Applies ToOutlook for Microsoft 365 Outlook 2024 Outlook 2021 Outlook 2019 Outlook 2016 New Outlook for Windows

You can change the format of a message when you reply to it or forward it. If someone sends you a plain text message, for example, you can reply to that message or forward it by using HTML or Rich Text Format.

How the message appears to the person receiving it depends on their email program. If the recipient's email program is set to convert messages, for example, then a message you send formatted as HTML could be converted to plain text.

Select a tab option below for the version of Outlook you're using. What version of Outlook do I have?

Note: If the steps under this New Outlook tab don't work, you may not be using new Outlook for Windows yet. Select the Classic Outlook tab and follow those steps instead.

​​​​​​​New Outlook gives you two message format choices. You can choose the format you want depending on whether you’re including bold or italic text, colors, bullets, or pictures in the message body.

In this article:

Change format of reply or forwarded messages | Change format of new messages | Change format of all messages

Each message format has different benefits.

HTML

This is the default message format in new Outlook. HTML is also the best format to use when you want to create messages that look like traditional documents, with various fonts, colors, and bulleted and numbered lists, and when you want to show pictures inside your message.

Plain text

This format works for all email programs, but it doesn’t support bold or italic text, colored fonts, or other text formatting. The plain text format also doesn't support showing pictures inside the message, although you can include pictures as attachments.

What would you like to do?

Change the format of a reply or a forwarded message in new Outlook

You can change an HTML formatted message to plain text.

  1. In the message, select Reply, Reply All, or Forward.

  2. If you’re working in the Reading Pane, select Pop Out.

    Note: If you aren’t working in the Reading Pane, you don’t need to do this.

  3. In the message window, select Options.

  4. Select Switch to plain text, then OK.

Change the format of one new message in new Outlook

  1. Create a message.

  2. If you’re working in the Reading Pane, select Pop Out.

    Note: If you aren’t working in the Reading Pane, you don’t need to do this.

  3. In the message window, choose Options, and then choose Switch to plain text.

Change the format of all new messages in new Outlook​​​​​​​

  1. At the top of the page, select Settings .

  2. Select Mail, then Compose and reply.

  3. Under Message format, you can select to Compose message in HTML or Plain text format, then Save.

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