Font size greatly reduced when replying as is the original message received.

robert fishman 0 Reputation points
2026-08-12T00:18:51.93+00:00

Have checked all the settings and always use HTML. Also zoom is set at 100% Cannot even highlight text and change size.

Outlook | Web | Outlook.com | Email
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  1. Emmanuel Santana 40,210 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-08-12T04:03:55.08+00:00

    Hello. Is this happening in Outlook on the web in your browser, or in the Outlook desktop app?

    Also, does it happen with every email you reply to, or only certain messages?

    If you create a completely new email, can you highlight the text and change the font size normally?

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  2. AI answer

    2026-08-12T00:19:03.6433333+00:00

    In Outlook on the web, this is usually a message format limitation rather than the default font setting.

    • When reading email in Outlook on the web, font size is controlled by the browser zoom, not an Outlook reading setting.
    • To change fonts while composing, Compose messages must be set to HTML at Settings > Email > Compose and reply.
    • In a reply or forward, if the original message is plain text, formatting options such as changing font size in the message body may not be available until the message format is changed.

    For Outlook on the web:

    1. Open Settings > Email > Compose and reply.
    2. Under Message format, confirm Compose messages is set to HTML.
    3. Save the change.
    4. Start a new message and check whether the Font size control appears at the bottom of the compose pane. If formatting options are hidden, select Show formatting options.
    5. If the problem happens only when replying to a specific message, change that reply to HTML format before editing the text. Outlook supports changing a reply or forwarded message from plain text to HTML.
    6. If the issue is with how the received message text looks while reading, use the browser zoom instead. In Microsoft Edge, go to Settings and more > Zoom.

    If the text is only tiny while replying, but normal after sending, that points to the compose view rather than the sent message formatting. In that case, verify the compose pane formatting controls are visible and that the reply is in HTML format.


    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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