Change text size in Outlook on Windows or Mac

You can make text larger or smaller in Outlook in three ways: zoom the entire window, change the default font size for new messages, or adjust the size of text you are reading. The method you choose depends on whether you want the change to affect everything you see, just the messages you write, or just what you are reading right now.

On Windows, the quickest fix is to use Ctrl and the plus key to zoom in, or Ctrl and the minus key to zoom out. On Mac, use Command and the plus key or Command and the minus key. This zooms the entire Outlook window — your inbox, message list, and message content all get larger together. The zoom level stays until you change it again.

If you want text to stay larger only when you are reading messages (not in your inbox), use the zoom controls inside a message itself. Open any email, then use the same keyboard shortcuts or look for the zoom percentage in the bottom right corner of the message and click it to adjust.

Key Takeaways

  • Use Ctrl+Plus (Windows) or Command+Plus (Mac) to zoom the entire Outlook window, making all text larger at once.
  • To change the default font size for messages you write, go to File > Options > Mail > Compose Messages and adjust the font size in the editor toolbar.
  • You can zoom in on a single message without affecting your inbox by opening the message and using the zoom controls at the bottom right.
  • Zoom changes to the entire window persist across sessions, but zoom changes to individual messages reset when you close them.

Zoom the entire Outlook window

The fastest way to make everything in Outlook larger is to zoom the whole application. This affects your inbox list, the preview pane, message headers, and message content all at once.

On Windows, hold Ctrl and press the plus key (the one on the main keyboard, not the numpad) to zoom in. Press it multiple times to zoom further. Use Ctrl and the minus key to zoom back out. To reset to 100 percent, press Ctrl+0 (zero).

On Mac, hold Command and press the plus key to zoom in, or Command and the minus key to zoom out. Press Command+0 to reset to 100 percent.

Outlook remembers your zoom level the next time you open it, so you only have to set it once. If you use Outlook on multiple devices, each device keeps its own zoom setting.

Change the default font size for messages you write

If you want new messages you compose to use a larger font by default, you can set that in Outlook's settings. This does not change the size of messages you receive — only the messages you send.

On Windows, go to File > Options > Mail > Compose Messages. Under "Compose messages", click the Stationery and Fonts button. In the window that opens, click the Font button under "New mail messages". Choose your font size from the dropdown and click OK. Click OK again to save.

On Mac, go to Outlook > Preferences > Compose. Under "Message format", click Fonts. Select the font size you want and click OK.

This setting applies only to new messages you write from scratch. If you reply to or forward a message, Outlook uses the font size of the original message unless you manually change it.

Adjust text size while reading a single message

You can zoom in on one message without changing your inbox or other messages. This is useful if you want to read one email in larger text but do not want to zoom the entire application.

Open the message you want to read. Look at the bottom right corner of the message — you will see a zoom percentage (usually "100%"). Click on it to open a zoom slider, or use Ctrl+Plus and Ctrl+Minus to adjust. The zoom level applies only to that message. When you close the message and open a different one, the zoom resets to 100 percent.

This method is faster than zooming the whole window if you only need larger text for one or two messages.

Change text size in Outlook on the web

If you use Outlook in a web browser instead of the desktop app, you can zoom using your browser's zoom controls. Press Ctrl+Plus (Windows) or Command+Plus (Mac) to zoom in. The browser remembers your zoom level for that website.

You cannot change the default font size for messages you compose in Outlook on the web the way you can in the desktop app. Your only option is to zoom the entire page using your browser.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing text size affect how my emails look to people who receive them?

No. Zooming Outlook only changes what you see on your screen. When you send a message, it uses the actual font size you set in the message itself, not your zoom level. If you want recipients to see larger text, you must change the font size inside the message before sending it.

Why does my text size reset when I close and reopen Outlook?

If you zoomed the entire window using Ctrl+Plus, Outlook should remember that zoom level. If it is not, check that you are using the same user account and that Outlook has permission to save settings. If you zoomed a single message, that zoom resets by design — it only applies to that one message while it is open.

Can I set a different default font size for replies versus new messages?

In the Windows desktop app, you can set separate fonts for new messages and replies. Go to File > Options > Mail > Compose Messages > Stationery and Fonts, and you will see separate buttons for "New mail messages" and "Replying or forwarding messages". Set each one independently.

What if the zoom controls are not working?

Make sure you are holding Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) while pressing the plus or minus key. If keyboard shortcuts do not work, try clicking the zoom percentage at the bottom right of a message and using the slider instead. If Outlook is frozen or not responding, close and reopen it.