how to increase fonts for microsoft outlook

Question

how do I increase the fonts on microsoft outlook. The entire screen has very small writing, calendars are also very small

Answer 1

Hi Albert Fox

I understand you want to increase the font size in Classic Outlook because everything (including calendar) looks very small. Have you already tried the Q&A Assist suggestions? In addition, please try the following:

1, Increase font size in the Inbox

This controls the email list (Subject, From, etc.):

• Go to “View” tab
• Select “View Settings”
• Click “Other Settings”
• Increase size under:
  • “Column Font” (headers like From/Subject)
  • “Row Font” (email list text)

This is the main supported way to make the inbox text larger.

2, Make email content larger (Reading Pane)

This affects the actual email text when you read messages:

• Use the zoom control at the bottom-right (e.g., 100% > 125% / 150%)
• Or hold Ctrl + scroll mouse wheel up

Outlook allows zoom adjustment when reading emails.

3, Increase size of calendar + folders + full UI

Based on your description (“calendar also very small”), this is likely the key step:

Outlook uses Windows display settings for those areas.

• Open Start > Settings
• Go to “Accessibility” > “Text size” > increase slider or go to “System” > “Display” > “Scale” > set 125% / 150%

This increases text and UI system‑wide (calendar, folder pane, etc.).

Please feel free to let me know how it goes. I truly appreciate your time and understanding.

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Answer 2

To make text larger in Outlook on Windows, adjust both the message list/reading pane and the overall Windows text size.

1. Enlarge text in the Outlook message list (New Outlook)
2. In Outlook, select View > View settings.
3. Select Mail > Layout.
4. Under Text size and spacing, choose Small, Medium, or Large.
5. Select Save to apply.
6. Enlarge the email content in the Reading Pane (New Outlook)
7. Select an email so it appears in the Reading Pane.
8. On the menu, select View.
9. Select Zoom.
10. Use + or - to choose between 50%–200%, or select Reset to go back to default.
11. Enlarge inbox fonts with keyboard navigation (Classic Outlook)
12. Go to the Inbox.
13. Press Alt+V, V to open Advanced View Settings: Compact.
14. Press O to open Other Settings.
15. Choose what to change:
    • C = column headings font size
    • W = message titles font size
    • T = message preview font size
16. In the Font dialog, press Alt+S to move to Size, type a larger size (for example, 16), then press Enter.
17. Tab to OK and press Enter.
18. Tab to OK again in Advanced View Settings and press Enter to apply.
19. Enlarge the rest of the Outlook/Windows UI (folders, calendar, etc.) Outlook’s folder list, calendar grid, and many UI elements follow Windows text/scale settings. To make everything larger (including calendar text), use Windows accessibility/display settings (for example, Settings > Accessibility > Text size or Settings > System > Display > Scale) to increase text size or scaling.

If the calendar and navigation pane are still too small after Outlook changes, increasing Windows text size/scale is the main supported way to enlarge them.

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References:

• Change the font or font size in the message list
• Use a screen reader to format text in your email in Outlook
• Changing the font size in Windows Explorer and the lefthand menu in Desktop Outlook - Microsoft Q&A