Outlook for Microsoft 365 Outlook 2021 Outlook 2019 Outlook 2016 Outlook 2013 Outlook 2010 Outlook 2007 More...Less Show 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. Available types of message formatsOutlook gives you three 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. Each message format has different benefits. HTMLThis is the default message format in 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 textThis 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. Rich Text FormatRich Text Format (RTF) is a Microsoft format that’s supported only by these email applications:
You can use RTF when you send messages inside an organization that uses Microsoft Exchange, but we recommend that you use the HTML format. In fact, when you send an RTF message to someone outside your organization, Outlook automatically converts it to HTML, so the message keeps its formatting and its attachments. Outlook also automatically formats messages that contain voting buttons, and converts tasks and meeting requests to iCalendar format. With RTF, you can format text with bullets, can align text, and can use other options, including adding linked objects. Attachments in an RTF message appear as icons within the message body. In HTML messages, however, attachments appear underneath the subject header of a message. What would you like to do? You can change a plain text message to HTML.
Other options
Note: If you’ve chosen to read all email in plain text, your replies are also sent in plain text format, but you can change the format on individual messages.
On the File tab, choose Options > Mail. Under Compose messages, in the Compose messages in this format list, click HTML, Rich Text, or Plain Text. The message format for an Internet email address contact can be specified. For example, if you want all messages that are sent to to be in plain text format, you can add that information to your Outlook contact for Melissa.
Note: You can change the format for only the messages sent to a contact with an SMTP email address. You can identify an SMTP email address as those that contain the @ symbol—for example, . If you are using an Exchange Server account and sending to another person in your organization who is also using an Exchange Server account, this feature is not available. When you want to change the message format for only one message, do the following:
Important: Office 2007 is no longer supported. Upgrade to Microsoft 365 to work anywhere from any device and continue to receive support. Upgrade now When you reply to a message, Outlook preserves the format of the original message. If you select the Read all standard mail in plain text option, however, Outlook formats your reply in plain text. Or you can click the InfoBar, change the format of the message to HTML or Rich Text, and then reply. If you change the format of the message, the reply is formatted with the new display format. You can configure Outlook so that all new e-mail messages use the message format of your choice.
Note: You can change the format for only the messages sent to a contact with an SMTP e-mail address. An SMTP e-mail address contains the @ symbol—for example, . If you are using an Exchange account and sending to another person in your organization who is also using an Exchange account, this feature is not available.
Rarely, a recipient may notify you that the email message you sent appears to them as a message with an attachment called winmail.dat. This issue is caused if you use the Rich Text message format, which the recipient's email program can't interpret correctly. Send your message again, using either HTML or plain text format
Need more help?How do I change plain text to HTML?You can change a plain text message to HTML.. In the message, click Reply, Reply All, or Forward.. If you're working in the Reading Pane, click Pop Out. Note: If you aren't working in the Reading Pane, you don't need to do this.. In the message window, click Format Text > HTML.. How do I change my Outlook email from plain text to HTML?Change Default Email Format for Sending Messages
Go to File > Options. In the Outlook Options dialog box, select Mail. In the Compose messages section, select the Compose messages in this format dropdown arrow and select either HTML, Plain Text, or Rich Text. Select OK to close the Outlook Options dialog box.
Is plain text the same as HTML?As the word 'plain' implies, a plain text email contains only text—no images, stylized fonts, or hyperlinks. HTML, which stands for HyperText Markup Language, is a way to code a document (made out of ASCII text) that lets an HTML reader (such as a web browser) know how to render certain types of information.
Why are my emails coming in plain text?In the “Read as Plain Text” section, check the “Read all standard mail in plain text” to disable received messages from being viewed as HTML and view email in plain text only. Uncheck it to allow HTML messages.
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