How to increase font size in NeatBeans IDE?

Question

I just bought a new monitor that's rather large and I am having a lot of trouble reading the text on my editor. I tried increasing the font size the usual way by going to

Tools >> Options >> Fonts & Colors >> Clicking the "..." button next to font >> and then choosing a large font size

This is the result: (click for full size)

As you can see the cursor becomes a lot larger but the font size remains the same. Does anyone know another way to effectively increase font size in NetBeans?

score 114 · Answer 1 · edited May 02 '16 at 18:10

114

you might also want to change your font size for other parts of the IDE (other than the code).

Just add the parameter --fontsize <size> (default size is 11) to the startup command.

You can put it into the command line when launching IDE. You can also put it into the netbeans.conf file, which is in the /etc subdirectory of NetBeans installation.

Just place it as a last parameter into the netbeans_default_options parameter.

edited May 02 '16 at 18:10

deFreitas

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answered Jun 27 '12 at 02:27

Andy Dingfelder

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Thank you for this!!! I'm trying out size 20 now and it is so much easier to see - might even go higher, despite the equivalent of lost monitor real estate. Note for others: _Don't_ do `--fontsize=20` like I did at first, or Netbeans says it doesn't recognize the option; you need a space like `--fontsize 20`. – Loduwijk Jan 10 '15 at 19:23
This sets the font size of the menus which was what I nedded, thank you. – tomasz_kusmierczyk Sep 28 '15 at 07:53
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Just to confirm: It is two dashes and a space "--fontsize 20" even though all the other parameters in that line are one dash and an equals sign. – GrantRobertson Dec 21 '16 at 18:23
CONFIRMED - just tried it following the other parameters single-dash and equals, but nope that breaks startup for Win10 netbeans, and using double-dash space like --fontsize 12 did the trick and it opens up with fontsize 12 or whatever fontsize number you put there. SO MUCH BETTER! – OG Sean Jul 21 '18 at 23:45
It works only for Files/Projects/Services/Navigator... not for menus and treeview of projects/files – Sergey Orlov Jan 02 '19 at 23:11
Lubuntu: found this correctly under ~/netbeans-8.1/etc/netbeans.conf, NOT under invisible dir ~/.netbeans/8.1/ and not /etc/netbeans.conf . Menus + treeview work for me. – DragonLord May 03 '19 at 15:58
July 2019 and you just made my day. Apache Netbeans 11 still works as described. Linux Fedora 30. – Daniel Jul 20 '19 at 16:23

score 93 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 18 '13 at 23:12

To increase the font size of netbeans 7.3.1 and 7.3 , you go from menu Tools>>Options>>"Fonts & Colors" (is an inner menu in the dialog window of Options)

At the "Syntax" tab ,every entry in the "Category:" list-box ,you will notice that the font has the value "Inherited". If you find in the "Category" list-box the entry with the name "Default" and change the font value of that, you will affect the font size of your editor, because everything is inherited from "Default" entry .

Another method is to increase temporary the font of the editor by a combination of keys. To find what are the keys go to the "Options" dialog window by Tools>> Options and then choose the "Keymap" menu entry and then in the "Search" textbox type "zoom text" and it will show you what combinations of keys for zooming in /out.

for example mine is the combination of "alt" key + mouse wheel up/down

@Bor - It took me a while to get what you are saying. Yep this is correct. We have to roll mouse wheel while pressing the mouse wheel :). No need to press any other key such as ctrl or shift. Thanks & up-voted — Gihanmu, Apr 21 '14 at 12:01
On Xubuntu/Xfce desktop it's necessary to press the mouse wheel and roll because Alt+mouse wheel up/down causes the desktop to zoom in and out. — Kalle Richter, Jul 22 '17 at 11:34
This is for the font in the SOURCE panel in Netbeans, not NetBeans IDE. — charles ross, May 28 '18 at 16:07

score 38 · Answer 3 · edited Apr 13 '15 at 04:46

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1st Way:

press down Alt+z and scroll up or down (mouse wheel)

2nd way:

press down mouse scroll(wheel) button and scroll up or down

edited Apr 13 '15 at 04:46

Wim Ombelets

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answered Apr 12 '15 at 04:54

jignesh bhadani

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Not sure if you are referring to a Mac shortcut, but simply Alt + scroll works for me on Windows 10. – cosan Jun 13 '17 at 18:24
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Handy feature, but it only increases/decreases font size for the current file being edited and does not seem to be persisted – Werner Jul 26 '17 at 10:05

score 29 · Answer 4 · answered Jun 12 '16 at 17:17

29

At Windows in the file C:\Program Files\NetBeans x.x\etc\netbeans.conf

Add "--fontsize [size]" at the end of line netbeans_default_options:

netbeans_default_options=".... --fontsize 16"

answered Jun 12 '16 at 17:17

Alejandro Aranda

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I can confirm this works for the latest version of Netbeans (8.2) on a Windows 10 laptop. – Rob Apr 04 '17 at 10:44
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Works fine on Net Beans 11.1 in Windows 10. Editing needs administration priviledges. – thanos.a Nov 15 '19 at 11:11
@Rob--please show the line that you have for *netbeans default options*, Here's mine and it doesn't change any font size anywhere because Netbeans won't even launch unless I erase "fontsize 16" " *netbeans_default_options="-J-client -J-Xss2m -J-Xms32m -J-Dapple.laf.useScreenMenuBar=true -J-Dapple.awt.graphics.UseQuartz=true -J-Dsun.java2d.noddraw=true -J-netbeans_default_options="-J-client -J-Xss2m -J-Xms32m -J-Dapple.laf.useScreenMenuBar=true -J-Dapple.awt.graphics.UseQuartz=true -J-Dsun.java2d.noddraw=true -J-Dsun.java2d.dpiaware=true -J-Dsun.zip.disableMemoryMapping=true--fontsize 16" – DSlomer64 Dec 13 '21 at 14:42

score 15 · Answer 5 · answered Oct 16 '18 at 06:58

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Check this image with red arrow direction

answered Oct 16 '18 at 06:58

Shakil Hossain

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score 10 · Answer 6 · answered Oct 13 '14 at 17:41

