How to customize fonts and colors in the Mail app on Mac

Learn how to personalize the look of your Mail app on Mac by customizing fonts and colors to make your inbox stand out.

Mail app on Mac with customized fonts

The Mail app on your Mac is probably one of the most used apps you have. Unless you opt for a third-party email app that lets you use themes and colored skins, you’ve likely already noticed that you can’t change the appearance of the built-in Mail app much unless you just want Dark Mode. But with a few small tweaks, you can customize the fonts and colors.

For your message list, emails, and quoted text for forwards and replies, here’s how to customize those fonts and colors in the Mail app.

Customize the Mail app fonts and colors

Open the Mail app on your Mac and access the settings with Mail > Settings or Preferences from the menu bar. Then, select the Fonts & Colors tab at the top.

Mail app Fonts and Colors settings on Mac

Here are your options and how they work.

Message list font

This is the font style and size used in your message list/inbox. Click Select and pick an option you like.

Mail app Inbox with different font on Mac

Note: On older versions of macOS, it can only be changed if you use the classic layout. The classic layout puts the message list on top (rather than the left) and message content on the bottom (rather than the right). To use this view instead, click the Viewing tab and mark the box at the top for Use classic layout.

Use Classic Layout Mail Mac

Message font

This is the font style and size you’ll use in your emails by default and applies to new messages, replies, and forwards. This setting will apply to all messages you write; however, you can change specific emails by adjusting the font style and size in the email window.

Composing email in Mail app on Mac

Fixed-width font

This is the font style and size for plain text messages rather than those formatted as HTML. You can also check the box for Use fixed-width font for plain text messages if you want every character to be the same width which can be helpful for alignment.

To change any of the above fonts, just click the Select button next to it. In the pop-up window, start from the left and pick your Collection, Family, Typeface, and Size.

Color quoted text

When replying to or forwarding an email, part of the message you’re sending is quoted. You can choose to have the text colored in addition to the indented lines you see for the quotes by checking that box.

Colors

Click each drop-down box to select the color for the indented lines for the quoted text. This will also change the text color if you check the above box.

Change Color Quoted Text Mail Mac

You might not be able to change the wrapper of the Mail from gray to purple or blue, and you may not be able to use themes for spring and summer, but with these small changes, you can adjust some of the Mail app’s appearance on your Mac.

Do you wish you had more control over the appearance of the Mail app on your Mac? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Do more with the Mail app: