How to Stop Outlook from Using Bold Text by Default
Question details
The user needs to disable the default bold text formatting for new emails in Microsoft Outlook.
- Product
- Microsoft Outlook
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Composing new email messages in Outlook.
- Observed behavior
- Every new email message automatically opens with bold text formatting applied due to changed default font settings.
Ensure you have Microsoft Outlook open and are not actively drafting an important email, as you will need to access the main application settings. If your organization manages your IT settings, you might need administrative permissions to change global templates.
Adjust Default Font Settings in Outlook
The most direct and common way to fix default formatting issues is through Outlook's built-in Stationery and Fonts menu.
Outlook provides a dedicated interface to control the default appearance of all outgoing emails. Adjusting the font style back to 'Regular' here will solve the bold text issue for standard setups.
Launch Outlook, click on the 'File' tab in the top left corner, and select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.
In the Outlook Options dialog box, select 'Mail' from the left-hand navigation pane, then click the 'Stationery and Fonts...' button on the right side.
Under the 'New mail messages' section, click the 'Font' button to open the font customization window.
In the Font dialog, select 'Regular' under Font style to remove the bold formatting. Choose your preferred font (such as Calibri or Aptos), and click 'OK' on all open windows to save the changes.
Reset the NormalEmail Template via Microsoft Word
If the standard settings do not persist, the underlying email template file used by Outlook may be permanently set to bold.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Outlook keep reverting my font to bold after I restart?
This usually happens if the NormalEmail.dotm template is corrupted, set to 'Read-only', or overridden by an organizational group policy. Editing the template directly in Microsoft Word or checking with your IT administrator can resolve persistent issues.
Can I apply these font settings to replies and forwards as well?
Yes. In the Stationery and Fonts menu, you will see a separate 'Font' button under the 'Replying or forwarding messages' section. Click it and set the font style to Regular to ensure your replies are not bolded either.
Does changing the font in Outlook affect Microsoft Word?
No, changing the default font via Outlook's Stationery and Fonts settings only affects your email messages. Microsoft Word uses a completely separate template file (Normal.dotm) for its standard documents.
What is the default font for Microsoft Outlook?
In newer versions of Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft 365, the default font for new email messages is typically Aptos (or Calibri in older versions), size 11, with a Regular (non-bold) font style.
