How To Change Color Of Outlook Email

Changing the color of an Outlook email can make your message more visually distinct against the default white background. Many users wonder how to change color of outlook email to add a personal touch or highlight important messages. This guide covers every method, from simple background tweaks to full theme overhauls.

Outlook offers several ways to customize email colors, but the steps vary between the desktop app, web version, and mobile app. You can change the background, font color, or even the entire interface theme. Let’s break down each approach so you can pick the one that fits your workflow.

This section covers the core methods for altering email colors in Outlook. Whether you want a colored background, vibrant text, or a themed inbox, these steps will help.

Changing Email Background Color In Outlook Desktop

For the desktop version of Outlook, you can change the background color of individual emails. This is useful for making specific messages stand out in a crowded inbox.

Open Outlook on your computer.
Create a new email or reply to an existing one.
Go to the Options tab in the ribbon menu.
Click on Page Color in the Themes group.
Select a color from the palette. You can also choose More Colors for custom shades.
Compose your email as usual. The background will appear colored when the recipient views it in HTML format.

Note that this only works if the recipient’s email client supports HTML emails. Plain text emails will not show the background color.

Changing Font Color In Outlook Emails

Adjusting font color is another way to personalize your messages. This is simpler than changing the background and works across all email formats.

Open a new email in Outlook.
Highlight the text you want to change.
Go to the Format Text tab.
Click the Font Color dropdown arrow (usually an “A” with a color bar).
Pick a color from the standard palette or choose More Colors for custom options.
Apply the color to your selected text.

You can also set a default font color for all new emails. Go to File > Options > Mail > Stationery and Fonts. Under New mail messages, click Font and choose your preferred color.

Changing Outlook Interface Theme Color

If you want to change the overall look of Outlook itself, you can adjust the theme. This affects the window borders, menu bars, and other interface elements.

Open Outlook and click File in the top-left corner.
Select Office Account or Account (depending on your version).
Under Office Theme, choose from options like Colorful, Dark Gray, Black, or White.
Click OK to apply the change.

This does not change email content colors, but it refreshes the overall app appearance. The Colorful theme uses your Windows accent color for highlights.

Using Stationery To Change Email Colors

Outlook’s stationery feature lets you apply pre-designed templates with colored backgrounds and fonts. This is great for consistent branding or themed messages.

Open a new email in Outlook.
Click Options > Page Color > Fill Effects.
Choose from gradients, textures, patterns, or pictures.
Alternatively, go to File > Options > Mail > Stationery and Fonts.
Click Stationery Picker and select a template.
Apply it to new messages or replies.

Stationery works best for HTML emails. Some templates may not display correctly in all email clients, so test before sending.

Changing Email Color In Outlook Web App

The web version of Outlook (Outlook.com or Office 365) has slightly different options. Here is how to change email colors online.

Changing Background Color In Outlook Web

Log into Outlook on your browser.
Click New message to compose an email.
In the compose window, click the three dots (More options) in the toolbar.
Select Show rich text if not already enabled.
Click the Paint bucket icon (Background color).
Choose a color from the palette or enter a hex code.
Type your message and send.

Changing Font Color In Outlook Web

Open a new message in Outlook web.
Highlight the text you want to change.
Click the Font color icon (usually an “A” with a color bar).
Pick a color from the dropdown.
Apply and continue composing.

The web version does not support custom themes for the interface itself. You can only change the app theme via your Microsoft account settings, which affects all Office apps.

Changing Email Color In Outlook Mobile App

The mobile app for iOS and Android has limited color options. You can change the app theme but not individual email backgrounds.

Open the Outlook app on your phone.
Tap your profile picture or the menu icon (three lines).
Go to Settings > General > Appearance.
Choose from Light, Dark, or System default.
Some versions also offer accent color options under Theme.

For changing email content colors, you must use the desktop or web version. The mobile app does not support background or font color changes in the compose window.

Using Conditional Formatting To Color Emails Automatically

Outlook can automatically apply colors to emails based on rules. This is useful for organizing your inbox without manual effort.

