In Outlook, the default font is 11-point Calibri in black. It's used when you compose new email messages. You can change the default font and its color, size, and style — such as bold or italic.
Outlook allows you to change the font, color, size, and style for new messages and replies and forwards independently. If you want to change the font used in the message list, see Create, change, or customize a view.
So, I have been searching for days, and cant find a solution that actually works In outlook 2016, in the folder pane, I want to change the font.not the message pane, or the preview pane, but in the far left pane where all my folders reside. Can't format text or insert pictures in Microsoft Outlook! 1 Depending on your default formatting options, or on the type of message you are replying to / forwarding, Microsoft Outlook may show formatting commands as disabled / grayed out, including bold, italic, underline, change font, insert picture, and more.
On the File tab, choose Options > Mail.
Note: If you have Outlook 2007, choose the Tools menu, then choose Options > Mail Format.
Under Compose messages, choose Stationery and Fonts.
On the Personal Stationery tab, under New mail messages or Replying or forwarding messages, choose Font.
In the Font box, choose the font, style, size, and color that you want to use. You can see a preview of your changes as you make them.
Choose OK three times to return to Outlook.
Your new settings will take effect immediately.
Notes:
You have to set your font preferences independently for both new messages and replies and forwards.
If the font that you choose isn't installed on the recipient's computer, then the recipient's mail program substitutes an available font.
If you later decide you don't want to keep your custom font settings and want to return to the default settings, you can use the above steps, but choose the following values.
Font: +Body
Font style: Regular
Size: 11
Font color: Automatic
You can change the size of messages in the Reading pane by using the Zoom feature.
To change the zoom level for a single message
Use the slider at the bottom right of the Reading pane to adjust your zoom level. As you adjust, the text size in the Reading Pane will increase or decrease.
To change the zoom level on all received messages
You can now change the zoom level on all received messages. Click the percentage to the right of the Zoom slider to open the Zoom window.
Select one of the default options or enter a specific percentage number.
To apply this zoom level to all messages, check the Remember my preference check box and then click OK.