Why Is Archive of Own Showing Huge Font? Quick Solutions and a Life-Saving Fix

Big Font Problem on AO3: How Can You Fix It Fast for a Happier Reading Experience?

Archive of Our Own, or AO3, is an open website where people read and share stories. Sometimes, AO3 shows giant text that fills the whole screen. Maybe even just one big letter sits on a line. This can make reading nearly impossible and leave users feeling frustrated. Here’s how you can solve the large font problem and enjoy your favorite stories again.

How to Fix Large Font on AO3

Try each step in order. One might work, or you may try more than one.

Solution 1: Switch Your Site Skin

1. Go to your AO3 dashboard.
2. Find “Skins” on the side.
3. Look at public skins.
4. Pick “Archive 2.0.”
5. Click “Use.”

This changes how the site looks and can fix text size issues.

Solution 2: Adjust Browser Zoom

1. Hold down ‘Ctrl’ and press ‘–’ to zoom out, or ‘+’ to zoom in.
2. On phones, pinch the page inward to shrink or outward to enlarge.
3. If things look better, you fixed it.

Solution 3: Switch Viewing Modes

1. If you’re using AO3 on a phone, tap your browser options.
2. Switch to “Desktop” mode, then back to “Mobile.”
3. Sometimes, flipping views resets the font.

Solution 4: Change Device Font Size

1. On your device, open settings.
2. Find “Display” or “Font size.”
3. Make the font smaller.
4. Careful: This changes text everywhere, not just on AO3.

Solution 5: Reset Site Settings

1. Scroll to the bottom of the AO3 page.
2. Click “Default” next to Site Skin.
3. If you changed custom skins or CSS, reset or remove them.

Solution 6: Custom CSS Quick Fix

If you feel brave and know how, add this line in AO3’s custom skin:

#outer { font-size: 12px; }

This can shrink big letters back to normal.

Helpful Tips

• If your browser or phone settings changed recently, try setting them back to default.
• Sometimes, site display bugs are temporary. Check AO3’s known issues page or status account for updates.
• If nothing works, try another browser for now.

Important Note

AO3’s volunteer developers know about the font bug. They are working on a permanent fix, but they have not set a date for when it will be ready. For now, using these steps is the best way to keep reading happily.

Big fonts should not ruin your reading joy. Try each step above. Keep enjoying your favorite stories on AO3—without giant, unreadable text!