How To Change Hyperlink Color In Outlook – Email Link Color Customization

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Hyperlinks in Outlook emails can be customized to match your brand or personal preference. If you are wondering how to change hyperlink color in outlook, this guide will walk you through every method step by step. Whether you use Outlook desktop, web, or mobile, you can easily adjust link colors to stand out or blend in.

Outlook often defaults to a blue hyperlink with an underline. But you can change it to red, green, black, or any color you like. This helps your emails look more professional or match your company’s branding. Let’s get started with the simplest ways to do it.

How To Change Hyperlink Color In Outlook

This section covers the most common methods for changing hyperlink colors in different versions of Outlook. We will begin with the desktop version, which offers the most control.

Method 1: Using The Desktop Version (Outlook 2016, 2019, And Microsoft 365)

The desktop app gives you full control over hyperlink styling. Follow these steps to change the color of a single link or all links in your email.

  1. Open Outlook and create a new email message.
  2. Type the text you want to turn into a link, or paste an existing URL.
  3. Highlight the link text with your mouse.
  4. Right-click on the highlighted text and select “Hyperlink” from the menu.
  5. In the dialog box, confirm the URL is correct, then click “OK.”
  6. Now, with the link still selected, go to the “Format Text” tab in the ribbon.
  7. Click the small arrow next to the “Font Color” button (it looks like an “A” with a color bar).
  8. Choose your desired color from the palette. If you want a custom color, click “More Colors.”
  9. The hyperlink will immediately change to the new color.

This method changes only the selected link. If you want to change all hyperlinks in your email, you need to use the “Styles” option.

Changing All Hyperlinks In An Email

To apply a new color to every hyperlink in your message at once, do this:

  1. After typing your email, go to the “Format Text” tab.
  2. Click the “Styles” group launcher (the small arrow in the bottom-right corner of the Styles section).
  3. In the Styles pane, find “Hyperlink” in the list. Hover over it and click the dropdown arrow.
  4. Select “Modify.”
  5. In the Modify Style window, click the “Format” button and choose “Font.”
  6. Pick your new color and click “OK” twice.
  7. All hyperlinks in the email will update to the new color.

Be careful: this change only applies to the current email. It does not affect future emails unless you save the style as default.

Method 2: Changing The Default Hyperlink Color For All Future Emails

If you want every new email you send to use a custom hyperlink color, you need to modify the default template. This is a bit more advanced but saves time in the long run.

  1. Open Outlook and go to “File” > “Options” > “Mail.”
  2. Click the “Editor Options” button, then select “Advanced.”
  3. Scroll down to the “Editing options” section and click “AutoCorrect Options.”
  4. Go to the “AutoFormat As You Type” tab.
  5. Uncheck “Internet and network paths with hyperlinks” if you do not want automatic links. But for color changes, we need a different approach.
  6. Close the options and create a new email.
  7. Type a sample hyperlink and change its color using Method 1.
  8. Go to “File” > “Save As” and choose “Outlook Template (*.oft)” as the file type.
  9. Name it something like “DefaultEmail.oft” and save it.
  10. Go back to “File” > “Options” > “Mail.”
  11. Under “Compose messages,” click “Stationery and Fonts.”
  12. In the “Personal Stationery” tab, under “New mail messages,” click “Font.”
  13. Set the font and color you want, then click “OK.”
  14. For hyperlinks specifically, you may need to use a third-party tool or VBA script, as Outlook does not have a built-in default hyperlink color setting.

This method is not perfect for hyperlinks. Many users find it easier to use a template with pre-styled links.

Method 3: Using Outlook On The Web (Outlook.com Or Office 365)

The web version of Outlook is simpler but has fewer options. Here is how to change hyperlink color in Outlook on the web.

  1. Log in to Outlook.com or your Office 365 account.
  2. Click “New message” to start composing.
  3. Type your text and highlight the part you want to link.
  4. Click the link icon in the formatting toolbar (it looks like a chain link).
  5. Paste or type the URL and click “Insert.”
  6. With the link still selected, click the “Font color” button (an “A” with a color bar).
  7. Choose a color from the palette. You cannot use custom colors easily here.
  8. The link color changes instantly.

Unfortunately, Outlook on the web does not let you change the default hyperlink color. You must do it manually for each link.

Method 4: Using Outlook For Mobile (IOS And Android)

The mobile app is very limited for formatting. Here is what you can do.

  1. Open the Outlook app and start a new email.
  2. Type your text and highlight it.
  3. Tap the “Format” icon (usually an “A” with a pencil).
  4. Select “Hyperlink” and enter the URL.
  5. Tap “Done.”
  6. To change the color, tap the “Font color” icon and pick a color.
  7. The link will update.

Mobile does not support custom colors or default settings. You are limited to the basic palette.

