Can't find HTML

Question

Can't find HTML

Enid Briggs 0

Following instructions to restore bold, italic etc, but nothing happens when I click on Format Text or Message to tick HTML.

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2 answers

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Answer 1

Manoel Barros 23,275 Independent Advisor

Hi!

You mentioned HTML, but those options are not available in Outlook Web/New (the version of Outlook in the category you selected). Therefore, it is important to know exactly which version of Outlook you are using.

Are you accessing the website [https://outlook.live.com/mail/], the "New Outlook," or "Outlook Classic"?

You can try to distinguish between them by looking at the icon.

Outlook Classic
New Outlook

Enid Briggs 0 Reputation points

2026-10-22T17:27:29.3166667+00:00

It's New, and probably nothing to do with web at all. Sorry, I really am lost in all this!
Manoel Barros 23,275 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-10-22T23:31:57.51+00:00

Thanks! Don't worry about it; I'll do my best to help.

The "Format Text" tab in the new Outlook only contains buttons for bold, italics, etc. The option to switch to HTML can be found under the "Options" tab.

Click on the "File" tab > Settings > Mail > Compose and reply. Under "Message format," select "HTML" for composing messages, then click "Save." This will set HTML as the default.

If you want to fix the email you currently have open, click on "Options" > "Switch to HTML." The buttons should become active after that.
Enid Briggs 0 Reputation points

2026-10-23T08:27:28.3133333+00:00

Yes .... thought I'd done it.

got to Message Format and opted for HTML

it then sowed my preferred font and size, but greyed-out, as everything else still was.

Tried again, and had to shut down and restart to get out of Settings!

Now it's fleetingly showing Inbox and flipping back to Settings.

Fortunately, this is a separate tab. But I now have no email access.

Oh, what a mess!
Enid Briggs 0 Reputation points

2026-10-23T09:23:03.9066667+00:00

Latest ... I should perhaps have mentioned that I'm in hospital and using a 'tablet'. The main problem has been on my ordinary computer at home since September, when I came home from a 5-week stay in here (all sorts of stuff needed resetting) but today's problem could be down to the tablet. (I'm feeling very cut-off!)
Enid Briggs 0 Reputation points

2026-10-23T13:54:36.33+00:00

Got out of todays knot. 'Just' the original one now.
Manoel Barros 23,275 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-10-23T23:30:29.9166667+00:00

I am sorry you are going through this. I hope everything turns out okay. You can address the issue with your home computer once you return.

To provide further assistance, could you let me know if your email address ends in @outlook.com or @hotmail.com, or is it from another provider (for example, Gmail)?
Enid Briggs 0 Reputation points

2026-10-24T10:00:55.91+00:00

Thank you for such a kind response.

@hotmail.com

Enid.
Enid Briggs 0 Reputation points

2026-10-24T10:04:52.97+00:00

I seem to have answered in the middle of the exchange!

I said ....

Thank you for such a kind response.

@hotmail.com

Enid.
Manoel Barros 23,275 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-10-25T12:58:25.2+00:00

I have received your messages; please don't worry.

Since your email address is an @hotmail.com account, your Outlook settings are saved to your account. Therefore, if you selected the HTML option on your tablet, it should also appear on your home computer.

You can test this once you return home.

Please note that this thread will close after a period of inactivity; however, if that happens and your issue remains unresolved, you are welcome to start a new thread—alright?

I hope everything goes well for you!

Take care!
Enid Briggs 0 Reputation points

2026-10-25T17:59:19.6033333+00:00

Many thanks for your help and explanations, you've been really kind and understanding.
Manoel Barros 23,275 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-10-26T15:47:37.09+00:00

Thank you for your kindness! I look forward to your feedback!

Answer 2

In Outlook settings, you can specify that you want to use HTML as your preferred e-mail format, and you can also specify which font and size you want to use by default. The screen shot below shows the Settings dialog box for Outlook on the web, but the new Outlook for Windows looks similar:

ScreenCapSettingsCompose

Existing mails that you have already sent or are in the middle of composing won't be affected when you change the default settings, though.

For an e-mail that you are currently composing, you can change the format from the Options tab. Click Switch to HTML (if necessary) and then use the controls on the Format Text tab to modify the appearance of the text in the e-mail.

ScreenCapMailCurrent