Where to find font controls on your iPhone

iPhone gives you font choices in a few places, but not everywhere. The main text app — Messages — does not let you change the font itself, though you can make text bold, italic, or strikethrough. Notes, Mail, and some third-party apps do offer font selection. The steps differ depending on which app you are using and whether you are typing new text or changing text you have already written.

Apple does not let you change the system font across your entire phone the way you can on Android. You cannot make every app use a different typeface. What you can do is change fonts within individual apps that support the feature, and adjust text size and boldness in your phone's accessibility settings, which affects most apps.

Key Takeaways

  • Notes and Mail let you pick from several fonts before or after you type, but Messages does not offer font selection.
  • To change font in Notes, tap the arrow next to "Aa" at the top, then choose your typeface from the menu.
  • Text size and boldness can be adjusted system-wide through Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size, which affects most apps.
  • Third-party keyboard apps and text editors offer more font options than Apple's built-in apps, though they work only within those specific apps.

Changing fonts in the Notes app

Notes is the easiest place to change font on iPhone. Open Notes and start typing or select text you have already written. At the top of the keyboard, you will see a button that looks like "Aa" with a small arrow next to it. Tap that arrow to open the font menu.

You will see four options: Helvetica, Courier, Palatino, and Marker Felt. Helvetica is the default. Tap whichever font you want, and it will apply to the text you selected or to any new text you type after that point. You can change fonts mid-note by selecting different text and picking a new font for just that section.

If you do not see the "Aa" button, make sure you are in the body of the note itself, not in the title. The font menu only appears when your cursor is in the main text area.

Changing fonts in Mail

Mail works similarly to Notes. When you are composing a new email, tap the arrow next to "Aa" in the toolbar above the keyboard. You will see the same four font choices. Select the one you want before you start typing, or select existing text and change its font.

The font you choose applies only to that email. Your next email will revert to the default unless you change it again. Mail does not have a setting to make a particular font your default for all outgoing messages.

Adjusting text size and boldness system-wide

If you want larger or bolder text across most of your apps without changing the actual typeface, use your phone's accessibility settings. Go to Settings, then tap Accessibility, then Display & Text Size. Here you will find several options that work across your entire phone.

Tap Text Size to make text larger or smaller in Mail, Messages, Notes, and many third-party apps. Use the slider to adjust. Larger Text is a separate setting that makes text even bigger in supported apps — toggle it on, then adjust the slider below it.

Bold Text is another toggle that makes text heavier and darker in most apps. Turn it on if you find regular text hard to read. These settings do not change the font itself, only how it looks, and they apply to system text throughout your phone.

Using third-party keyboards and text editors

If the four built-in fonts are not enough, third-party keyboard apps and text editors offer more choices. Apps like Markdown editors or specialized note-taking tools often include additional fonts. Download one from the App Store, open it, and look for font or text formatting options in the settings or toolbar.

Keep in mind that custom fonts in third-party apps work only within that app. If you type in a special font in a third-party editor and then copy the text into Messages or Mail, the font will not carry over — it will revert to the default. The recipient will see plain text, not the formatted version.

Some third-party keyboards let you type in different fonts directly, but they have the same limitation: the font choice is visible only on your phone while you are typing. Once you send the text, the recipient sees it in their default font.

Why some apps do not have font options

Messages, FaceTime, and some other Apple apps do not let you change the font because Apple designed them to look consistent across all iPhones. The company prioritizes a uniform experience over customization in these core communication apps. You can make text bold, italic, or strikethrough in Messages by selecting text and tapping the formatting options, but you cannot change the typeface itself.

This is different from Android, where you can often change fonts system-wide or in more apps. It is a trade-off: iPhone offers fewer font choices but a more predictable, streamlined look across your phone.

Copying formatted text between apps

If you format text in Notes with a specific font and then copy it to paste elsewhere, the formatting usually does not survive. When you paste into Messages or Mail, the text will appear in that app's default font. The exception is bold, italic, and strikethrough — those formatting marks often carry over because they are simpler formatting codes that most apps recognize.

If you need formatted text to stay formatted when you send it, take a screenshot of the Notes app instead and send the image. That preserves the font exactly as you see it, though the recipient receives a picture rather than editable text.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the font in Messages?

No. Messages does not have a font selection menu. You can make text bold, italic, or strikethrough by selecting it and tapping the formatting button, but you cannot change the typeface. The app uses the same font for all users to keep conversations looking consistent.

Will my custom font show up when I send text to someone else?

No. If you type in a custom font in Notes or Mail and send it, the recipient will see it in their default font. Custom fonts work only on your phone within the app you created them in. Bold, italic, and strikethrough usually do carry over because they are standard formatting codes.

How do I make text bigger across my whole phone?

Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size. Use the Text Size slider to adjust text in Mail, Messages, Notes, and many other apps. For even larger text, turn on Larger Text and adjust that slider too. These changes affect most built-in and third-party apps.

Can I set a default font for all my emails?

No. Mail does not have a default font setting. You have to choose your font each time you compose a new email. The four available fonts are Helvetica, Courier, Palatino, and Marker Felt.

What third-party apps have the most font options?

Markdown editors, note-taking apps, and specialized text editors typically offer more fonts than Apple's built-in apps. Search the App Store for "text editor" or "note app" and check the description to see which fonts each one supports. Remember that custom fonts only display within that app.