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In OS X, Netbeans 8.0

Use Command + , to open the options
Select Fonts & Colors tab
Click the button in the Font section (button is next to the Font textbox)
Change the Font, style and size as needed

enter image description here

answered Oct 13 '14 at 17:41

Srikanth Jeeva

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score 10 · Answer 7 · answered Jul 05 '10 at 19:08

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Tools >> Options >> Fonts & Colors >> Syntax tab. Select 'Default' from the Category list and click the ... button like you said.

It's the Default you need to select first before changing the size.

answered Jul 05 '10 at 19:08

Matt S

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score 10 · Answer 8 · answered Mar 24 '16 at 12:33

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The solutions here just increase editor font size. You can run netbeans with parameter netbeans --fontsize 20 You can edit windows link like this for example. "C:\Program Files\NetBeans 8.0.2\bin\netbeans64.exe" --fontsize 20

answered Mar 24 '16 at 12:33

Yurij Skalskyy

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score 9 · Answer 9 · answered Apr 11 '17 at 07:49

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Alt + scroll wheel will increase / decrease the font size of the main code window

answered Apr 11 '17 at 07:49

Neha Gangwar

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score 8 · Answer 10 · answered Jan 02 '21 at 11:12

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press alt and scroll down or up to change the size

answered Jan 02 '21 at 11:12

abdelrahman adel

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score 6 · Answer 11 · edited Jun 27 '12 at 13:59

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I would upgrade to newer Netbeans 7.1 or wait few days/weeks for 7.2, it can be a bug in Netbeans 6.8.

I just add to previous two solutions, that you can increase size temporary with ALT(CTRL) + mouse wheel as in browser. (ALT in Netbeans 7.2, CTRL in Netbeans 7.1)

edited Jun 27 '12 at 13:59

Shadow The GPT Wizard

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answered Jun 27 '12 at 13:54

Milutin

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Chiranjit Ghosh · Answer 12 · 2015-07-22T09:09:49.803

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Tools -> Options -> Fonts & Colors -> then click on Font browse option. Now you will see a popup box. Here you can change Font:, Font Style: and Size:

I had tested it.

edited Jul 22 '15 at 09:09

answered Jul 22 '15 at 08:57

Chiranjit Ghosh

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score 2 · Answer 13 · answered May 12 '17 at 04:18

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Go to Tools|options|keymap. Search for 'zoom in text' and set your preferred key. I've set alt+plus and alt+minus.

answered May 12 '17 at 04:18

kgs

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imalfabon · Answer 14 · 2018-01-08T17:56:42.547

When i modify the font size in Tools-> Options->Fonts & Colors->Syntaxto 14, the Editor font change fine, but Netbeans doesn´t take any change in fontsize IDE (icons, menus, ...) until i Add the --fontsize XX option in the file ...\NetBeans x.x\etc\netbeans.conf at the end of line netbeans_default_options AND set to true the already added option -J-Dsun.java2d.dpiaware, But i had to increase the font size Editor to 24. Thats works for me.

score 2 · Answer 15 · answered Mar 13 '18 at 16:53

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You can create your own shortcut for increase/Decrease Netbeans Fonts size

just goto Tools > Options > Keymaps than search zoom

click on three (...) dot and click Edit

press your_shortcut_keys ( what ever shortcut you want to set)

answered Mar 13 '18 at 16:53

M A K

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score 1 · Answer 16 · answered Jan 02 '19 at 23:42

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For full control of ANY (non simplest editor, non head of tree) ui elements I recomend use plugin UI Editor for NetBeans

answered Jan 02 '19 at 23:42

Sergey Orlov

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score 0 · Answer 17 · answered Nov 15 '20 at 05:58

To set fonts and colors for displaying help pages:

1.From the main window, choose File > Open File.

2.In the Open dialog box, navigate to IDE-install-directoryide/docs/org/netbeans/modules/usersguide and open the file ide.css.

The ide.css file is the style sheet that describes how to present the fonts and colors in the help pages.

3.Edit ide.css to your preferences.

4.Choose File > Save.

5.Open the help viewer and verify your changes.

dko · Answer 18 · 2021-01-12T22:50:41.213

Literally NONE of these worked for me.

I am using NetBeans 11.1 on Linux. I found the solution by searching the Options menu. The issue was the IDE Theme- which has an "Override" font size.

Tools > Options > Appearance > Darcula Look And Feel
Uncheck "Override Default fonts by [ Dialog 10 ]"
(OR increase the override font to a bigger size)
Hit OK
Exit and restart NetBeans!

Your environment preferences should be saved for future NetBeans sessions!

How to increase font size in NeatBeans IDE?

18 Answers18

You can create your own shortcut for increase/Decrease Netbeans Fonts size

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