Changing the Default Font in Windows NT Microsoft Mail

ID: Q110563

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0

Windows NT 3.x:

By default, Microsoft Mail uses Helvetica 10 for the message body text. You can modify the registry if you want to change the default font.

To change the default font for the message body text, do the following:

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system-wide problems that may require you to reinstall Windows NT to correct them. Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use this tool at your own risk.

  1. Open Registry Editor by choosing Run from the File menu of Program Manager, type REGEDT32.EXE, and then choose the OK button.


  2. Use the following path:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Mail\Microsoft Mail


  3. From the Edit menu, choose Add Value to create the following entry:

    NormalFont REG_SZ

    From the Edit menu, choose Add Value. In the Value Name field, type NormalFont. Select REG_SZ for the Data Type and choose the OK button. In the String field, type the following and then choose the OK button:

    "<typeface name>, <point size>, <flag for bold>, <flag for italic>"


The following is a sample registry entry for changing the font to Arial: 


   NormalFont:REG_SZ:Arial,14,0,0


This entry has four parts, each separated by a comma: typeface name (not the font file name), point size, flag for bold, and flag for italic. The Change Font command in the View menu toggles between the Normal font and the Fixed font. The Fixed font is useful for viewing messages that were created using a fixed-pitch font. Both entries affect only message body text, not the message envelope text or folder lists; Mail uses Helvetica 8 for that purpose.

Windows NT 4.0:

You may change the font on Windows NT 4.0 Messaging System by:

- Select Tool on the menu
- Select Option
- Select Read folder or Send folder

Additional query words: prodnt

Keywords : kbother nt32ap NTSrvWkst
Version : 3.1 4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type :


Last Reviewed: January 20, 1999
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