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Proposal: Mouse wheel zoom (Ctrl/Cmd + scroll to change font size) #53319

@esthertrapadoux

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@esthertrapadoux

Discussed in #51773

Originally posted by Vastargazing March 17, 2026

Hello! I'd like to propose adding support for adjusting the editor font
size using the mouse wheel while holding Ctrl (Windows/Linux) or Cmd (macOS).

Why: This is a standard feature in VS Code and JetBrains IDEs and a
common workflow for developers who adjust font size while reading or
presenting code. It would make the transition to Zed smoother for users
coming from those editors.

Implementation (working branch ready):

  • Added mouse_wheel_zoom setting, disabled by default
  • Logic in EditorElement handles discrete scroll steps (Lines delta only)
  • Continuous trackpad scrolling (Pixels delta) is intentionally ignored to avoid jitter during pinch-zoom gestures
  • VS Code editor.mouseWheelZoom is mapped during settings import

Code is tested, formatted, and compiles cleanly. Happy to open a PR if this aligns with product direction.


Peek.2026-03-17.20-151.mp4

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