How I use Google Magnifier to see very small print (when I can't find my glasses)

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

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ZDNET key takeaways

Google Magnifier does one thing, and it does it well.

You can read fine print and even far-away objects.

The app is simple and free to use.

If glasses aren't on my face, I can't read, especially small print. No matter how far I stretch my arms, those tiny letters won't come into focus. Although I'm rarely without my specs, there are times when I'm not, and when that happens, I take out my Android phone, open the camera, and zoom in.

That strategy doesn't always work. For one, the Android macro option produces mixed results. Second, the zoom can get a bit blurry when an object is close up. Third, when zoomed in that far, you need a steady hand.

Also: This silent Android feature scans your photos for 'sensitive content' - how to uninstall it

The good news is that Google created an app specifically for this instance. The app is called (aptly enough) Google Magnifier; it's free and does one thing: it magnifies what the camera is seeing. I installed this app on my Pixel 9 Pro, and it has simplified my life in one important way.

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