Format a message on the web
Open Compose and use Formatting options at the bottom of the message. Select the relevant text before changing its formatting. Gmail also offers a Plain text mode toggle in the message’s More options menu.
Use the control that matches whether you are formatting one passage or starting a different message style.
Choose a default text style
In Gmail on a computer, open Settings > See all settings. Find Default text style, choose the appearance and save the changes at the bottom of the page.
Try a fresh draft afterward. A default for new mail should not be confused with how an old message was originally formatted.
Separate reading scale from sent formatting
If the goal is simply comfortable reading, compare your display or browser scale before changing a message’s type. For Android, Google documents the device font-size setting as part of the reading-size workflow.
Keep important information clear when the message is viewed on a different screen.
Choose native formatting or character styling
Gmail’s formatting changes appearance without needing a decorative substitute alphabet. The bold character tool uses a different mechanism.
For font history and design context, inspect Arial or sans-serif examples, then check the options actually offered in your mail editor.
Your questions, answered.
Where is Gmail’s default text style?
On the web, use Settings > See all settings and find Default text style.
Why are formatting options absent in a plain-text draft?
Check the draft’s Plain text mode setting.
Does a decorative character tool change Gmail’s interface font?
No. It produces characters for text input rather than changing the application’s interface.
Sources & background
Sources supporting this page’s explanations. Practical examples are our editorial suggestions.