Where to find the font settings in Outlook

The steps to change your default font depend on which version of Outlook you use. Outlook for Windows, Outlook for Mac, and Outlook on the web each have different menus. The setting you change controls the typeface, size, and color that appear in every new message you compose — not messages you receive.

In Outlook for Windows (desktop app), the font settings live in the File menu under Options. In Outlook for Mac, they're in Outlook Preferences. On the web version, you'll find them in Settings. Once you change the default, every blank message you start will use that font automatically.

Key Takeaways

  • Outlook for Windows: Go to File > Options > Mail > Stationery and Fonts to set your default font for new messages.
  • Outlook for Mac: Open Outlook > Preferences > Composing, then choose your font, size, and color for new messages.
  • Outlook on the web: Select Settings (gear icon) > View all Outlook settings > Mail > Compose and reply to change your default font.
  • Your default font applies only to new messages you write, not to messages you receive or reply to.
  • Some fonts may not display correctly on the recipient's device if they don't have that font installed.

Changing the default font in Outlook for Windows

Open Outlook and select the File tab in the top-left corner. Click Options, then select Mail from the left sidebar. Scroll down until you see Composing messages, then click the button labeled Stationery and Fonts.

A window will open with three tabs: Personal Stationery, New Mail Message, and Replying or Forwarding. Click the New Mail Message tab. You'll see a preview area and a button that says Font. Click that Font button to open the font picker. Choose your typeface, size, style (bold, italic), and color. Click OK twice to save your changes.

From now on, every new message you compose will start in that font. If you reply to or forward a message, Outlook will use the font from the original message unless you manually change it. To set a different default for replies and forwards, click the Replying or Forwarding tab and repeat the process.

Changing the default font in Outlook for Mac

Click Outlook in the menu bar at the top of your screen, then select Preferences. In the Preferences window, find and click Composing. You'll see options for font, font size, and text color in the New messages section.

Click the Font dropdown to choose a typeface. Use the Size dropdown to pick your preferred size. If you want to set a color, click the color box next to the font options. When you're done, close the Preferences window — your changes save automatically.

Like the Windows version, this default applies only to new messages. Replies and forwards will use the original message's font unless you change it manually.

Changing the default font in Outlook on the web

Log into your Outlook account at outlook.com or outlook.office.com. Click the gear icon in the top-right corner and select View all Outlook settings. In the left sidebar, click Mail, then find and click Compose and reply.

Scroll down to the Default font section. You'll see dropdowns for font, size, and color. Select your choices from each dropdown. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Save. Your new default font will appear in the compose window the next time you start a new message.

Why your font might not look the same to others

When you send a message in a specific font, the recipient sees that font only if they have it installed on their device. If they don't, their email client will substitute a similar font automatically. This means a decorative or specialized typeface might look different when someone else opens your message.

Web-safe fonts like Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, and Verdana display consistently across almost all devices and email clients. If you want your messages to look the same for everyone, stick to these common fonts. Outlook also offers a set of fonts marked as "web safe" in the font picker.

Changing font for a single message

You can override your default font for any individual message. Start composing a new message, then highlight the text you want to change. In the toolbar at the top of the compose window, click the Font dropdown and select a different typeface. You can also change the size and color from the same toolbar.

This change applies only to that one message. Your default font will return for the next message you write. In Outlook for Mac and the web version, the font controls appear in the same compose toolbar. In Outlook for Windows, they're in the Format Text tab when you're composing.

Resetting your font to Outlook's default

If you want to go back to Outlook's original default font (usually Calibri or Aptos, depending on your version), follow the same steps you used to change it. In Windows, go to File > Options > Mail > Stationery and Fonts > New Mail Message > Font and select Calibri or Aptos. In Mac, go to Outlook > Preferences > Composing and choose the same font. On the web, go to Settings > Mail > Compose and reply and pick Calibri from the dropdown.

You can also leave the font setting blank or empty in some versions of Outlook, which will make it use the system default. Check your version's documentation if you're unsure which font is the original default.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my default font affect messages I've already sent?

No. Your default font setting only applies to new messages you compose from that point forward. Messages you've already sent will keep the font they had when you sent them. Recipients will continue to see those messages in their original font.

Can I set different default fonts for different email accounts?

Yes, if you have multiple accounts in Outlook. In Windows, go to Stationery and Fonts and look for an Account dropdown at the top of the window. Select each account and set a different font for each one. On the web and Mac, the setting applies to whichever account you're currently signed into, so you can set different defaults by logging out and back in.

What if the font I want doesn't appear in the font list?

The fonts available in Outlook depend on what's installed on your computer. If a font isn't in the list, it's not installed. You can install new fonts through your operating system (Windows Fonts folder or Mac Font Book), and they'll appear in Outlook's font picker after you restart the app.

Will my font choice affect how my messages look on mobile devices?

Mobile email apps like Outlook Mobile, Gmail, and Apple Mail may display fonts differently than desktop versions. Some mobile clients ignore custom fonts entirely and use their own defaults. Test by sending yourself a message and opening it on your phone to see how it looks.

Can I use HTML or custom formatting as my default?

Outlook's default font setting controls plain text and basic formatting only. If you want to use HTML, signatures with images, or complex layouts in every message, you'll need to create a template or signature and insert it manually into each new message. Outlook doesn't have a way to set HTML as the default for all new messages.