Change your default font in Outlook settings

The fastest way to change font in Outlook is through the settings menu, where you can set a default typeface that applies to all new emails you write. This takes about two minutes and means you will not have to change the font manually for every message.

Open Outlook and go to File in the top left corner. Click Options at the bottom of the menu. In the Outlook Options window, select Mail from the left sidebar. Look for the section called Compose messages and click the button labeled Stationery and Fonts.

A new window opens with three tabs: Personal Stationery, Business Card, and Signatures. Stay on the Personal Stationery tab. Under "New mail messages," you will see a Font button. Click it to open the font picker, choose your typeface, size, and color, then click OK. Click OK again to save and close the settings.

Key Takeaways

  • You can set a default font for all new emails through File > Options > Mail > Stationery and Fonts.
  • To change font in a single email you are already writing, select the text and use the font dropdown in the toolbar.
  • Outlook on the web (Outlook.com) has a font menu in the compose window that works the same way as the desktop version.
  • If your font changes do not save, make sure you are clicking OK in every dialog box, not just closing the window.

Change font in a single email message

If you only want to change the font for one email, you do not need to go into settings. Simply write your message, then select the text you want to change by clicking and dragging across it or triple-clicking to select a paragraph.

Once the text is highlighted, look at the toolbar at the top of the compose window. You will see a dropdown menu showing the current font name (often "Calibri" or "Arial"). Click that dropdown to see all available fonts on your computer. Select the one you want, and the highlighted text changes immediately. You can also change the size using the number dropdown next to the font name.

If you want to change the font for the entire email before you start typing, click in the compose area and then select the font from the toolbar. Any text you type after that will use the new font until you change it again.

Change font in Outlook on the web

If you use Outlook through your web browser (Outlook.com or Outlook on Microsoft 365), the process is slightly different but just as straightforward. Open a new email by clicking New message. In the compose window, you will see a toolbar with formatting options.

Look for the font dropdown — it usually shows the current font name and sits near the left side of the toolbar. Click it to see available fonts. Select the one you want, and it applies to any new text you type. If you want to change the font of text you have already written, select that text first, then choose the new font from the dropdown.

The web version of Outlook has fewer font options than the desktop version, but the most common fonts like Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, and Georgia are all available. You can also adjust text size, make text bold or italic, and change text color using the other buttons in the toolbar.

Troubleshoot font changes that do not stick

Sometimes you change the font, but it reverts to the default when you send the email or close Outlook. This usually happens because the change did not save properly. The most common cause is closing the settings window without clicking OK — if you click the X button instead, your changes are discarded.

If you set a default font and it is not working, go back to File > Options > Mail > Stationery and Fonts and check that your font choice is still there. If it is not, repeat the steps above and make sure to click OK in every dialog box. If the font is there but still not appearing in new emails, restart Outlook completely — close it entirely and open it again.

Another reason fonts may not stick is if you are using a font that is not installed on your computer. Outlook can only use fonts that exist on your system. If you choose a font and it does not appear, try switching to a standard font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman, which come with Windows and are installed on almost every computer.

Use font formatting for emphasis without changing the default

You do not have to change your default font to make certain words or phrases stand out. You can use bold, italic, and underline formatting on specific text while keeping the rest of your email in the default font. Select the text you want to emphasize and click the Bold, Italic, or Underline button in the toolbar.

You can also highlight text in color or change just that text to a different font without affecting the rest of the message. This is useful when you want to draw attention to important information without making the entire email harder to read. Mixing fonts too much can make an email look unprofessional, so use this sparingly.

Font choices that work best in email

Not every font displays the same way on every device. When you send an email with a custom font, the recipient sees that font only if it is installed on their computer. If they do not have it, Outlook substitutes a similar font automatically, which may not look the way you intended.

To avoid this problem, stick with web-safe fonts that are installed on almost all computers: Arial, Calibri, Courier New, Georgia, Times New Roman, and Verdana. These fonts display consistently whether the recipient is reading your email on Windows, Mac, or a phone. If you use a decorative or specialty font, there is a chance it will look different or revert to a plain font on the other end.

Font size also matters in email. A size of 11 or 12 points is standard and readable on most screens. Anything smaller than 10 points can be hard to read, especially on phones. Anything larger than 14 points can look unprofessional in business emails.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set different default fonts for work and personal emails?

Outlook does not have a built-in way to set different default fonts for different email accounts. However, if you use multiple accounts, you can create separate signatures with different fonts and insert the signature that matches the account you are using. Another option is to change your default font before writing an email from a specific account, then change it back afterward.

Why does my font look different when the recipient opens the email?

The recipient may not have the same font installed on their computer. Outlook automatically substitutes a similar font, but the result may not match what you see. Use common fonts like Arial or Calibri to reduce the chance of this happening. You can also check how your email looks by sending a test message to yourself.

How do I change the font for replies and forwards?

When you reply to or forward an email, Outlook uses the same font settings as new messages. If you have set a default font in Stationery and Fonts, replies and forwards will use that font. If you want to use a different font for a specific reply, select the text and change it manually in the compose window.

Can I use custom fonts I downloaded from the internet?

Yes, if you have installed a custom font on your computer, it will appear in Outlook's font dropdown. However, remember that the recipient may not have that font installed, so the email may display differently on their end. Always test custom fonts by sending a message to yourself first.

Does changing the font in Outlook affect fonts in other Microsoft programs?

No. Font settings in Outlook are separate from Word, Excel, and other Microsoft programs. Changing your default font in Outlook does not change the default font in those applications, and vice versa.