What you can actually change on iPhone
You cannot change the color of regular text in emails, messages, or documents the way you might in a word processor on a computer. iPhone's built-in apps — Mail, Messages, Notes — do not have a text color tool. What you can change is the color of your entire interface: the background, buttons, and some accent colors through Settings. You can also use third-party apps that offer text color options, or format text in specific ways within certain apps.
The confusion usually comes from seeing colored text in messages or emails and assuming there is a hidden menu to do it yourself. Usually that colored text came from someone using a different device, a web-based email service, or a specialized app — not from iPhone's standard tools.
Key Takeaways
- iPhone's Mail, Messages, and Notes apps do not have built-in text color options for individual words or paragraphs.
- You can change the overall appearance of your iPhone through Settings by switching to Dark Mode or using Light Mode, which affects text contrast.
- Some third-party apps like Pages, Google Docs, or Canva let you write and format text in color, though these are separate from your main messaging apps.
- If you receive a colored message, it likely came from someone using a computer, Android device, or a specialized app, not from standard iPhone features.
Changing the background and text contrast in Settings
The closest built-in option is adjusting how text appears by changing your display mode. Open Settings, then tap Display & Brightness. You will see three options: Light, Dark, and Auto. Choosing Dark makes the background dark and text light, which some people find easier to read. Choosing Light keeps the background white and text dark.
If you want more control over colors, go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size. Here you can turn on Increase Contrast or Reduce Transparency, which makes text stand out more against backgrounds. You can also adjust text size, which makes reading easier without changing the actual color of the letters.
Using Notes app with limited formatting
The Notes app on iPhone does not have a text color tool in the traditional sense, but it does have a Checklist feature and the ability to use different text styles. Open Notes and start typing. Tap the formatting icon (it looks like Aa) at the bottom of the screen. You can choose Title, Heading, or Body text styles, but these change size and weight, not color.
If you need actual colored text, you will need to use a different app. Google Keep, available free from the App Store, lets you create notes with colored backgrounds (not text color, but the whole note can be yellow, green, or pink). For true text color in a note-taking context, apps like Notability or GoodNotes allow handwriting and some text formatting, though they are paid apps.
Creating colored text in Pages or Google Docs
If you have Apple's Pages app (free with a new iPhone), you can write a document and change text color. Open Pages, create a new document, and type your text. Select the words you want to color by tapping and dragging across them. Tap Format (the paintbrush icon), then scroll down and tap Text. You will see a color picker where you can choose any color you want.
Google Docs works similarly. Open the app, create a new document, type your text, select it, and tap the three dots menu. Choose Text color and pick from the color palette. Both of these create documents you can save or share, but the colored text will not appear in Messages or Mail — it stays within the document itself.
Why colored text does not work in Messages or Mail
Messages and Mail are designed to work across many different devices and systems. When you send a message through these apps, iPhone strips out most formatting to make sure the person on the other end can read it, whether they are using an iPhone, Android phone, or a computer. This is why you cannot add colored text, bold, or italics in a standard message.
If someone sends you a message with colored text, they likely used a computer email client (like Outlook or Gmail on a web browser), an Android phone with different messaging software, or they pasted text from another app. On the receiving end, your iPhone may or may not display those colors depending on what app you are using to read the message.
Third-party apps that support text color
If colored text is important for what you are doing, several apps let you create it. Canva (free with paid options) lets you design graphics with colored text. Adobe Express is similar. Microsoft Word on iPhone has full text formatting including color. Procreate Dreams is for creative work but includes text tools.
The trade-off is that these are specialized apps — you create something in them and then share it as an image or document, rather than typing directly in your messaging app. For everyday texting or emailing, iPhone straightforward does not offer text color as a feature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send a text message with colored words?
Not through the standard Messages app on iPhone. If you need to send colored text, you would create it in an app like Pages or Canva, take a screenshot, and send that as an image instead.
Why can I see colored text in emails I receive but cannot send it?
The person who sent it likely used a computer or a different device. Email clients on computers have text color tools that iPhone Mail does not have. Your iPhone can display the colored text they sent, but you cannot create it from your phone.
Does Dark Mode change the color of text I receive?
Dark Mode changes the background and makes text lighter so it is easier to read on a dark screen, but it does not change the actual color of the text itself. If someone sent you blue text, it will still be blue in Dark Mode.
Is there a hidden menu in Settings to change text color?
No. iPhone Settings let you change display modes, text size, and contrast, but not the color of individual text in your messages or emails. Any text color you see came from another app or device.
What if I want colored text just for myself, not to send to anyone?
Use Notes with a colored background, or create a document in Pages or Google Docs where you can color individual words. These stay on your phone and are not sent anywhere.