Software & Apps > MS Office How to Increase the Font Size While Reading Mail in Outlook Don't let reading your Outlook email give you a headache By Heinz Tschabitscher Heinz Tschabitscher Writer University of Vienna A former freelance contributor who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on February 8, 2021 Reviewed by Jon Fisher Reviewed by Jon Fisher Wichita Technical Institute Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA certified technologist with more than 6 years' experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek. lifewire's editorial guidelines MS Office Outlook Word Excel Powerpoint Trending Videos Close this video player What to Know Open a message and go to the Messages tab. Select Zoom, then use the up and down arrows to make the text larger or smaller.In the Reading pane, use the zoom slider or press Ctrl while turning the mouse wheel to increase the font size.If you receive emails with fixed font sizes, use a display lens such as the built-in Magnifier in Windows. This article explains how to increase the font sizes of emails you read in Microsoft Outlook. Instructions apply to Outlook 2019, Outlook 2016, Outlook 2013, Outlook 2010, and Outlook for Microsoft 365. Increase the Font Size While Reading Mail in Outlook To read mail in a larger font in Outlook: Double-click the message to open it in a separate window. Go to the Message tab. Select Zoom. Select the Percent up arrow to make text larger or select the Percent down arrow to make the text smaller. Select OK. When reading messages in the Reading pane, zoom in on an email with the zoom slider. Or, press Ctrl while turning the mouse wheel over the message text area to increase the font size. What to Do When Increasing the Font Size in Outlook Doesn't Work Some emails specify the font in a way that cannot be changed. If you receive emails with fixed-size fonts, use a display lens such as the built-in Magnifier in Windows or the free Virtual Magnifying Glass application. You can also change the size and style of the message list in Outlook. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit