diff --git a/frontend/src/components/viewer/LocalEmbedPDF.tsx b/frontend/src/components/viewer/LocalEmbedPDF.tsx
index a55a95dd5..a334badcb 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/viewer/LocalEmbedPDF.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/viewer/LocalEmbedPDF.tsx
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ export function LocalEmbedPDF({ file, url, colorScheme }: LocalEmbedPDFProps) {
 
       // Register zoom plugin with configuration
       createPluginRegistration(ZoomPluginPackage, {
-        defaultZoomLevel: 1.0, // Start at exactly 100% zoom
+        defaultZoomLevel: 1.4, // Start at 140% zoom for better readability
         minZoom: 0.2,
         maxZoom: 3.0,
       }),
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/viewer/ZoomAPIBridge.tsx b/frontend/src/components/viewer/ZoomAPIBridge.tsx
index e2b265a8c..709f408b8 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/viewer/ZoomAPIBridge.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/viewer/ZoomAPIBridge.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useEffect } from 'react';
+import { useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
 import { useZoom } from '@embedpdf/plugin-zoom/react';
 
 /**
@@ -6,17 +6,30 @@ import { useZoom } from '@embedpdf/plugin-zoom/react';
  */
 export function ZoomAPIBridge() {
   const { provides: zoom, state: zoomState } = useZoom();
+  const hasSetInitialZoom = useRef(false);
+
+  // Set initial zoom once when plugin is ready
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (zoom && !hasSetInitialZoom.current) {
+      hasSetInitialZoom.current = true;
+      setTimeout(() => {
+        console.log('Setting initial zoom to 140%');
+        zoom.requestZoom(1.4);
+      }, 50);
+    }
+  }, [zoom]);
 
   useEffect(() => {
     if (zoom) {
+
       // Export zoom controls to global window for right rail access
       (window as any).embedPdfZoom = {
         zoomIn: () => zoom.zoomIn(),
         zoomOut: () => zoom.zoomOut(),
         toggleMarqueeZoom: () => zoom.toggleMarqueeZoom(),
         requestZoom: (level: any) => zoom.requestZoom(level),
-        currentZoom: zoomState?.currentZoomLevel || 1,
-        zoomPercent: Math.round((zoomState?.currentZoomLevel || 1) * 100),
+        currentZoom: zoomState?.currentZoomLevel || 1.4,
+        zoomPercent: Math.round((zoomState?.currentZoomLevel || 1.4) * 100),
       };
 
     }