How to Change HTML Email View and Settings in Outlook

To make Outlook compose messages in HTML, change the default message format: in classic Outlook for Windows, go to File > Options > Mail and set Compose messages in this format to HTML. In new Outlook or Outlook on the web, open Settings > Mail > Compose and reply and select HTML under Message format. If an incoming email looks like plain text, a separate security setting or the message itself may be responsible; changing your compose format will not convert it.

What You’ll Need

Access to the Outlook account and app where you want to change the setting. Outlook settings can differ between classic Outlook, new Outlook, Outlook on the web, and Outlook for Mac.
A connection to the internet if you use Outlook on the web or new Outlook and need to save a setting to your account.
If the issue is an incoming message displaying as plain text, identify whether you are using classic Outlook for Windows. Its plain-text reading control is not the same as the HTML compose setting.

Step-by-Step

Decide what you mean by HTML view. Outlook uses HTML as a format for composing email, allowing common styling such as fonts, links, lists, and inline images. The setting that chooses this format affects messages you write. It does not make a plain-text email from another person become HTML, and it does not show the underlying HTML code. If you can write formatted messages but received mail appears as plain text, go to the incoming-message section below.
Set HTML as the default in classic Outlook for Windows.
Open Outlook and select File in the top-left corner. Choose Options, then select Mail in the Outlook Options window. Find Compose messages and open the Compose messages in this format list. Choose HTML, then select OK. New messages you create should now use HTML by default.

This path applies to the classic desktop Outlook application. If you do not see File > Options, you may be using new Outlook, Outlook on the web, or a different version. Use the corresponding steps below rather than looking for a setting that is not in that interface.
Set HTML as the default in new Outlook or Outlook on the web.
Select the Settings gear near the top of the Outlook window. Choose Mail, then Compose and reply. Find Message format and select HTML. If your screen shows a Save button, select it before closing Settings; some versions apply changes automatically.

New Outlook and Outlook on the web use similar settings, although labels or placement can vary slightly as Microsoft updates the interface. Make sure you are changing the setting for the account you use to compose the message. If Outlook is open to a shared mailbox or another account, check the account selector and test the setting by starting a new message.
Set HTML as the default in Outlook for Mac.
In Outlook for Mac, open the Outlook menu and choose Settings (called Preferences in some older releases). Open Composing and locate the message format option. Select HTML as the format for new messages. Close the settings window; if your version offers a save or confirm control, use it.

The exact wording can vary by Mac version. To change only the message you are currently writing, open the draft and look for Format Text on the ribbon, then choose HTML. In some Mac layouts the format choices are under the Format menu. The individual-message choice is useful when you usually write plain-text mail but need formatting for one particular email.
Change the format of one message without changing the default.
Start a new message or open a draft in its own compose window. In classic Outlook for Windows, choose the Format Text tab and select HTML in the Format group. In new Outlook, use the format control in the compose window if it is available; in Outlook for Mac, use Format Text or the Format menu. The precise control can depend on the app version and compose-window layout.

Changing a draft to HTML does not necessarily change the default for later messages. Conversely, changing the default usually applies to new messages, not drafts already created. Check the format of an existing draft separately if its toolbar or formatting behaves differently from a newly composed email.
Check whether classic Outlook is forcing incoming mail to plain text.
If received messages are consistently shown without formatting in classic Outlook for Windows, select File > Options > Trust Center, then select Trust Center Settings. Open Email Security and look for Read as Plain Text. If Read all standard mail in plain text is selected, clear it only if you want Outlook to display supported HTML formatting. Select OK to close the Trust Center windows.

This is a security-related setting, not a general appearance preference. HTML mail can include links, remote images, and other content that deserves caution. Do not open unexpected links or enable remote content just because a message is displayed in HTML. If the checkbox is controlled by your workplace administrator, ask your IT team rather than trying to bypass the policy. New Outlook and Outlook on the web do not necessarily have this same classic Trust Center path.
Test the change with a new message.
Create a new email and check whether the formatting controls are available. Type a short test, apply a bold style or add a link, and send it to an address you can check. Confirm that the recipient sees the intended formatting. A recipient’s mail app, settings, or security filters can change how a message is displayed, so a successful test in your Sent folder does not guarantee identical rendering everywhere.