Go to View > View Settings > Conditional Formatting.
Click Add to create a new rule.
Name your rule (e.g., “Urgent Emails”).
Click Condition to set criteria like sender, subject, or date.
Click Font to choose a color for matching emails.
Click OK to save the rule.

This changes the font color of email headers in your inbox list, not the email body. It helps you spot important messages quickly.

Troubleshooting Common Color Issues

Sometimes color changes do not work as expected. Here are common problems and fixes.

Recipient sees white background: Ensure you are using HTML format. Go to Format Text > HTML before adding colors.
Font color not applying: Check if the text is highlighted correctly. Some formatting may be overridden by the recipient’s email client.
Theme not changing: Restart Outlook after applying a new theme. If it still does not change, update your Office version.
Mobile app colors missing: The mobile app does not support email background colors. Use the desktop app for that.

Best Practices For Using Colors In Emails

Colors can enhance readability, but overuse can confuse readers. Follow these tips for effective email coloring.

Use light background colors for readability. Dark backgrounds can strain eyes.
Limit font colors to two or three per email. Too many colors look messy.
Test your email in different clients. Gmail, Yahoo, and Outlook may display colors differently.
Avoid using color alone to convey meaning. Add text labels for accessibility.
Stick to brand colors if sending business emails. Consistency builds trust.

Advanced Color Customization With HTML

For users comfortable with coding, you can add custom colors using HTML. This gives you full control over backgrounds, fonts, and borders.

Open a new email in Outlook.
Go to Insert > Attach File > HTML (or use the Insert as Text option).
Write your HTML code with inline CSS for colors.
Example: <div style="background-color: #f0f0f0; color: #333;">Your message here</div>
Send the email. It will display the colors you specified.

This method is more reliable than the built-in tools because inline CSS overrides client defaults. However, some clients strip HTML, so always have a plain text fallback.

Changing Colors For Specific Email Accounts

If you have multiple email accounts in Outlook, you can assign different colors to each account’s messages. This helps you identify which account an email belongs to.

Go to View > View Settings > Conditional Formatting.
Add a new rule for each account.
Set the condition to Account and select the specific email address.
Choose a font color for that account’s emails.
Click OK to apply.

Now emails from different accounts will appear in different colors in your inbox list. This is a great organizational trick for power users.

Resetting Colors To Default

If you want to remove all custom colors and start fresh, here is how to reset.

For email backgrounds: Open the email, go to Options > Page Color > No Color.
For font colors: Highlight text, go to Font Color > Automatic.
For themes: Go to File > Office Account > Office Theme > Colorful (default).
For conditional formatting: Go to View Settings > Conditional Formatting and delete all custom rules.

Resetting is quick and ensures no lingering color settings affect your emails.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I change the background color of an email in Outlook for Mac?
Yes, the steps are similar. Open a new email, go to the Options tab, and click Page Color. The interface may look slightly different, but the functionality is the same.

2. Why does my email color not show up when the recipient opens it?
This usually happens if the recipient’s email client is set to plain text mode. Some clients also strip HTML formatting for security reasons. Ask the recipient to view the email in HTML format if possible.

3. How do I change the color of the Outlook app itself on my phone?
Open the app, go to Settings > General > Appearance, and choose a theme. Some versions also let you pick an accent color under Theme.

4. Can I use images as email backgrounds in Outlook?
Yes, you can. Go to Options > Page Color > Fill Effects > Picture and select an image. Keep file size small to avoid slow loading.

5. Is there a way to change the color of all outgoing emails automatically?
You can set a default font color in File > Options > Mail > Stationery and Fonts. For background colors, you would need to use stationery or a template.

Changing email colors in Outlook is a simple way to personalize your communication. Whether you adjust the background, font, or app theme, the steps are straightforward. Experiment with different colors to find what works best for your needs. Remember to test your emails across clients to ensure consistent display. With these methods, you can make your Outlook emails stand out in any inbox.