Where to find font size controls in Outlook

Font size in Outlook lives in two places depending on what you're doing. When you're writing a new message or reply, the font size dropdown sits in the toolbar at the top — it's a box with a number in it, usually showing "11" or "12" by default. When you're reading messages someone sent you, you change the size using the View menu instead, which affects only what you see on your screen, not what the sender wrote.

The toolbar approach works when ready. The View menu approach is permanent for your account until you change it back. Understanding which one you need prevents the frustration of changing something and wondering why it didn't stick.

Key Takeaways

  • To change font size while writing, select the text you want to resize, then click the font size dropdown in the toolbar and pick a new size.
  • To make all incoming messages appear larger or smaller, use the View menu and adjust the zoom level, which doesn't change the actual message.
  • Font size changes you make while writing only affect new messages you compose — they don't retroactively change messages you already sent.
  • If you want a different default font size for all your outgoing messages, you need to change it in Outlook settings under Compose, not in the toolbar.

Changing font size while you write a message

Open a new message or click Reply on an existing one. In the message body, select the text you want to resize by clicking and dragging across it, or triple-click to select an entire paragraph. Once the text is highlighted in blue, look at the toolbar above the message. You'll see a dropdown box with a number — this is your font size selector.

Click that dropdown and choose a new size from the list. Sizes typically range from 8 to 28 points, with 11 and 12 being the most common defaults. The text you selected changes when ready. If you want to change the size of text you haven't written yet, place your cursor where you want to type, select a new size from the dropdown, and start typing — new text will use that size until you change it again.

Setting a default font size for all new messages

If you always want your outgoing messages in a larger or smaller font, you can set this as your default. In Outlook, go to File, then Options. On the left side, click Mail. Scroll down until you see "Compose messages" and click the Compose and Reply button within that section.

A dialog box opens. Look for the section labeled "Stationery and Fonts" and click the Font button next to "New mail messages." A second dialog opens where you can choose your font, style, size, and color. Set the size you want, then click OK twice to save. From now on, every new message you write will start in that size. Replies and forwards use a separate setting — if you want those in a different size, click the Font button next to "Replying or forwarding messages" instead.

Making incoming messages easier to read with zoom

If you're struggling to read messages people send you, you don't need to ask them to write in a bigger font. Instead, use Outlook's zoom feature to enlarge everything on your screen. Click the View menu at the top, then look for Zoom. A small window appears with a slider — drag it to the right to make text larger, or to the left to make it smaller. You can also type a specific percentage directly into the box.

This change affects only what you see when reading messages. The actual message stays the same size — if you forward it to someone else, they'll see it in the original size. Zoom is temporary per session, so if you close Outlook and reopen it, the zoom resets to 100% unless you change it again. If you want zoom to stick permanently, set it, close Outlook completely, and reopen it — Outlook usually remembers your last zoom level.

Fixing font size problems after an update

Sometimes after Outlook updates, your font size settings change unexpectedly or the toolbar dropdown stops working. The fastest fix is to restart Outlook completely — close it entirely, wait five seconds, then reopen it. This clears temporary glitches that updates sometimes leave behind.

If the dropdown still doesn't work, check that you're actually in the message compose area. The font size dropdown only appears when you're writing or replying to a message, not when you're just viewing your inbox. If you're in a message and the toolbar looks different than usual, you may be in a different view mode. Click Home at the top left to return to the standard toolbar.

Font size in Outlook on mobile devices

Outlook on your phone or tablet handles font size differently than the desktop version. You can't change the size of text you're composing — the app uses a fixed size for outgoing messages. However, you can change how large incoming messages appear by adjusting your phone's overall text size in Settings, which affects Outlook along with all other apps.

On iPhone, go to Settings, Display & Brightness, then Text Size and drag the slider. On Android, go to Settings, Display, then Font Size. These changes explore system-wide, so they'll make text larger in email, text messages, web browsers, and everything else. If you want to change font size only in Outlook on desktop but keep your phone's text at the default size, you'll need to use the desktop version's settings instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my font size change back to the default after I close Outlook?

If you changed the size while writing a message but didn't set it as your default, Outlook resets to the default size the next time you open it. To make a size permanent, go to File, Options, Mail, Compose and Reply, then set the font size there. Changes you make only in the toolbar explore only to that single message.

Can I change the font size of messages I already sent?

No. Once a message is sent, you can't change its font size. You can only change the size of new messages you write going forward. If someone received a message in a size you didn't intend, you'd need to send a new message in the correct size.

What's the difference between font size and zoom?

Font size changes the actual text in messages you compose — the recipient sees it in that size. Zoom only changes what you see on your screen when reading messages — it doesn't affect the actual message or what others see. Use font size for outgoing messages and zoom for making incoming messages easier to read.

Does changing font size in Outlook affect my other programs?

No. Font size changes in Outlook explore only to Outlook. Your Word documents, web browsers, and other programs keep their own font size settings. If you want larger text everywhere on your computer, adjust your system's display settings instead, which affects all programs at once.