It is not often that Google changes something on the front-end of Google Search. The only element that the Google developers change regularly is the logo that adds a little bit of change to the search engine every other day or so. Changes to the rest of the front-end on the other hand are rare and it came as a surprise that the font size of the search form has been increased significantly. This has been tested with various web browsers like Firefox, Opera and Internet Explorer which all confirmed the change. We first thought it was caused by a Firefox add-on or Greasemonkey script or related to the Firefox update yesterday but this is apparently not the case.
The font size of the Google search result pages on the other hand do not look like they have been changed as well. The new font size looks and feels alien on first glance which can be attributed to the fact that the font size has not changed in years.
Not everyone might experience the new font size. Reasons for this could be that Google is testing the font size in Google Search and showing it only to some of the search engine visitors. Another reason might be that Google is adjusting the font size based on the visitors screen resolution.
Let us know if you see the larger font size in Google Search as well and what you think of it.
Update: Users who prefer the old font size can install a Greasemonkey script to revert back to the old font size.
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Yes, font size is larger. Tested with multiple laptops in totally 2 different geographical locations and network setups. It is different.
We are seeing it all over. I noticed it on the 9th on my home laptop. I tried to re-adjust my screen size and realized it had not changed. I don”t like it today but may when I am 70.
I had several non-computer-savvy people call me saying “Everything” on their screen was bigger and asking if I could fix it…. hah. Apparently Google homepage = EVERYTHING.
It has increased, and I’m using a 20″ 1600×1200 resolution monitor.
I’ll check at home on my 10″ 1024×600 netbook as well, I guess I’d prefer to have bigger font size there if I had to choose.
Yes, I noticed it straight away. Thought I’d hit the wrong key. After much fiddling, I realised that it was a Google change. Don’t like it very much but I guess I’ll just have to get used to it. Posted: 10 Sept.09@16:40HKT
Will probably not take long until a Greasemonkey script gets released to revert the change.
Agreed – not a huge fan, but I guess I will have to get used to it.
Noticed that as well, kind of caught me off guard. I thought maybe I was zoomed in hehe.
You can clearly see the difference when you look at the french version of google search
www.google.fr
and
www.google.co.uk
It seems also that the logo in the UK version (and other I guess) is no longer an image but a div with an image as a background
i too am experencing this alien font… it looks as if something different has happened in our ususal lifes.
Yes I noticed it straight away. Was a bit worried as the increased font size was a sympton of the PCHealth browser hijack I had about a year ago.
Done my virus and adware scans and nothing and you seem to be confirming it is a google change.
I don’t like change….
Awfull, and disturbing
I am glad to hear it is not just me, but disappointed that google found it necessary to noodle with something that was working just fine. I guess someone had nothing better to do and is trying to justify their job.
In any case I changed my home page to another search engine as the google page now looks like retro Micky Mouse
Noticed this a short time ago, thought my laptop had been zapped. Don’t like it, makes me feel like a four year old trying to read for the first time, why do they just change things. If it aint broke don’t fix it. Can I have the old style back please……………
Personally, I hate it. I’m on a 22″ screen running at native resolution, and the large font looks ridiculous. There was nothing wrong with it before – why mess with it?
I am perfectly capable of deciding what font size I and cannot read. Either change it back, or give us the option.
The font is sooooo ugly and I fine it disturbing as well . I spend whole day fiddling thinking my text size was an issue or perhaps virus as the rest of the office mates did not seems to have change of font
font size is larger then before and it making the who layout look bad….:(
HATE it.
I get the old size of the text while visiting google.com, but while visiting my countrys local site (google.no), the font gets bigger. Looks like the change only has been done to local versions of google search.
Easy reading mode, shame i’m not a senior citizen
Never mind the awful font size, where’s my preferences button gone?
I hate it ! It is clumsy and unpleasant to use, gets in the way. I hope there will be some way of changing it soon.
I actually like it. its neater and clearer! i just like the font big and visible
Blech! It’s not just larger, it comes from a different (aesthetic) planet. The goal, apparently, was to make the search drop-down stand out. Mission accomplished. Since I use Google thirty or forty times a day, this is like waking with a giant index finger and thumb. I know where the search box is; I know how to use it. I neither need it to be, nor want it to be, more apparent.
Here in Brazil, it is bigger.
At first I thought it was indicative of a malware infection, spent some time trying to change it through ‘preferences’ on Google before deciding to search the issue via Google. Relieved, but disgruntled.
I hate it.
its annoying. makes me feel like a child and an old person at once. i wish they would change it back or at least give the option.
Yeah, I don’t like it.
Glad to find it is an alteration made on the part of Google.
But, I really do not like this new text/font size, it looks out of proportion and, like another poster said earlier, has a very child-like/elderly look and feel to it.
Please change it back to how it was before. It was absolutely fine and looked very neat. Totally opposite to this new version!!!??
I spent ages trying to change the size back. You can if you choose ‘go to Google.com’ (on the right, underneath the search title box).
I do prefer the original size. As someone else points out – It just feels like job justifying tinkering for its own sake!
Yes, it is definitely larger font. I first noticed it on my PC. Then, this morning on my MAC, I saw the same change in Safari. When I first noticed it, I thought I was zoomed in – however, resetting the zoom level did not change it. Come on Google, bring the original size back!
I’m in Ireland and mine has changed at home and at work. I dont like it. Would prefer the option
Regards
Tom
Glad to find it’s not some sort of virus invading my PC – had me worried for a while! Not keen, looks daft, why not let us choose our own font size, I’ve only got a small monitor so it looks plain silly.
The same is here at my laptop….bloody font size I have large fonts…:(
I also thought that someone or something had changed some of the settings om y PC. I think the large font looks awful. Please give us back the previous font.