productivity views. The types of zoom windows that are available depend on whether you are running your system with one monitor or with multiple monitors that are set to "Extend these displays". You can configure settings to customize the behavior of the zoom windows.
Color - Toggles the color enhancement on and off and selects the color enhancement scheme. Color enhancements improve screen clarity for easier viewing and reduced eyestrain. You can choose from a variety of preset color schemes or configure settings to create your own custom scheme.
Pointer - Toggles the pointer enhancement on and off and selects the pointer enhancement scheme. Pointer enhancements make it easy to see and follow the mouse pointer. You can choose from a variety of preset schemes or configure settings to create your own custom scheme.
Cursor - Toggles the cursor enhancement on and off and selects the cursor enhancement scheme. Cursor enhancements make it easy to see and follow the text cursor. You can choose from a variety of preset schemes or configure settings to create your own custom scheme.
Focus - Toggles the focus enhancement on and off and selects the focus enhancement scheme. Focus enhancements make it easy to see and follow the control focus when you tab an arrow key through menus, dialogs and other application controls. You can choose from a variety of preset schemes or configure settings to create your own custom scheme.
Navigation - Opens the Navigation settings dialog where you can choose the controls and events that Zoom Text will track and the manner in which tracked items are scrolled into the magnified view.
Reader
Voice - Toggles the voice on and off for the echo features.You can configure the ZoomText voice and adjust how acronyms, numbers, punctuations and other text patterns are spoken.
Rate - Controls how fast ZoomText speaks.
Keyboard - Selects the keyboard echo mode. Keyboard echo provides immediate feedback of the keys and words that you type. You can configure settings to specify which keys are echoed when you type on the keyboard.
Mouse - Selects the mouse echo mode. Mouse echo automatically reads text beneath the pointer. You can configure settings to specify how text beneath the mouse pointer is echoed.
Verbosity- Selects a verbosity level. Verbosity allows you to adjust the amount of information spoken when a program item receives focus. You can configure settings to customize the three verbosity levels.
AppReader -Launches the AppReader and allows you to choose the reading mode, including App View, Text View and the Speaklt Tool. You can configure settings to customize the appearance and behavior of the reading modes.
Zones - Allows you to create, edit and navigate reading zones. Reading zones let you instantly see and hear information at selected locations in an application window. You can configure settings to customize the appearance and behavior of each reading zone.
Tools
Finder - Launches the Finder, which allows you to quickly find information and navigate documents and web pages and email. Using the Finder toolbar and list view, you can search for words and phrases and skim through all instances or only those that exist in a specific element type, such as headings, links and form controls
Camera - Launches the Camera feature, which allows you to use a webcam or document camera to magnify printed items and other objects right on your computer screen-including bills, magazines, photographs, medicine labels, craft items and more.
Background Reader - Launches the Background Reader which allows you to copy text to the Windows Clipboard and then listen to it while you work in the same or a different application.
Recorder - Launches the Recorder, which allows you to convert text that you have copied to the Windows Clipboard into an audio file that you can immediately listen to on your computer or moved onto a mobile device for listening to while you are on the go.
Voice Assistant - Toggle Voice Assistant feature on and off.
Additional features available in Fusion
OCR - Launches the OCR feature, which allows you to convert a printed document into an electronic document that can be viewed and read using Fusion's magnification and reading features.
Picture Smart - Launches the Picture Smart feature, which allows you to describe a picture into a document that can be viewed and read using Fusion's magnification and reading features.
iOS, Linux, or mobile devices which are not supported by ZoomText.
Tasks that require document remediation, OCR, or tagging for PDF accessibility
Only available for Windows based systems.
Requires licensing and installation on each device.
May not provide full screen reader capabilities compared to tools like JAWS
Designed for users with low vision and partial vision loss.
Supports color contrast, magnification, and speech feedback.
Keyboard shortcuts and customizable views improve usability and navigation.
Compatible with assistive technologies and supports multi monitor setups.
General Information
Students can install ZoomText on personal or lab computers if licensed. It provides support for reading, navigation, and visibility during coursework.
See the “For Instructors” tab for a list of features available to all users.
Resources

Cost: Free
Status: Available
How to Access
Instructor/Student:
Go to Virginia Tech Software
Select “Accessibility Software”
Select one of the ZoomText options and follow the instructions to complete the installation.
If you are installing both JAWS and ZoomText, you can select one of the FUSION options to download both tools.
Get Help
Still need help? assist@vt.edu
Want to talk with someone at Virginia Tech? Go to the 4Help Portal, sign in, and select Get Help.
Or schedule a consultation with TLOS.