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It was the Zoom setting that had been changed to less than 100%!
How can I reset the Outlook 2019 program to make the font sizes return to their default settings?
Barrett Kalellis
65
Reputation points
Most likely because of an inadvertent accidental keystroke, all the font sizes in my Outlook 2019 program suddenly got smaller. What would normally appear as a 16 pt. size now must be set to 24 pt. to appear the normal size onscreen. I have tried all the help suggestions for changing themes, font groups, etc. but nothing has restored the fonts to normal size. Worse, I sent an email to someone in which I had increased the font size to 24 pt. so it looked normal onscreen, but after I sent it, it appeared in the Sent folder with a gigantic increase in text size. I'm wondering if the recipient got it 16 pt. size or gigantic 24 pt.?
How can I restore the program to its normal default settings? The help menus do not address this weird issue. Thanks for any help someone might offer.
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Outlook | Windows | Classic Outlook for Windows | For home
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AI answer
2026-06-09T21:17:15.28+00:00 In Outlook 2019, font sizes can be returned to their default settings in two main areas: composing messages and reading messages.
- Reset default font for composing, replying, and forwarding
- Select File > Options > Mail.
- Under Compose messages, select Stationery and Fonts.
- On the Personal Stationery tab:
- Under New mail messages, select Font.
- Under Replying or forwarding messages, select Font.
- In each Font dialog, set the defaults back to the original values:
- Font: +Body
- Font style: Regular
- Size: 11
- Font color: Automatic
- Select OK in each dialog to return to Outlook.
This restores the default composing font (11‑point Calibri via the +Body setting). Messages sent after this change will use the default size again. If a message was composed at 24 pt, the recipient will see that larger size unless their mail client overrides it.
- Reset zoom for reading messages (Reading Pane) If messages look smaller only when reading them (not when composing), the zoom level in the Reading Pane may have been changed.
To reset zoom for a single message:
- Open a message in the Reading Pane.
- Use the zoom slider at the bottom right of the Reading Pane to return to 100%.
To reset zoom for all messages:
- Select the percentage value next to the zoom slider.
- In the Zoom window, choose 100%.
- Clear or adjust any Remember my preference option if present, then select OK.
This returns the on‑screen display of received messages to the default size without changing the actual font size stored in the message.
If both composing defaults and Reading Pane zoom are reset as above, Outlook 2019 will be back to its normal font behavior.
References:
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