How to Change the Default Font and Size in Outlook

You have many options for changing text font, size, color, and style

What to Know

  • Outlook 2010 and later: File > Options > Mail > Stationery and Fonts > Font > make changes.
  • Outlook 2007 and 2003: Tools > Options > Mail Format > Stationery and Fonts > Font > make changes.
  • Outlook.com: Settings > View all Outlook settings > Mail > Compose and reply > choose font.

This article explains how to change Microsoft Outlook's default font for composing and reading messages. You can change the default font to anything you want; you're only limited by the fonts installed on your system.

Change Fonts in Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, and Outlook for Microsoft 365

Follow these steps to change the default font in the desktop version of Outlook.

If you are working in Outlook 2010, your screens will differ in appearance, but the menu options, locations, and functionality are the same.

  1. Go to the File > Options menu.

    Options menu in Outlook
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  2. Select the Mail category on the left side.

  3. Select Stationery and Fonts.

    Stationery and Fonts button in Outlook options
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  4. Select Font under each of the sections you want to change:

    • New mail messages changes the default font in emails.
    • Replying or forwarding messages changes the font used whenever you respond or forward an email.
    • Composing and reading plain text messages changes how plain text messages appear to you only; plain text messages sent to others remain in plain text for the recipients.

    If you already have a theme or stationery set up, you can choose Theme and then the (No Theme) option to disable it.

    Font button in Outlook options
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  5. Choose your preferred font, style, size, color, and effect.

    Outlook font selection window
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  6. Select OK once to finish and then twice more to close out of the Signatures and Stationery window and Outlook's options.

    OK button to confirm Font changes in Outlook
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    A person changing font options on a laptop
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    Change Fonts in Outlook 2007 and 2003

    Changing default fonts in Outlook 2007 and 2003 is a very similar process. The screenshots below are for Outlook 2007, and any differences in Outlook 2003 will be noted.

  7. Go into the Tools > Options menu.

    Tools and Options menu selections in Outlook 2007
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  8. Select the Mail Format tab.

    Options and Mail Format tab screen in Outlook 2007
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  9. Select Stationery and Fonts.

    Outlook 2003 users will need to press Fonts.

    Stationery and Fonts option screen in Outlook 2007
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  10. Select Font under New mail messages, Replying or forwarding messages, and Composing and reading plain text messages to choose the desired font styles, sizes, and colors.

    In Outlook 2003, select Choose Font for When composing a new message, When replying and forwarding, and When composing and reading plain text.

    Font selection screen in Outlook 2007
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  11. Select OK.

    In Outlook 2003: If stationery is set as the default under Use this stationery by default, the font specified in it may override the font you have just chosen. You can either modify the stationery to include your favorite font or set Outlook to ignore fonts that are specified in the stationery altogether.

  12. Select OK to close the Options menu.

    If you set a default color for replies and forwarded emails, but Outlook refuses to use it, try setting up a default signature in Outlook.

  13. Your default font features should now be permanently changed.

Change the New Message Default Font on Outlook.com

You can change your outgoing message fonts on Outlook.com by following these steps. Unfortunately, you can't change the default font for messages displayed on Outlook.com the way you can in the software versions of Outlook.

  1. Select Settings > View all Outlook settings.

    Quick settings menu in Outlook.com
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  2. Select Mail > Compose and reply.

    Compose and reply menu in Outlook.com
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  3. Under Message format, select the font dropdown and choose the new default font you want to use. You can also change the default font size; set bold, italics, and underline for text; and choose your default font color.

    Font selection dropdown and choices in Outlook.com
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  4. When you have your font choices set, select Save.

    Save button for saving font choices in Outlook.com
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  5. New messages composed on Outlook.com will now use your chosen default font choices.

If you want to change the font options for only a single message, you can do this while composing the email. At the bottom of the window in which you're writing the message you'll find many options for changing the appearance of your text. These settings will apply to this email only.

FAQ
  • How do I change the signature in Outlook?

    To change your signature in Outlook, go to File > Options > Mail > Signatures > Signatures and Stationery. Change your signature or select New to create a new signature. In Outlook mobile, go to Settings > Signature and create or change your signature.

  • How do I change my password in Outlook?

    To change your Outlook password in Windows, go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings, choose the account > Change. Enter a new password. On a Mac go to Tools > Accounts, choose an account, and enter a new password.

  • How do I change the time zone in Outlook?

    To change the time zone in Outlook desktop, go to File > Options > Calendar > Time Zones and select the time zone you want to use. In Outlook.com, go to Settings > View all Outlook Settings > General Category > Language and Time. Select the Current Time Zone drop-down and choose a new time zone.

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