Change your default font before you write a new message

The fastest way to set a default font in Outlook is to change it in the settings before you compose an email. Open Outlook and go to File > Options (on Windows) or Outlook > Preferences (on Mac). From there, find the mail formatting section and select your preferred font, size, and color. Any new message you write after this will use that font automatically.

This method works the same way whether you use Outlook on Windows, Mac, or the web version. The setting sticks until you change it again, so you only need to do this once. If you share a computer with other people, each person's Outlook account will remember their own font choice separately.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows Outlook users change the default font through File > Options > Mail > Stationery and Fonts.
  • Mac Outlook users find the font setting under Outlook > Preferences > Composing > Fonts.
  • Outlook on the web (Outlook.com) lets you set a default font in Settings > Mail > Compose and reply.
  • Your default font choice applies only to new messages you write, not to replies or forwarded messages unless you change those settings separately.
  • Changing the default font does not affect emails you have already sent or received.

Windows Outlook: Step-by-step font change

Click File in the top left corner of Outlook. Then select Options from the menu that appears. In the Outlook Options window, click Mail on the left side. Look for the section labeled Composing messages and click the button that says Stationery and Fonts.

A new window will open with tabs at the top. Click the tab labeled Personal Stationery. Under the section for new messages, you will see a button labeled Font. Click it to open the font picker. Choose your font name, size, and color from the list. Click OK twice to save your changes and close both windows. From now on, every new email you write will start in that font.

Mac Outlook: Step-by-step font change

Click Outlook in the menu bar at the top of your screen. Select Preferences from the dropdown. In the Preferences window, find and click Composing under the Mail section. Then click Fonts.

A fonts panel will appear. You will see separate options for new messages, replies, and forwarded messages. Click the dropdown next to New messages to pick your font and size. If you want replies and forwards to use the same font, change those dropdowns too. Close the Preferences window when you are done. Your new default font will be ready the next time you start writing an email.

Outlook on the web: Font change in browser

If you use Outlook through your web browser (Outlook.com or Outlook.office.com), the process is different. Click the gear icon in the top right corner and select View all Outlook settings. Click Mail on the left side, then click Compose and reply. Scroll down until you see the font options.

You will see dropdowns for font name and font size. Pick what you want and scroll to the bottom of the page to click Save. The change takes effect when ready. The next time you click to write a new message, your chosen font will already be selected in the compose box.

Replies and forwarded messages use different settings

When you change your default font in Outlook, it usually only affects brand-new messages you write from scratch. If you reply to someone or forward an email, Outlook may use a different font — often the font of the original message or a separate default you set for replies. This can be confusing if you expect all your emails to look the same.

To control the font for replies and forwards, go back to the same settings window where you changed your new message font. In Windows, that is the Stationery and Fonts window with the Personal Stationery tab. In Mac, it is the Fonts section under Composing. You will see separate font options for replies and forwards. Set them to match your new message font if you want everything to look consistent.

Why Outlook might not use your default font

Sometimes you set a default font and Outlook still uses a different one. The most common reason is that you are replying to or forwarding a message, which uses its own font settings instead of your default. Another reason is that your email account is set to send messages in plain text instead of rich text or HTML. Plain text does not support font choices — Outlook will use whatever font the recipient's email program displays plain text in.

To check this, open a new message and look at the top of the compose window. If you see a button or option that says Plain Text, click it and change it to HTML or Rich Text. Your font choices will then appear and work as expected. You can also set this as a default in the same Options or Preferences window where you changed your font.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my default font affect emails I already sent?

No. Your default font setting only applies to new messages you write going forward. Emails you have already sent will keep whatever font you used when you sent them. Emails in your inbox will display in whatever font the sender used.

Can I set different fonts for different email accounts?

Yes. If you have multiple email accounts set up in Outlook, each account can have its own default font. When you change the font settings, make sure the correct account is selected before you save. In Windows, check the account dropdown in the Stationery and Fonts window. On Mac, the setting applies to whichever account you are currently using.

What if the font I want does not appear in the font list?

The fonts available in Outlook are the fonts installed on your computer. If you want to use a font that is not showing up, you may need to install it first. read the font file, install it on your system through your operating system settings, and then restart Outlook. The font should then appear in the Outlook font list.

Does my recipient see the font I chose?

Usually yes, but not always. If you use a common font like Arial or Times New Roman, almost every email program will display it correctly. If you use an unusual or decorative font, the recipient's email program might not have it installed and will substitute a different font instead. Stick to standard fonts if you want your emails to look the same on the other end.

Can I use different fonts in the same email?

Yes. After you set your default font, you can highlight any text in your message and change just that text to a different font. Select the text, then use the font dropdown in the compose toolbar to pick a new font for only that selection. Your default font will still explore to any new text you type after that.