Where to find text color options on iPhone

Text color on iPhone depends on which app you're using. The built-in Notes app, Mail, and Messages each have their own color tools — and some third-party apps don't offer color changes at all. Apple's own apps hide the color button in different places, so the first step is knowing which app you're working in and where its formatting menu lives.

In Notes, the color tool appears in the toolbar above your keyboard when you're editing. In Mail, it's in the formatting menu you access by tapping the arrow icon. In Messages, you can't change text color directly — the app uses your system-wide text color instead. If you're using a different app like Google Docs or Microsoft Word, look for a formatting or text menu, usually represented by an "A" icon or three horizontal lines.

Key Takeaways

  • In Notes, tap the pen icon in the toolbar, then tap the color circle to pick a new text color before you type.
  • In Mail, highlight the text you want to color, tap the arrow icon, then select the color option from the menu.
  • Some apps like Messages don't support text color changes — the text will always appear in your default color.
  • Third-party apps vary widely; check the app's formatting menu or help section to see if color is available.

Changing text color in Notes

Notes is the easiest place to change text color on iPhone. Open the note you want to edit and look at the toolbar above the keyboard. You'll see several icons: one looks like a pen tip, another like a checklist, and one like a color circle. Tap the pen icon first — this opens the drawing and formatting options.

Once you tap the pen icon, a row of color circles appears below it. Tap whichever color you want to use. The color you pick will apply to any new text you type from that point forward. If you want to change the color of text you've already written, highlight it first by tapping and dragging across the words, then tap the pen icon and choose your new color. The highlighted text will change immediately.

Changing text color in Mail

Mail requires a different approach because the color tool is buried in the formatting menu. Start by typing or pasting the text you want to color. Highlight the text by tapping and holding on a word, then dragging to select all the text you want to change. You'll see a menu pop up with options like Cut, Copy, and Paste.

Look for an arrow icon pointing to the right at the end of that menu — tap it to reveal more options. One of these will be a formatting menu (sometimes labeled "Text" or shown as an "A" icon). Tap that, and you'll see color options appear. Select the color you want, and the highlighted text will change. If the color menu doesn't appear, your version of Mail may not support text color, which happens on older iPhone models running older iOS versions.

Apps that don't support text color

Messages, WhatsApp, and most messaging apps don't let you change text color directly within the app. The text you send will always appear in whatever color your phone's system settings use — usually black on a light background or white on a dark background. This is by design: messaging apps prioritize speed and simplicity over formatting options.

If you need colored text in a message, your only option is to take a screenshot of colored text from another app (like Notes) and send that as an image instead. This works but defeats the purpose of sending a quick text message. For apps you use regularly, check the app's settings or help menu to confirm whether color is available — some apps add this feature in updates.

Using text color in Google Docs and Word

Google Docs and Microsoft Word both support text color on iPhone, but the process is slightly different from Apple's apps. In Google Docs, highlight the text you want to color, then tap the "A" icon with an underline in the toolbar. A menu appears with formatting options including text color. Tap the color circle, choose your color, and tap outside the menu to apply it.

In Word, highlight your text, then tap the Home tab at the bottom of the screen. Look for the "A" icon with a colored underline — this is the text color button. Tap it to see color options, select the one you want, and your text changes. Both apps save your color choices with the document, so the colors will appear the same way on any device that opens the file.

Limitations and what won't work

Text color on iPhone has real limits. First, colored text only stays colored within the app where you created it. If you copy colored text from Notes and paste it into Mail, it may lose its color depending on how the receiving app handles formatting. Second, some older iPhones running iOS 14 or earlier have limited color support in certain apps — Apple added more robust formatting options in iOS 15 and later.

Third, if you're trying to change the color of text in a document someone else created and shared with you, you may not have permission to edit it. Google Docs and Word show you if a document is read-only before you try to make changes. Finally, text color is purely visual — it doesn't affect how the text functions, how it's searchable, or how it's organized. It's a formatting choice, not a structural one.

Changing your default text color system-wide

You can't change the default text color for all apps at once on iPhone. Each app controls its own text color independently. However, you can change your iPhone's appearance between Light Mode and Dark Mode, which affects how text appears across most apps. Go to Settings, tap Display & Brightness, and choose Light or Dark. In Dark Mode, text appears white or light gray by default; in Light Mode, it appears black or dark gray.

Some apps also have their own appearance settings. In Notes, for example, you can set a default background color (like sepia or dark), which changes how colored text looks against that background. Check each app's settings to see what appearance options it offers. This won't change the text color itself, but it will change how that color appears visually.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does colored text in Notes stay colored when I share it?

It depends on how you share it. If you share a Notes document directly through the Notes app's sharing feature, the colors stay intact for anyone who opens it in Notes. If you copy the text and paste it into an email or message, the color may be lost because those apps don't always preserve formatting from other sources.

Can I change text color in iMessage or text messages?

No, iMessage and the Messages app don't support text color changes. Your text will always appear in the default color your phone uses. You can use emoji or special characters to add visual interest, but not color.

Why doesn't the color option appear in my Mail app?

Your iPhone may be running an older version of iOS that doesn't support text color in Mail, or your email account type may not support it. Try updating to the latest iOS version in Settings > General > Software Update. If the option still doesn't appear after an update, your email provider may not support formatted text.

Can I use custom colors or just the preset ones?

In Notes, you get the preset color circles that Apple provides — you can't create a custom color by entering a hex code or RGB value. In Google Docs and Word, you may have access to a color picker that lets you choose from a wider range, but this varies by app version.

What happens to colored text if I switch to Dark Mode?

Colored text stays the same color, but it may be harder to read depending on the color and your background. For example, dark blue text on a dark background becomes nearly invisible in Dark Mode. Test how your colored text looks in both Light and Dark Mode before sharing it with others.