Ask Dave Taylor
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • YouTube Videos
  • Top Categories
  • Subscribe via Email
  • Ask A Question
  • Meet Dave
  • Home
  • Outlook & Office 365 Help
  • How Can I Change My Default Font in Outlook.com?

How Can I Change My Default Font in Outlook.com?

May 5, 2022 / Dave Taylor / Outlook & Office 365 Help / No Comments

Not sure why, but every time I go to send an email message in Outlook, the font is too big. My default is now 13 point Courier, but everyone else is using a smaller, more attractive typeface. How can I change this with Outlook online?

I expect that Microsoft’s Outlook engineers really enjoy the Spider-Man movie series. Why? Because the entire Office suite is an example of “with great flexibility comes great complexity”. Okay, maybe that’s not exactly what Peter Parker would say in the Spider-Man films, but Outlook.com is remarkably complicated. It’s no surprise that most users have a setting or two that they haven’t updated, along with some additional features worth trying that are hidden in the sprawling settings and configuration area.

But getting your defaults correct for entering a new email message is pretty darn important. You can change messages before you send them, but email after email gets tedious. So let’s fix it!

IDENTIFYING YOUR DEFAULT OUTLOOK FONT

The easiest way to see what your defaults are is to type in a few words into a new message composition window, then click to select an individual word. A small toolbar pops up that shows you the default font and font size:

outlook.com change default font email message - current setting

You can see that the pop-up indicates I’m using Calibri at 11 points. I can apply bold, italics, underline, change the background color, and change font color, all from that toolbar.

At the bottom of the window, it also shows the default on its separate toolbar, adding a few extra icons, notably the paintbrush (to copy and paste styles), a link for a clickable URL, and even more. Not enough icons? You can also add additional elements too, attachments with the paperclip icon, images with the photo icon, emoji with the smiley icon, and more!

I imagine that your defaults are not 11pt Calibri, so let’s fix it.

CHANGING THE DEFAULT FONT IN OUTLOOK.COM

To change your settings and preferences, find the gear icon on the top right. It’s part of that toolbar (sure are a lot of toolbars, aren’t there?)…

outlook.com change default font email message - outlook toolbar

It’s the icon approximately in the middle of those shown above. A click, then you’ll want to go to “Mail” on the left, then “Compose and reply” in the center list. You’ll see the following once you get to that spot:

outlook.com change default font email message - settings

You can see my default signature – since it’s my University of Denver account – but notice you can have more than one signature too: Just click “+ New signature” and you can go from there. You can also tweak your signature, including font, style, color, and even add a picture if you want. My suggestion: Keep it brief and functional.

But that’s not what we want to fix! Scroll down in the Compose and reply window and you’ll move to the correct spot:

outlook.com change default font email message - default email compose composition settings

Here’s where you can choose a favorite font – mine shows as blank right now since I haven’t chosen one – and a default size – mine is 11pt – for new messages. There are a lot of fonts (more accurately “typefaces”, but that’s another discussion) from which to choose too, including the curiously named Iskoola Pota:

outlook.com change default font email message - new font and font style

Notice I’ve also chosen bold and purple as my defaults too, as the example text demonstrates. Curious about that “Iskoola Pota”? Turns out it’s a Sinhala font, which means it’s intended for the Sinhala language, as used in Sri Lanka. It just turns out to have all the standard Latin-8 (English) characters too. Probably not a great long-term solution, but quite interesting and if you happen to speak Sinhala? It’s great!

More realistically, I’ll change back to Calibri, 11pt, no bold, no purple. A click on “Save” on the bottom of the window and my new default font settings are ready to go with the very next email I compose.

BEFORE WE LEAVE THIS WINDOW

While you’re on this settings window, however, do scroll around and read about some of the other settings. It’s where you’ll find one of the best named settings in any program on any platform: Joyful animations…

outlook.com change default font email message - settings - joyful animations

Enable it. Why wouldn’t you want joyful animations when you get positive email messages from friends and colleagues??

Pro Tip: I’ve been using and writing about Microsoft’s Office Suite for many years. Please check out my Outlook help library for plenty of useful tutorials, as well as additional Office 365 help pages! Thanks.

Let’s Stay In Touch!

Never miss a single article, review or tutorial here on AskDaveTaylor, sign up for my fun weekly newsletter!
Name: 
Your email address:*
Please enter all required fields
Correct invalid entries
No spam, ever. Promise. Powered by FeedBlitz
Please choose a color:
Starbucks coffee cup I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!
default outlook font, outlook defaults, outlook font, outlook joyful animation, outlook.com preferences

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Recent Posts

  • How Can I Enable Emergency Alerts in Spanish on Android?
  • Switch from 24-Hour Time to AM/PM in Ubuntu Linux?
  • Protect Your Connection and Privacy with Surfshark VPN
  • Can I Send Texts in iMessage with Effects from my Mac System?
  • How Do I Convert a Webp Graphics into a PNG in Windows?

On Our YouTube Channel

Monoprice DT-3BT Bluetooth Desktop Speakers -- REVIEW

FATORK Wi-Fi Smart Portable Movie Projector -- DEMO & REVIEW

Categories

  • AdSense, AdWords, and PPC Help (106)
  • Amazon, eBay, and Online Shopping Help, (161)
  • Android Help (202)
  • Apple iPad Help (145)
  • Apple Watch Help (53)
  • Articles, Tutorials, and Reviews (344)
  • Auto Tech Help (12)
  • Business Advice (199)
  • Chrome OS Help (25)
  • Computer & Internet Basics (764)
  • d) None of the Above (165)
  • Facebook Help (383)
  • Google, Chrome & Gmail Help (180)
  • HTML & Web Page Design (245)
  • Instagram Help (48)
  • iPhone & iOS Help (607)
  • iPod & MP3 Player Help (173)
  • Kindle & Nook Help (93)
  • LinkedIn Help (85)
  • Linux Help (167)
  • Linux Shell Script Programming (87)
  • Mac & MacOS Help (895)
  • Most Popular (16)
  • Outlook & Office 365 Help (26)
  • PayPal Help (69)
  • Pinterest Help (53)
  • Reddit Help (18)
  • SEO & Marketing (81)
  • Spam, Scams & Security (93)
  • Trade Show News & Updates (23)
  • Twitter Help (217)
  • Video Game Tips (66)
  • Web Site Traffic Tips (62)
  • Windows PC Help (922)
  • Wordpress Help (204)
  • Writing and Publishing (72)
  • YouTube Help (46)
  • YouTube Video Reviews (159)
  • Zoom, Skype & Video Chat Help (57)

Archives

Social Connections:

Ask Dave Taylor


Follow Me on Pinterest
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on LinkedIn
Follow me on Instagram


AskDaveTaylor on Facebook



microsoft insider mvp


This web site is for the purpose of disseminating information for educational purposes, free of charge, for the benefit of all visitors. We take great care to provide quality information. However, we do not guarantee, and accept no legal liability whatsoever arising from or connected to, the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of any material contained on this site or on any linked site. Further, please note that by submitting a question or comment you're agreeing to our terms of service, which are: you relinquish any subsequent rights of ownership to your material by submitting it on this site. Our lawyer says "Thanks for your cooperation."
© 2022 by Dave Taylor. "Ask Dave Taylor®" is a registered trademark of Intuitive Systems, LLC.
Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions - Accessibility Policy