Looking for more elegance in your email than Calibri can muster? Want to make parts of your text stand out in bold or italic letter? How about highlighting key passages with a marker-like yellow background? Find out here how to change the font and its formatting in Windows Mail.
First, Sr. Reyes Basoalto Wrote in Color
Known as Pablo Neruda, the Chilean poet-politician famously wrote in color—and not any color, mind you.
He wrote in the color of hope, which is why a quick search of the web for Pablo Neruda handwriting will dress your screen in green.
How to Change the Font Formatting in Windows Mail
Changing fonts—not only in Mail? How to Change the Windows 10 Interface Font
Time needed: 5 minutes
To change the font (including typeface, size, and formatting) when you write an email in Mail for Windows:
- Highlight the text for which you want to change the font.
No selection: Without text highlighted, the changes will apply to anything you write from now on.
- Go to the Format tab on the ribbon.
- Use the toolbar buttons to apply text formatting options and colors.
B (Bold): Make text bold.
I (Italic): Italicize text.
U (Underline): Underline text.
Highlight: Change the background color to yellow.
Font color: Use the drop-down menu to change the font face’s color. - Click Font Formatting (a downward caret next to the formatting toolbar buttons) to change the typeface, font size and more.
Font: Use the drop-down menu to choose a font. (Finding typefaces: Type in the Font field and have Mail for Windows auto-complete typefaces.)
Font Size: Choose a font size from the drop-down menu or type over the current size.
Strikethrough: Draw a line through text to strike it out.
Sub– and Superscript: Decrease font size and draw the selected text (or letter) below or above the line, respectively. - Click Alignment to choose text alignment (left, center, right or justified).
- Use Styles for a few formatting options not otherwise possible.
SUBTLE REFERENCE: Use small caps for selected text.
How to Change the Font Formatting in Windows Mail: FAQ
How can I remove all formatting and revert text to the default font and font size?
To reset all formatting options (including those chosen using a text style) to the default values:
- Highlight the text for which you want to delete the formatting.
Keyboard shortcut: Press Ctrl A to highlight all text in the message body. - Go to the Format tab in the ribbon.
- Click Font Formatting.
- Now choose Clear All Formatting from the drop-down menu.
Can I format text with keyboard shortcuts?
Yes, a few keyboard shortcuts let you apply text formatting in Mail for Windows quickly:
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Bold | Ctrl B |
| Italics | Ctrl I |
| Underline | Ctrl U |
| Align left | Ctrl L |
| Center | Ctrl E |
| Align right | Ctrl R |
| Justify | Ctrl J |
| Justify all (including last line) | Ctrl Shift J |
| Indent (except first line) | Ctrl T |
| Focus the ribbon’s Format tab | Alt O |
Can I change the default font for Mail?
Yes, you can change the default typeface and font size (and a few other formatting choices) for new messages.
(How to change the font formatting tested with Windows Mail Version 16005; first published October 2020, last updated March 2024)