How To Change Default Font On Outlook

Tired of typing every email in the same plain font? Changing the default font in Outlook means every new message, reply, and forward will automatically use the style you choose. This guide walks you through the desktop app, web version, and mobile settings in about five minutes.

Fast Answer

Main setting: File > Options > Mail > Stationery and Fonts
Default choice: Calibri 11pt (safe for most screens)

5 min Time needed

Easy Difficulty

New emails vs replies Watch out for

Before You Start

Open Outlook on your computer or log in to Outlook on the web at outlook.com
Know which version you use: Windows desktop app, Mac app, or web browser
Decide on a font that is easy to read and professional, like Calibri, Arial, or Verdana
If you use Outlook at work, check whether your IT team applies theme fonts that override personal settings

Check first: On the Windows desktop app, outgoing email defaults to your main theme font unless you set a specific font for new messages, replies, and forwards separately. Skip one of the three sections and Outlook may still use the old style.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Change the default font on Outlook for Windows desktop

Open Outlook on your PC and click File in the top-left corner. A full-page menu appears. Select Options at the bottom of the left-hand panel. In the Outlook Options window, choose Mail from the left sidebar, then scroll down to the Compose messages section. Click the button labelled Stationery and Fonts.

A new window opens with three font buttons: New mail messages, Replying or forwarding messages, and Composing and reading plain text messages. Click the first one to choose the font for brand-new emails. Pick your family, size, style, and colour, then click OK. Repeat this for replies and forwards by clicking the second button.

Tip: Many users set replies and forwards to the same font as new messages so the whole conversation thread looks consistent.

Set the default font on Outlook for Mac

If you use Outlook on a Mac, the menu layout differs. Go to the top menu bar and click Outlook, then Preferences. In the Preferences window, select Fonts. You will see three dropdown menus similar to the Windows version: New mail, Reply, and Forward.

Click the font name next to each option to open the Mac font picker. Choose your preferred family, size, and style, then close the picker. The changes save automatically. To test, click New Email and check the toolbar shows your chosen font.

Watch out: On Mac, the default font for plain text messages is controlled separately under Fixed-width font. Change that too if you send or receive plain text emails.

Change the default font on Outlook on the web

Open outlook.com in your browser and sign in. Click the gear icon in the top-right corner to open Settings. At the bottom of the Settings pane, choose View all Outlook settings. A larger window appears with several tabs.

Select Mail, then Compose and reply. Scroll to the Message format section. You will see a dropdown for Default font. Choose your preferred font family and size. The web version applies this font to new messages, replies, and forwards automatically, so there is nothing else to fill in.

Tip: The web app uses the same font for all three message types. If you write careful, formal emails for work, choose a classic serif like Georgia instead of Comic Sans.

Change the default font on the Outlook mobile app

Open the Outlook app on your iPhone or Android phone. Tap your profile picture in the top-left corner to open the sidebar. Scroll to the bottom and tap the gear icon for Settings.

Look for the section labelled Mail. Tap Default font size to adjust how large text appears when composing messages. Note that the mobile app does not let you pick a custom font family such as Arial or Georgia. Instead, the font follows your device theme on iOS and Android.

Check first: The mobile app only offers font size control, not full family names. For a true custom font on the go, compose on desktop and continue on mobile using the same account.

Apply your font to every email automatically

Once you set the font in the desktop app or web version, Outlook applies it to every new email by default. If you still see the old font, close and reopen Outlook completely. Some computers cache settings and need a restart before applying changes.

Test by clicking New Email and typing a short line. Check the font name and size in the Format Text tab on Windows or the toolbar on Mac. If it matches what you selected, the default is now set correctly.

Tip: Send yourself a test email and view it on your phone. That shows exactly what recipients will see on a mobile screen.

Quick Reference

Situation	Use this	Why
Windows desktop app	File > Options > Mail > Stationery and Fonts	Lets you set separate fonts for new, reply, and plain text messages
Mac desktop app	Outlook > Preferences > Fonts	Simpler layout with three font dropdown menus
Outlook on the web	Settings gear > View all settings > Mail > Compose and reply	One dropdown controls all outgoing email
Mobile app	Settings gear > Mail > Default font size	Only size control available, not family choice
Work or school account	Check theme fonts in the design menu	IT managers can force a company-wide font that ignores your personal defaults

Common Problems When You Change Default Font On Outlook

Your chosen font does not appear in new emails. This usually means you changed the font for the current email only using the toolbar, which overrides the default for that composition window. Close the email and reopen it from the New Email button to check again.

Replies still use the old font even after you changed new message settings. On Windows, replies and forwards have their own font button inside Stationery and Fonts. Go back and set the second button labelled Replying or forwarding messages to match your new font.

The web version ignores your font when you use a work account. Organisations often apply an Exchange Online policy that sets a theme font. Open Outlook settings and look under Mail > Compose and reply. If the font dropdown is greyed out, contact your IT support desk to request an exception.

Your font looks different on the recipient’s device. Fonts like Calibri and Arial are widely installed, but niche fonts may fall back to a standard replacement. Stick to common web-safe fonts for important business emails.

Advanced Tips for How To Change Default Font On Outlook

Set a default size for readability. A font size of 11pt or 12pt works best on most screens. If you frequently email older recipients, choose 12pt to avoid squinting on mobile devices.

Use a signature font sparingly. Your email signature can use a different font, but keep the body text in your chosen default. Multiple fonts within one email look unprofessional on smaller screens.

Pair your font with a theme. In Outlook for Windows, click File > Options > Mail > Stationery and Fonts > Theme to create a coordinated colour scheme that matches your font. This is useful for business-branded communication.

Apply a dark mode friendly font. If you switch Outlook to dark mode, choose a light grey or white font colour on a dark background. Test the contrast by sending yourself a test email with the dark theme enabled.

How To Change Default Font On Outlook FAQ

Common Issues

If the result is not working as expected, return to the previous step, check the material or setting involved, and make one adjustment at a time for how to change default font on outlook.

Will changing the default font affect emails I already sent?

No. This setting only applies to new messages, replies, and forwards you create after changing the font. Emails already in your Sent folder keep the formatting they had when you sent them.

Can I use a different font for replies compared to new messages?

Yes, on the Windows desktop app. Open Stationery and Fonts and set the reply and forward font separately. On the web version, the same font applies to all three types.

Why does my default font keep reverting to Calibri?

Your Outlook theme may override custom fonts. Windows desktop shares a theme font with the rest of Office. Change the theme font under File > Options > General > Office Theme, or set your font again after changing themes.

How do I reset Outlook to the original default font?

Go back to the same settings you used and select Calibri 11pt for new messages, replies, and plain text. On the web version, choose Calibri 11 from the dropdown. Save and restart each app to apply the reset.

Does changing the font size affect how the email looks on a phone?

Yes. A larger font size stays large on mobile, which helps readability. However, recipient email apps may compress long lines. Use 12pt maximum for professional correspondence.

Final Checklist for How To Change Default Font On Outlook

You know which Outlook version you use (Windows, Mac, web, or mobile)
You chose a readable font family and size
You set new messages, replies and forwards separately on Windows desktop
You applied the same font on the web version if you use both
You restarted Outlook completely after changing settings
You sent a test email to yourself to confirm the font looks right
You checked that your work or school theme does not override your choice

Next action: Open your email settings today and set a single font you use for the next month. Consistency makes your messages look polished without extra effort.