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This tip is specific to Windows 8. The only way to change the font sizes in Windows 10 is by increasing the display %.
This tip comes from Cowboy:
As we all know, Microsoft removed the ability to change the font and font size in the Outlook 2013 folder list. But all is not lost. For those people with high resolution monitors and/or poor vision there is something we can do short of enlarging the whole display image.
Right click on the Windows 8 desktop and choose Personalize then click Display.
There is an item "Change only text size". If you click on the dropdown you will see the items where you can change the text are Title Bars, Menus, Message Boxes, Palette Titles, Icons and Tool Tips.
You cannot change the font, but you can change the size and make it bold. I found if I just change the menus size from 9 to 10 it makes the folder list text larger. It also increases the size of the ribbon which in my case is fine. One client changed almost everything to 12 which I think is a little over the top, but he really likes it. So if you are having trouble reading text in Office 2013 applications, play around with it and I think you will be able make some adjustments which will really improve the look and feel of outlook and other applications as well.
Thanks Cowboy!
If the font size in the message list is too large, you can change the size in View Settings, Other Settings and Conditional Formatting.
In these screenshots, I changed the font from the default 9 pt to 10 pt.
Windows 7
Although Windows 7 does not include the same options as Windows 8, you can still change the Menu font. Open Control Panel, Personalization.
Click Window Color and find Menu in the list of Items.
Change the font size tutorial
Published February 14, 2013. Last reviewed on June 15, 2017.
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21 Comments on "Tip 1068: Change the size of the font in Outlook's Folder list"
In Windows 10 on the DISPLAY screen, there is NO "Change only the text size" option!!! Grrrr. This is critical. I need to enlarge the stupid folders in Outlook 2013 which I hate. I hate that all of the text blends together and it's gray! There is no differentiation between folders and their subfolders. In my job, I LIVE IN THOSE FOLDERS. Please help for those of us on Windows 10.
Correct, at this point in time (and possibly in future versions), you can't change the font size in windows 10, only the display %. (You could in the early builds.)
Thank you, Cowboy!
In Outlook 2016 (Office 365) on Win 10 I'd really like/love to enlarge the drop down menus such as the ones that open when the Rules menu item is clicked. For example the "Manage Rules and Alerts" text is puny for someone with vision issues. Changing the "Menus" as in your tip doesn't seem to encourage the change to cascade on through the sub menus.
I'm slowly getting Win 10, etc., to match my expectations and needs but I don't know what is going to arrive first, Windows solutions or end of life. Gag!
D
I think it's hard coded. You can try changing text settings- or just increasing your overall zoom level for windows.
Hi have a problem with adjusting the text size in the preview of emails in Outlook 2013. The text size of the sender in the preview is too big. I am using Windows 7 64-bits have tried doing the changes as described above (Control panel and Personalization etc.) but nothing happends. Can you help? /Mats
When the font is too large in an email message, you can adjust the zoom - either using the Zoom button the ribbon, the slider in the lower right corner, or hold ctrl and roll the mouse wheel.
Hi thank's for the quick reply. I have seen this functionality in an e-mail message, however I have not located any zoom-functionality in the preview-windows (see attached screen shot). Where do I do this?
To change those fonts, you need to customize the view. View tab > View Settings button > the global font size in Other Settings and use Conditional Formatting to change it based on other factors.
Hi, now I think I got it right. Thank's a lot for all your help! :-)
In your image that shows the windows settings, I have a big blank space where yours says "Change only the font size". There is only the "smaller, medium larger" options for me. .... ??
You have Windows 8? I'm on the road and don't have a windows 8 computer with me to check those settings.
O I have this same issue - no option in that screen to "Change only the font size". I have Windows 10. Help?
It was there in the original Windows 10... :( I'm checking to see if there is another way to do it - it's not exposed in godmode either, so probably not.