Change the default font or text color for email messages in Outlook
Applies To
Outlook for Microsoft 365 Outlook 2024 Outlook 2021 Outlook 2019 Outlook 2016 New Outlook for WindowsIn Outlook, the default font is Calibri in black. It's used when you compose new email messages. You can change the default font and its color, size, and style — such as bold or italic.
Outlook allows you to change the font, color, size, and style for new messages and replies and forwards independently. If you want to change the font used in the message list, see Change the font or font size in the message list.
Select a tab option below for the version of Outlook you're using. What version of Outlook do I have?
Note: If the steps under this New Outlook tab aren't working for you, you may not be using new Outlook for Windows yet. Select the Classic Outlook tab and follow those steps instead.
Change the default font, style, and size for messages
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On the View tab, select View settings in new Outlook.
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Select Mail, then Compose and reply.
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Under Message format, choose the font, size, and style you would like, then select Save.
Change the font size for reading messages
You can change the size of messages in the Reading pane by using the Zoom feature.
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Select a message from your inbox to view in the Reading pane.
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Select the View tab, then Zoom.
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Select the plus + button to Zoom in or the minus - button to Zoom out. Use Reset to go back to the default view.
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In classic Outlook, you have the option to:
Change default font, color, etc. | Restore default font, color, etc. | Change font in reading pane
Change the default font, color, style, and size for messages
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On the File tab, choose Options > Mail.
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Under Compose messages, choose Stationery and Fonts.
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On the Personal Stationery tab, under New mail messages or Replying or forwarding messages, choose Font.
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In the Font box, choose the font, style, size, and color that you want to use. You can see a preview of your changes as you make them.
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Choose OK three times to return to Outlook.
Your new settings will take effect immediately.
Notes:
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You have to set your font preferences independently for both new messages and replies and forwards.
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If the font that you choose isn't installed on the recipient's computer, then the recipient's mail program substitutes an available font.
Restore the initial default font style options
If you later decide you don't want to keep your custom font settings and want to return to the default settings, you can use the above steps, but choose the following values.
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Font: +Body
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Font style: Regular
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Size: 11
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Font color: Automatic
Change the font size for reading messages
You can change the size of messages in the Reading pane by using the Zoom feature.
To change the zoom level for a single message
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Use the slider at the bottom right of the Reading pane to adjust your zoom level. As you adjust, the text size in the Reading Pane will increase or decrease.
To change the zoom level on all received messages
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You can now change the zoom level on all received messages. Click the percentage to the right of the Zoom slider to open the Zoom window.
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Select one of the default options or enter a specific percentage number.
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To apply this zoom level to all messages, check the Remember my preference check box and then click OK.
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