How do I compose a "reply" message with the color I want

Sheryl W 20 Reputation points
2026-10-31T00:55:02.7833333+00:00

Hello,

All of my messages, new and replies are the same color. I do not have an option to "compose/reply" to change the reply message. I only see "Compose Message in XXX". My signature is one color and my reply message is another. In the classic outlook I had control over changing the font format for the messages and they didn't all revert to the primary formatting when sending a new message.

Outlook | Windows | New Outlook for Windows | For business
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AI answer

2026-10-31T00:55:32.6833333+00:00

New Outlook for Windows does not currently expose a separate default color for replies; it uses the single Compose Message in [format] setting for both new messages and replies.

Change the color of an individual reply

  1. Open the message and select Reply.
  2. Click in the reply body and type your text.
  3. Select the text you want to recolor.
  4. Select Message or Format Text on the ribbon.
  5. In the Font group, select Font Color, then choose the desired color. Microsoft documents this selection-based formatting for both new and classic Outlook.^1^

This changes that reply only; it does not create a reply-specific default.

Available default in new Outlook

To change the shared default:

  1. Select View → View settings.
  2. Select Mail → Compose.
  3. Under Message format, choose the available font, size, style, and color settings.
  4. Select Save.

That is the Compose Message in… option you are seeing. Unlike classic Outlook, the new Outlook instructions provide only one Message format setting rather than separate controls for new messages and replies.^2^

The signature’s color is formatting stored with the signature itself, so it can remain different from the shared message-body default.

If replies must always use a different color

Switch to classic Outlook, then configure the defaults independently:

  1. Select File → Options → Mail.
  2. Under Compose messages, select Stationery and Fonts.
  3. On Personal Stationery:
    • Select Font under New mail messages to set the new-message color.
    • Select Font under Replying or forwarding messages to set the reply color.
  4. Choose the desired font color and select OK three times.

These settings take effect immediately and are maintained separately for new messages and replies/forwards.^2^

If you require an exact custom or HEX color, new Outlook currently offers only its preset palette; classic Outlook is the available workaround for advanced custom colors.^3^

References

  1. [Outlook for Windows](https://support.microsoft.com/accessibility/outlook/make-your-outlook-email-accessible-to-people-with-disabilities#use-accessible-font-format-and-color-in-outlook-for-windows)
  2. Change the default font or text color for email messages in Outlook | Microsoft Support
  3. How to set a HEX number for composing messages in Outlook - Microsoft Q&A
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  1. Stefan Blom 357.2K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2026-10-31T18:24:11.4766667+00:00

    To request that this functionality is added to the new Outlook, you can send feedback using the feedback facility in the new Outlook and/or by posting your suggestion in the portal at https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/forum/89a8afa3-2e1c-ec11-b6e7-0022481f8472 .

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