Common Mistakes

Changing the compose setting to fix incoming mail. The default format controls what you write, not how Outlook renders every message you receive. Use the classic Outlook plain-text reading setting only when it is enabled and appropriate, and remember that the sender may have sent a plain-text message in the first place.
Assuming HTML means every picture will appear. Outlook may block remote images to protect privacy or prevent tracking. A message can be HTML even when its pictures are hidden. Use Outlook’s option to download or display pictures only when you trust the sender and understand the privacy implications.
Changing the default but testing an old draft. An existing draft can keep the format it had when created. Open a fresh message to test the new default, or change the format of the draft itself using the compose-window controls.
Confusing HTML with Rich Text Format. HTML is generally the practical choice for formatted email sent to people using different mail systems. Rich Text Format is an Outlook-specific format and can cause compatibility issues with some recipients, including unusual winmail.dat attachments.
Expecting the setting to reveal source code. HTML format is about how a message is composed and rendered. It is not a toggle for viewing the raw HTML markup behind an email.

Tips

Use HTML when you need ordinary formatting, such as headings, hyperlinks, bullets, or a signature with styled text. Keep the layout simple so it remains readable on phones and in mail apps with limited formatting support.
Use plain text when a recipient or organization requests it, or when you want a lightweight message without styling. You can usually change the format for one message instead of changing Outlook’s default for every email.
After changing a setting, close and reopen the compose window before testing. This helps distinguish a saved default from a draft that was already open while you changed it.
If you use multiple accounts or devices, check the setting in the app where you actually compose. A preference in desktop Outlook may not change the behavior of a separate mail app or another account.
Do not switch off security protections simply to make one unfamiliar email look nicer. If an email seems suspicious, verify it with the sender through a separate trusted channel.

Troubleshooting

The menu path is missing. First identify which Outlook you have. Classic Outlook for Windows normally has File > Options; new Outlook and Outlook on the web use the Settings gear; Mac has an Outlook > Settings menu. If you are using a work or school account, your organization may restrict some options. Update Outlook if the interface appears different, or ask your administrator about a managed setting.

New messages still appear to be plain text. Confirm that you changed the setting for the correct account, then close the draft and create a new message. In classic Outlook, check File > Options > Mail again and verify that the default is HTML. If only one draft is affected, use that draft’s Format Text controls to change its format directly.

Received emails still look unformatted. Check whether the sender sent plain text, whether you are viewing a simplified preview, or whether a security policy is preventing HTML display. In classic Outlook, check the Read as Plain Text option described above. If formatting returns but images remain missing, Outlook may be blocking remote pictures; that is a separate protection and does not mean the message is plain text.

The recipient sees different formatting. Email clients do not all render HTML in exactly the same way. Simplify the design, avoid relying on complex layouts, and send a test to another account or device. If the recipient reports a winmail.dat file, check that the message is being sent as HTML rather than Rich Text Format, and ask whether their mail system has any format restrictions.

You cannot change a work-managed option. A company administrator can enforce message-format or security policies. Do not attempt to work around a policy by changing registry settings or disabling protections. Contact IT and explain whether the problem affects messages you send, messages you receive, or both; that detail helps them identify the right setting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing Outlook to HTML affect emails I have already sent?
No. The default format affects messages you compose after changing it. It does not rewrite sent mail, and an existing draft may keep its original format until you change that draft.

Can I make only one Outlook email HTML?
Yes. Open a new message or draft and use its Format Text or format menu to select HTML. That lets you use formatting for one message without changing the default for future email.

Why does an HTML email still have blank image spaces?
Outlook may block images stored on remote servers for privacy and security. If you trust the sender, use the message’s picture-download option if one is offered. Images can also be missing because the sender’s image link is broken or no longer available.

Can Outlook convert a plain-text email I received into HTML?
It cannot restore styling that was never included in the message. You may be able to change how a plain-text message is displayed in classic Outlook, but that does not recreate the sender’s original design or add missing images and formatting.

Does HTML format show the email’s HTML code?
No. HTML is the message format Outlook uses to compose or render formatted email. The normal reading and compose views show the formatted message, not its source markup.

Should I use HTML or plain text?
Use HTML for standard formatting and links when the recipient’s system supports it. Choose plain text for maximum simplicity, accessibility in constrained systems, or when a recipient or workplace requires it. For most everyday email, keep formatting modest and make sure the message remains understandable without decorative elements.

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