Last updated: 2026-11-01

Magna is a floating screen magnifier for Macs running macOS 15 or later.

Contact

Email: hi@kod.systems

Please include your Magna version (shown when you choose Check for Updates…), your macOS version, and whether your Mac has Apple silicon or an Intel processor.

Getting started

1. Move Magna to your Applications folder and open it.
2. Magna lives in the menu bar (the magnifying-glass icon). It has no Dock icon.
3. The first time, macOS asks you to allow Screen Recording. Magna needs this to show your screen magnified.

Common questions

The magnifier says "Screen Recording Permission Required"

Click Open System Settings, or go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen & System Audio Recording, and turn on Magna. Switch back to Magna and it starts magnifying. If it still doesn't, quit Magna from its menu-bar menu and open it again.

I can't find Magna's window

Click the magnifying-glass icon in the menu bar. Choose New Magnifier Window (or press Command-N) to open another window. Magna always keeps at least one magnifier window open; to stop it, choose Quit Magna from the menu-bar menu.

How do I zoom?

Use the scroll wheel over the magnifier, the + / = and - keys, or the zoom slider. Zoom goes from 1x to 10x.

How do I magnify one part of the screen instead of following the mouse?

In the menu-bar menu choose Fixed Region (or Select New Region…), then drag a rectangle around the area. Press Return to confirm or Escape to cancel. Use Move/Resize Region… to change it later.

Docking to the top or bottom of the screen

Turn on Stay in Current Space first, then use the dock buttons on the magnifier window. When docked, Magna moves other windows out of its way, which needs Accessibility permission: allow it in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility.

Which version do I need, Intel or Apple silicon?

Open the Apple menu → About This Mac. If it lists a Chip such as "Apple M1" or later, use the Apple silicon version. If it lists an Intel Processor, use the Intel version.

Updates

Magna checks for updates automatically. You can also choose Check for Updates… in the menu-bar menu. If Magna says it can't replace itself, move it to your Applications folder, open it from there, and try again.

Uninstalling

Quit Magna and drag it from Applications to the Trash. To also remove its saved settings, run defaults delete systems.kod.magna in Terminal. You can remove its permissions in System Settings → Privacy & Security.

Privacy

Magna doesn't collect personal information. See the privacy policy.