Where to find font settings in Outlook

Font changes in Outlook work differently depending on whether you use the desktop app, the web version, or your phone. On the desktop version for Windows or Mac, you change fonts in the message compose window before you send. On Outlook.com (the web version), the font menu sits in the same toolbar. On mobile apps, font options are more limited — you can usually only change size and bold/italic, not the typeface itself.

The location matters because Outlook stores your default font choice and applies it to every new message you write, but you can override it for individual emails. If you want all your outgoing messages in Georgia instead of Calibri, you set that once in settings. If you want just one message in a different font, you change it in that compose window only.

Key Takeaways

  • Desktop Outlook lets you change fonts in the compose window toolbar, and you can set a default font in File > Options > Mail > Stationery and Fonts.
  • Outlook.com (web) has a font dropdown in the compose toolbar; changes apply only to that message unless you edit your signature settings.
  • Mobile Outlook apps have limited font control — usually only text size and bold/italic, not typeface selection.
  • Your font choice affects only messages you send; it does not change how you see incoming mail from others.
  • Some recipients may not see your chosen font if their email client does not support it, so stick to common fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, or Calibri.

Changing fonts in Outlook desktop (Windows and Mac)

Open a new message by clicking Home > New Email (or pressing Ctrl+N on Windows, Command+N on Mac). In the compose window, look at the toolbar near the top. You will see a dropdown that shows the current font name — usually "Calibri" by default. Click that dropdown and select any font from the list. The text you type from that point will use the new font.

If you have already typed text, select it first (Ctrl+A for all, or click and drag for part of it), then change the font. The selected text will switch to the new typeface immediately. You can also use the font size dropdown next to the font name to make text larger or smaller, and the Bold and Italic buttons to add emphasis.

To set a default font so every new message starts in your preferred typeface, go to File > Options > Mail > Stationery and Fonts. Under "Composing messages," click Font. Choose your typeface, size, and color, then click OK twice. From now on, new messages will open in that font — but you can still change individual messages in the compose window.

Changing fonts in Outlook.com (web version)

Log in to Outlook.com and click Compose to start a new message. In the compose pane that opens on the right side of the screen, look for the formatting toolbar. You will see a dropdown showing the current font (usually "Calibri" or "Default"). Click it and choose a different font from the list.

Type or paste your message, and the text will appear in the font you selected. If you want to change only part of the message, select that text first, then change the font. The web version does not have a global default font setting the way desktop Outlook does, so each message starts in the same font unless you change it manually.

Font options on Outlook mobile apps

The Outlook app for iPhone and Android does not include a typeface selector in the compose window. You can make text bold or italic by selecting it and tapping the formatting button, and you can change text size in some versions, but you cannot switch between fonts like Arial or Georgia.

If you need to send a message in a specific font from your phone, the workaround is to compose it on the web version (Outlook.com) using a mobile browser, where the font dropdown is available. Otherwise, your phone messages will use whatever default font your recipient's email client displays — usually their own default, not yours.

Why recipients might not see your font choice

Email is not like a word processor. When you send a message in Georgia font, the recipient does not receive a file that locks in Georgia — they receive text with a tag that says "display this in Georgia." If their email client does not support Georgia, or if they have disabled custom fonts in their settings, they will see the message in their own default font instead.

This is why it matters to stick with common fonts: Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri, Verdana, and Courier New are supported by nearly every email client. Decorative or specialty fonts may not display correctly, and the recipient might see a substitution or a generic sans-serif instead. If the font choice is important to the meaning of your message, mention it in the text itself or use bold and italic for emphasis instead.

Changing fonts in signatures and templates

If you use a signature — the block of text that appears at the end of every message — you can set its font separately from your message body. In Outlook desktop, go to File > Options > Mail > Signatures. Click Edit, select the signature text, and change the font using the toolbar. Save the signature, and it will always appear in that font.

In Outlook.com, click Settings (the gear icon) > View all Outlook settings > Mail > Compose and reply. Scroll to Signature and paste or type your signature text. You can format it using the toolbar that appears, including font selection. Save your changes, and the signature will use that formatting in every message you send.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my recipient see the font I chose?

Usually, yes — if you use a common font like Arial or Times New Roman. If you choose an uncommon or decorative font, their email client may substitute it with something else. Test with a colleague if the font choice is important.

Can I change the font of emails I receive?

No. The font you see in incoming messages is controlled by the sender and your email client's display settings, not by Outlook's compose settings. You can change how you view messages by adjusting your reading pane font in File > Options > Mail > Reading Pane, but that does not change the original message.

Why does my default font keep changing back to Calibri?

If you set a default font in File > Options > Mail > Stationery and Fonts but it reverts, check that you clicked OK on both dialog boxes. Also, some Outlook updates reset these settings. If it happens repeatedly, try setting the font again and note whether the change sticks after you restart Outlook.

Can I use different fonts in the same message?

Yes. Type or paste your text, select the part you want to change, and pick a new font from the dropdown. You can mix fonts in one message, though doing so often makes the message harder to read. Bold, italic, or color changes are usually clearer ways to emphasize text.

What font should I use for professional emails?

Stick with Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, or Verdana in size 11 or 12. These fonts are universally supported, easy to read on screen, and appropriate for business. Avoid decorative fonts, very small sizes, and bright colors unless your workplace culture is very casual.