Tired of changing the font every time you start a new message or reply in Outlook? Wondering whether you can change the default font size? Find out here how to change the default font (and font size) in Outlook for Windows.
First, No Rest Growing
Mt. Everest grows about a hundredth of an inch a year by… erosion.
Erosion itself erodes the mountain, of course, and shaves matter off its top. By the way of a mighty river, erosion has also carved the Arun valley, though, and removed even more matter from the Earth’s crust in the region.
Lighter, the crust now slowly rises like a small boat after you have gotten off. That also lifts Mt. Everest.
Now, want to raise the height of your letters by default in the emails you write or shave something off their top?
How to Change the Default Font in Outlook for Windows
Classic Outlook
Time needed: 2 minutes
To change the font used for writing emails in classic Outlook for Windows:
- Click File in the main Outlook window.
- Select Options.
- Go to the Mail category.
- Click Stationery and Fonts… under Compose messages.
- Now click Font… for New mail messages.
“Font…” not clickable: If you cannot click Font…, Outlook is set to use the font specified by the default stationery; you can either disable the stationery or pick Always use my fonts for Font: under Theme or stationery for new HTML e-mail message.
- Choose the typeface settings you want to use for composing new messages.
The frills: You can pick from all the settings available (including those on the Advanced tab) to customize the font to your liking; note that Outlook does show every possible option, though some of them make little sense applied to all text as a default (e.g., Super– and Subscript).
- Click OK.
- Now click Font… for Replying or forwarding messages.
- Choose the typeface and options to use for your text by default when you reply to an email or forward it.
- Click OK.
- Finally, click Font… for Composing and reading plain text messages.
Just for show: Plain text emails in Outlook are sent without formatting, of course; so, while you will see the typeface and options you pick here, recipients will see the contents in their email program’s way to display plain text emails.
- Click OK three times to commit and close all options dialogs.
New Outlook
To change the default font face, size, color and formatting options in new Outlook:
- Click the settings gear icon in Outlook.
No settings gear: If you do not see the settings gear initially, click the three dots (Access additional features) menu icon in the title bar. - Go to the Mail category.
- Choose Compose and reply.
- Pick the typeface and font settings you would like to use by default under Compose and reply.
Only for HTML: New Outlook will only use the font you pick here for rich HTML emails; do choose Compose messages in HTML format to use the font by default. - Click Save.
- Close the settings window.
How to Change the Default Font in Outlook for Windows: FAQ
Will the font be embedded in the emails I send?
No.
In the email’s source code, Outlook will only specify the font to be used. If the typeface is not available on a recipient’s device, it will choose a fallback default font (with options such as underlining applied).
How can I reset the font?
To reset the font choice to default values in Outlook classic:
- Go to the new email, replying or plain text font settings. (See above.)
- Choose +Body (or +Headings) to choose the stationery’s default body or heading font respectively.
No stationery: Pick +Body without a default stationery specified to reset to Outlook’s default. - Reset all effects and settings.
In new Outlook, choose 11 pt Calibri to go back to a standard typeface and font size.
Can I just change the default font size?
Yes.
To change the default font size without altering the font:
- Go to the stationery and font settings in Outlook classic or new Outlook, then only change the font size.
“Default” font: For the default font in classic Outlook, choose +Body (with no stationery selected); see above.
Can I change the font for an individual email I send?
Yes.
You can, of course, change the font and formatting to your heart’s content once you have started any new email or reply in Outlook.
(How to change the default font tested with Outlook classic 2410 and new Outlook 1.2024.1023; first published November 2024)