How to Change Gmail's Default Font Options

This article explains how to change Gmail's default font options. It includes information on making on-the-fly changes using the formatting bar at the bottom of the composition window.

How to Change the Gmail Default Text Settings

With the Gmail default text options, you can get your message across. When you want your communications to include a bit more pizzazz, change the text options to something that better reflects your personality. Do it for an individual message or change the defaults, so Gmail uses your preferences every time.

Use the Gmail General settings to change the default text Gmail uses when you compose email messages. When you change the settings, you choose the typeface, size, and color of the text. After you save your changes, every email you send uses those styles unless you change them again.

1. Open Gmail. In the upper-right corner, select the Settings (gear) icon.

   

2. Choose See All Settings.

   

3. Select the General tab.

   

4. Under the Default text style section, select the Font drop-down menu on the far left and choose a new typeface. Sans Serif is used by default.

   

5. Select the Size drop-down menu to the right to change the size of the default text. You can choose between Small, Normal, Large, and Huge. Normal is the default setting.

   

6. Select the Color drop-down menu to the right to access the color picker. Choose any color you like. Black is the default color.

   

7. The furthest command to the right of this bar is Remove formatting, which returns Gmail to the default text options. Select it if you want to start the process over.

   

8. Scroll to the bottom of the Settings screen and select Save Changes to set the new default text options.

Use Formatting Bar Options

After you set your preferences as the new default, you can still modify the way text appears in an individual email message by using the formatting bar at the bottom of the email composition screen. No matter how you set the defaults, everything is editable in the window where you send an email. This is true whether it's a new message or a reply or forward.

1. Open a new message. The text formatting bar appears at the bottom of the composition area, above the bar with the Send button.

   

2. Select your recipient and enter a subject and your message. Highlight the message text.

   

3. Make selections using the formatting bar. For example, change the text to be Huge (size), Bold (font), and Comic Sans MS (typeface).

   There are some controls here that aren't included in the default settings. For example, you can align text left, right, or center or add bullets.

   

4. Make any other adjustments you'd like and then select Send.