Tips For Choosing The Right Hyperlink Color

Picking the right color is important for readability and accessibility. Here are some guidelines.

  • Use a color that contrasts with your email background. Light colors on white backgrounds are hard to read.
  • Stick to standard web-safe colors like blue, red, or green. These render consistently across email clients.
  • Avoid using the same color for regular text and links. Readers should instantly recognize links.
  • Consider color blindness. About 8% of men have some form of color blindness. Avoid red-green combinations.
  • Test your email in different clients like Gmail and Apple Mail. Colors can shift.

Remember that some email clients override your hyperlink colors. Gmail, for example, often forces links to blue. There is no way to prevent this completely.

Common Issues And Fixes

Sometimes changing hyperlink color does not work as expected. Here are common problems and solutions.

Hyperlink Color Does Not Change

If the color stays the same after you try to change it, check these things:

  • Make sure the link is selected properly. Click and drag over the entire link text.
  • Check if you are in the “Plain Text” format. Switch to “HTML” format in the “Format Text” tab.
  • Some email templates have locked styles. Try creating a new blank email.
  • Restart Outlook and try again.

Color Changes Back To Blue After Sending

This happens because the recipient’s email client may override your formatting. You cannot control how others see your email. But you can minimize this by using inline CSS or HTML directly.

Cannot Find The Font Color Option

In Outlook desktop, the font color button is in the “Format Text” tab. If you do not see it, your window may be too narrow. Expand the window or click the “…” (More) button to find it.

Advanced Method: Using HTML To Change Hyperlink Color

For complete control, you can write your email in HTML. This is useful for newsletters or branded emails.

  1. In Outlook desktop, go to “Insert” > “Attach File” > “Insert as Text.” But this is tricky. Instead, use the “Insert HTML” feature if you have it.
  2. Or, compose your email in a text editor like Notepad with HTML code.
  3. Use the <a> tag with a style attribute. For example: <a href="https://example.com" style="color: #FF0000;">Click Here</a>
  4. Copy the HTML code and paste it into Outlook’s “Insert” > “HTML” option (if available).
  5. If not, you can use “Insert” > “Object” > “Text from File” and select an HTML file.

This method is advanced and may not work in all versions. Test it before sending important emails.

Using VBA To Automate Hyperlink Color Changes

If you are tech-savvy, you can use VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) to change hyperlink colors automatically. This requires some coding.

  1. Press Alt + F11 in Outlook to open the VBA editor.
  2. Insert a new module from the “Insert” menu.
  3. Paste this code:
Sub ChangeHyperlinkColor()
    Dim objMail As MailItem
    Dim objInspector As Inspector
    Dim objDoc As Word.Document
    Dim objHyperlink As Hyperlink
    
    Set objInspector = Application.ActiveInspector
    If objInspector Is Nothing Then Exit Sub
    Set objMail = objInspector.CurrentItem
    If objMail.Class <> olMail Then Exit Sub
    Set objDoc = objMail.GetInspector.WordEditor
    For Each objHyperlink In objDoc.Hyperlinks
        objHyperlink.Range.Font.Color = wdColorRed
    Next objHyperlink
End Sub
  1. Change wdColorRed to your desired color (e.g., wdColorGreen).
  2. Run the macro while composing an email.

This is a powerful but complex solution. Only use it if you are comfortable with VBA.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Change Hyperlink Color In Outlook For All Emails At Once?

There is no built-in setting to change the default hyperlink color for all emails. You can use templates or VBA to automate it, but it requires extra steps.

Why Does My Hyperlink Color Change Back After Sending?

Email clients like Gmail and Yahoo often override link colors to their own defaults. This is normal and cannot be prevented entirely.

How Do I Change Hyperlink Color In Outlook 365?

Outlook 365 works the same as Outlook 2019. Use the “Format Text” tab and font color button. For web version, use the toolbar.

Can I Use Custom Hex Colors In Outlook Hyperlinks?

Yes, in the desktop version. Click “More Colors” and enter the hex code. The web version does not support custom hex codes.

Does Changing Hyperlink Color Affect Accessibility?

Yes. Use high contrast colors and avoid relying solely on color. Add underlines or bold text to indicate links for accessibility.

Final Thoughts On Hyperlink Colors In Outlook

Changing hyperlink color in Outlook is easy once you know where to look. The desktop version offers the most options, while web and mobile are more limited. For consistent branding, consider using templates or HTML.

Remember that not all recipients will see your chosen color. Some email clients override your settings. Focus on making your links clear and readable, regardless of color.

If you frequently send branded emails, invest time in learning HTML email design. This gives you full control over every element, including hyperlinks. Start with the basic methods in this guide and experiment from there.

With these steps, you can now confidently change hyperlink colors in Outlook to match your needs. Whether for work or personal use, your emails will look more polished and professional.