Google Chrome font size on tabs

[Alley_Oop]

Many of you know about the problem of the font size on Google Chrome tabs, bookmarks bar, other bookmarks, and menu being far too small to be readable. Well this has been a problem with Chrome for 5 years now and Google has still not fixed the problem (I am using Chrome Version 36.0.1985.18 dev)

The only solutions I have found are:
(a) Quit using Chrome and switch back to Firefox or Opera etc.
(b) Lower your display resolution.

So if you want the fonts to be usable you have to give up using the best resolution for your display, which is ridiculous but companies such as Google and Simply Accounting insist that this the only solution.
I have a LG 24" widescreen with a native resolution of 1920x1080 (16:9) but in order to make the fonts readable I had to lower my resolution to 1680x1050 (16:10).

This may be a problem when watching HD movies or playing some games. Which ones I can't say for sure.

If you still want to change your resolution use Screen Display. In Gnome go to: Applications -> System Tools -> Preferences -> Screen Display lower your resolution and click Apply
a screen will pop up with a timer giving you chance to keep or abandon the new resolution.

Don't forget if you do lower you resolution you will need to change several settings back to normal such as default fonts, magnification, scaling and accessibility or they will be far too large!

I really hope somebody actually fixes this issue because I really like Google Chrome.

What did you finally decide to do?

[robbie 348]

Can't you just increase the font size?

[Alley_Oop]

Can't you just increase the font size?

Actually this has been suggested thousands of times in the last 5 years, but no it does not solve the problem. Google Chrome completely ignores any system font changes, at least for the problem described.

Thanks anyway robbie.

[timgood]

What's wrong with the font size on the tabs? Mine seems fine - see attached.

[vasa1]

What's wrong with the font size on the tabs? Mine seems fine - see attached.

It's subjective. Some people would like the font size to be adjustable. I don't think it's an unreasonable request. Maybe it's technically difficult for Google's engineers.

[timgood]

OP said fonts were unreadable. On my system, the tab fonts are bigger than the menu fonts. Both are readable and I can't see the problem.

[Bashing-om]

Alley_Oop;

I just did a version upgrade to Google-Chrome this morning, and now the fonts in the tabs are 'large'. Menu fonts are about 1/2 the size of the tab's font, but very readable.

Maybe the developers addressed that issue ?

wonders never cease

[Alley_Oop]

On my system the fonts on tabs/bookmarks bar/other bookmarks are about 8 px or less.

This issue can be found from many people.

Chrome 36 (Problem remains)
Ubuntu 14.04
AMD Phenom 9850 2.5Ghz
LG 24 " 1920x1080 (16:9)
Nvida 460
8 GB RAM

[mdurham]

On my system the fonts on tabs/bookmarks bar/other bookmarks are about 8 px or less.

This issue can be found from many people.

Chrome 36 (Problem remains)
Ubuntu 14.04
AMD Phenom 9850 2.5Ghz
LG 24 " 1920x1080 (16:9)
Nvida 460
8 GB RAM

How about a screenshot?

[vasa1]

OP said fonts were unreadable. On my system, the tab fonts are bigger than the menu fonts. Both are readable and I can't see the problem.

And I said it's subjective. What is not a problem for one person (or even the majority) maybe a problem for another person. That's what accessibility issues are all about. It's fine for me is quite irrelevant to the person who has a problem.

Making Google accessible

As part of Google’s mission to make the world’s information universally accessible and useful, we’re committed to making accessibility a reality for all of our users, including those with disabilities.

Source: Accessibility
I bolded the "all" in the quote.

I hope things are clear now.

What OP needs to understand is that some aspects of Google Chrome are just not customizable, even with extensions. Use a more customizable browser. Firefox is the most customizable currently though that may change.

Here' a partial quote (to avoid forum issues) from somewhere:

... the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.