Settings guide

Claude: calmer drafts, cleaner reading

Claude has a few settings that can make daily writing, reviewing and planning easier to keep up with.

Use light, dark or system mode

In Claude, click your initials or name in the lower left corner. Go to Settings, then Appearance. Under Color mode, choose Light, Match System or Dark. Match System is a good default if you already use device-level accessibility settings.

Check the chat font

Claude's Appearance settings include a Chat font option. Current Anthropic help lists Default, Match System and Dyslexic Friendly. Treat this as a readability preference, not a universal fix. Test it with your normal work for a day: long answers, lists, copied text and document summaries.

If you do not see the same options, check whether you are using Claude in the browser, desktop app or mobile app. Feature availability can differ by platform, account, app version and rollout.

Use styles for calmer output

Claude styles change how Claude communicates. The Concise style can reduce reading load. The Explanatory style can help when you are learning something new. You can also create or edit styles if you want Claude to use short paragraphs, clear headings and fewer assumptions.

Use project instructions

Claude Projects let you add instructions that apply across chats in that project. Use this for stable preferences, such as "write in plain language" or "use accessible Markdown headings". Claude says context is not shared across chats unless it is added to project knowledge.

Try this project instruction

"Write for accessibility. Use clear headings, short paragraphs and plain language. Avoid wide tables. Summarize first, then explain. If I ask for a document, make it easy to scan and easy to read aloud."

Good first setup

  • Color mode: Match System or Dark.
  • Chat font: compare Default, Match System and any readability font options you see.
  • Style: Concise for low-energy days, Explanatory for learning.
  • Projects: add your preferred answer format once.

Make it easier

Ask Claude for a short answer first, then expand only the part you need. For example: "Give me the answer in 5 bullets first. After that, add details under clear headings." This keeps the first screen usable and still lets you go deeper.

Sources

Source checked: 1 September 2026.