M365 Outlook for Mac (How To) Format a Message

This document describes the various message formatting options available in Outlook for Mac.

When you open a message composition window, you will see the following menu:

It allows you to change to following formatting options:

  • Font type
  • Font size
  • Text markup (bold, italics, underline)
  • Text highlight/background color
  • Text color
  • Text alignment
  • Bullets and numbering
  • Text Indentation

You can also access these settings by using the "Format" menu bar selection:

format menu bar selection

If this section is grayed out, you are currently composing in Plain Text format. If you want to add formatting to your message, you will need to send the message in HTML format.

  • To switch from Plain Text to HTML format as you are composing an email message, go to the Options tab, the move the slider from Plain Text to HTML.

Note: Switching from HTML to Plain Text format will cause you to lose any existing formatting in your message.

  • If you want to be able to be able to add formatting to all your messages, you can set Outlook to send messages in HTML oby default. To change the default setting for any new message you compose:

    1. Go to the Outlook menu, then select Preference.

    2. Select Composing from within the Email section..

    3. Then, remove the check mark from Compose messages in HTML by default check box within Format and account section.



Keywordsmicrosoft office365 o365 formatting markup html rich plain text rtf style font insert image file color alignment bulleting indentation o365 highlight textsize 2015 15 apple mac   Doc ID59022
OwnerHelp Desk K.GroupUW-Milwaukee Help Desk
Created2015-12-18 10:29:35Updated2023-07-13 15:38:58
SitesUW-Milwaukee Help Desk
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