My Apple TV Is Zoomed in and Will Not Zoom Out

Apple TV is an excellent product for streaming video services, but many users have reported that their TV gets stuck zoomed in, and they can’t zoom out. This can be frustrating and interrupt your viewing experience. Fortunately, there are a few solutions to this issue.

You can use the Siri Remote to zoom in and out on a 4th generation Apple TV or Apple TV 4K. Triple tap in the center of the touchscreen section of the remote to zoom out. The zoom feature can also be turned off in the Apple TV settings under General and Accessibility.

The Siri Remote comes included with the purchase of compatible Apple TVs. With the remote, there are many options and settings to control the zoom function. This post explains those settings and how to adjust them to give you maximum accessibility when watching your Apple TV.

How to Zoom Out on Apple TV

If you zoom in on an image on your Apple TV, but you cannot zoom out, the first step is to ensure that you are doing it right. The touchscreen pad on the Siri Remote can be challenging to maneuver.

Zoom out by tapping three times in the center of the touchscreen pad. It’s the same way you zoomed in.

A few things to keep in mind with this:

• Make sure to tap in the direct center of the pad with only one finger. Tapping outside of the center will move the zoom focus box around the screen but will not zoom out.
• Tapping with two fingers instead of one will put the TV in panning mode but also not zoom out. (Panning mode allows you to move the focus box around more freely.)

While zoomed in, you can adjust the zoom level by double-tapping on the touchpad with two fingers. Without letting go, drag the two fingers up to zoom in and down to zoom out. 

Turning the Zoom Feature Off

For some people, trying to use the touchpad on the Siri Remote can cause a big headache. It requires a subtle touch in a precise way.

Luckily, there is another way to zoom out on your Apple TV. It requires turning the zoom feature off entirely. If you go with this option, you will have to turn it back on the next time you want to use it.

1. Click on the settings icon on the Apple TV.
2. Select “General.”
3. Select “Accessibility.”
4. Select “Zoom.”
5. Turn the zoom function off.
6. Press the TV icon on the remote to exit settings.

Using an Accessibility Shortcut

Another quick way to turn the zoom option on and off is to create an Accessibility Shortcut. To do that, go to the Accessibility settings and select “Accessibility Shortcut.” Choose the Zoom shortcut.

Once the shortcut is set up, all you have to do is press the Menu button on the Siri remote three times and select Zoom.

What if My TV Still Won’t Zoom Out?

If you still can’t zoom out, try restarting the Apple TV. There are several ways to do this. The easiest way is by using your Siri Remote. Simply hold the Home button and Menu button at the same time until the light on your Apple TV flashes.

If the remote isn’t responding, you can power cycle the Apple TV device to restart it. To do this, unplug the power cord from the device. Wait at least six seconds, and then plug it back in.

More Apple TV Zoom Features and Settings

Being able to zoom in and out is an excellent feature of the newer generations of Apple TVs. It allows people who are vision impaired to see small items on the screen better. For example, when Zoom is enabled, you can also use the Siri button on your remote to read words on the screen to you. Activate this feature by double-clicking on the Siri button.

Maximum Zoom Level

You can even adjust how far you can zoom in; this can help you avoid zooming in too much in the future.

Here are the steps:

1. Click on the settings icon on the Apple TV.
2. Go to General > Accessibility > Zoom.
3. Select a “Maximum Zoom Level” between 2x and 15x.

Zoom on Older Apple TVs

The 2nd and 3rd generation Apple TVs do not have zoom capabilities. To zoom in on an image when one of these older devices, you will have to use the TV settings rather than the Apple TV settings. Every TV has different zoom capabilities. Check your TV’s manual for specific directions.

In Summary

Apple TV 4th generation and Apple TV 4K can zoom in and out. However, this feature must be turned on in the settings. Zoom in and out by tapping three times on the touchscreen surface of the Siri remote. Using this touchscreen pad, you can change the item that you want to zoom in on and pan across the screen. In the settings, you can also set a maximum zoom level.

To learn more about how to use your Apple TV, check out this guide!