Status bar in Excel

Raymond Sandacz 0 Reputation points
2026-11-06T12:52:50.6866667+00:00

I would love to increase the font size of the sum in the lower right of Excel.  I have poor eyesight, and frequently cannot read this.

Thank you

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | Other | Windows
0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Elena-VH 2,450 Reputation points Independent Advisor
2026-11-06T13:08:34.0233333+00:00

Dear Raymond Sandacz,

I understand how difficult it can be to read the Status Bar values, especially the Sum displayed in the lower-right corner of Excel, when you have reduced vision.

Unfortunately, Excel does not currently offer a built-in option to increase the font size of the Status Bar independently of the rest of the interface.

As a workaround, you may consider these options (following the AI answer's suggestions):

  • Increasing your Windows display scaling (for example, to 125%, 150%, or higher) through Settings > System > Display > Scale. Otherwise, you can try Settings > Accessibility > Text size, move the slider to the right, and select Apply. Text Size affects Windows and most applications, whereas Scale is the broader and generally more effective readability control
  • Using Windows Magnifier by pressing Windows + Plus (+) to zoom in on the Status Bar when needed.
  • Placing a SUM formula directly in a worksheet cell and increasing the worksheet font size, which may be easier to read than the Status Bar.

Since this is a feature limitation in Excel, I also encourage you to submit feedback directly to the Excel product team via Excel > Help > Feedback. Accessibility-related feedback is valuable and helps Microsoft prioritize future improvements.

Moreover, to ensure your feedback reaches the right teams, I highly recommend submitting your feedback directly to Microsoft Ideas · Community, where the Microsoft product development team can know your requirements and ideas for product improvements. If enough users raise a ticket for the same idea, Microsoft may consider adding this feature in the future. 

Thank you for your patience and understanding. If you have any questions or if I have misunderstood anything, please feel free to reach out.

Was this answer helpful?

1 person found this answer helpful.
0 comments

1 additional answer

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest

  1. AI answer

    2026-11-06T12:53:29.5+00:00

    Excel for Windows does not provide a separate setting to enlarge only the status-bar Sum, so increase Windows display scaling or use Magnifier for temporary enlargement.

    Increase the status bar permanently

    Windows 11

    1. Press Windows key + I.
    2. Select System > Display.
    3. Under Scale & layout, choose a larger Scale value, such as 125% or 150%.
    4. Reopen Excel if the change is not immediately reflected; some changes may require signing out and back in.

    Scaling enlarges text, icons, buttons, and applications together. Alternatively, try Settings > Accessibility > Text size, move the slider to the right, and select Apply. Text Size affects Windows and most applications, whereas Scale is the broader and generally more effective readability control.^1^

    Windows 10

    1. Press Windows key + U.
    2. On the Display page, use Make text bigger, then select Apply.
    3. If that does not sufficiently enlarge the Excel status bar, use Make everything bigger and select a larger value.^1^

    These settings affect other Windows applications too; they cannot be limited to the Sum alone.

    Enlarge it only when needed

    Press Windows key + Plus (+) to turn on Magnifier and zoom in. Then:

    • Windows key + Plus (+): zoom in
    • Windows key + Minus (-): zoom out
    • Ctrl + Alt + L: switch to Lens view
    • Windows key + Esc: close Magnifier

    Lens view is useful for enlarging just the lower-right portion of Excel without permanently changing the rest of the interface.^2^

    Excel’s status-bar customization menu controls which values appear—such as Average, Count, Minimum, Maximum, and Sum—but it does not include a font-size option.^3^ The worksheet Zoom slider enlarges worksheet content, not the status-bar text.

    References

    1. Make text and apps bigger | Microsoft Support
    2. Magnifier keyboard shortcuts and touch gestures | Microsoft Support
    3. Excel status bar options
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

    Was this answer helpful?

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.