How to Change Font Size for Windows Live Mail on Windows 10

Windows live mail delivers your mail either through a browser or from a desktop app. You either receive mail in HTML format or plaintext format. The plaintext mode, however, is limited in terms of graphics and presentation. For some people who might be visually impaired e.g. senior citizens, tiny texts might strenuous. There are also a fairly good percentage of people that prefer larger texts because it makes it easy for them to read. In the office, reading through quickly emails is a plus.

How can you change the font size of Windows Live mail? It is quite simple to change the Windows Live mail font size. However, some people have been complaining that when you try to change the font size that is used for reading messages in Windows Live Mail, the font size does not change. Usually they are running window live mail 2011 in their windows computer. The good news is that Microsoft has acknowledged this issue. It seems that all mails received in HTML format are not affected by the change in font size. This is caused by a bug in the internet explorer security protocol. Windows Live Mail collects data via internet explorer, and how it is received on windows live mail is dictated by internet explorer.

This article will guide you on how to successfully change the text font size on windows live mail. Use the methods outlined below.

Method 1: Change font size and install the latest internet explorer cumulative security update

Changing the font size won’t affect the emails received in HTML format if you are running internet explorer that has not been updated. So we are going to set the font size first, then update internet explorer to allow the font to enlarge.

1. On the Windows Live Mail tab (the blue button on the top left of WLM screen), click Options and then click Mail.
2. On the Read tab, click Fonts.
3. In the Font size box, select Largest (or the size you prefer), and then click OK
4. To change the font size with which you compose your mails, click on the Compose tab
5. Click on Font Settings, and adjust the Mail font here in the compose tab. Click OK when done.
6. Click OK to close the Options dialog box.

You will now need to update internet explorer security protocols:

1. Go to the Microsoft Security Bulletin page here
2. In the ‘Search by bulletin, KB, or CVE number’ type ‘internet explorer’ to find the latest cumulative security update for internet explorer.
3. Click on the link of the cumulative security update to get more details. (Here is the details page of the last cumulative internet explorer update that will work for this scenario).
4. On the next page, look for a link that says ‘This update is available via Windows Update’. Here is the link to the Windows Update Catalog of our update above. You can also go to the windows update catalog directly here and install the latest cumulative security update for internet explorer that you find.
5. Install the update you found
6. Restart your computer

Remember that you must be running a genuine copy of Windows and you must allow updates on the Windows Update application in order to download this update. Your font on Windows Live mail should now work after the installation of this update.

Method 2: Change font size and change the settings to plaintext

Setting the mail you receive to plaintext will bypass the faulty internet explorer settings. Plaintext is easily changed to the font size you want.

1. On the Windows Live Mail tab (the blue button on the top left of WLM screen), click Options and then click Mail.
2. On the Read tab, click Fonts.
3. In the Font size box, select Largest (or the size you prefer), and then click OK
4. Back on the Read tab, check the checkbox written “Read All Messages in Plain Text”
5. To change the font size with which you compose your mails, click on the Compose tab
6. Click on Font Settings, and adjust the Mail font here in the compose tab. Click OK when done
7. Click OK to close the Options dialog box.

Method 3: Change the DPI (Dots Per Inch) percentage in windows

If you are visually impaired or you prefer large text, then it is advisable that you just set the whole operating system to larger fonts. This will scale all the fonts you see on your screen to a larger text. To do this in windows 10, follow the steps below.

1. Right-click on the desktop and select Display settings
2. In the Customize your display window, select Advanced display settings
3. Select Advanced sizing of text and other items
4. Find ‘set a custom scaling level in the text and click on it’
5. Drag the ruler to set the DPI percentage.
6. The next step is to calibrate your  colour, contrast and brightness and enable clear type
7. Windows key + R, type cttune in the Run textbox and press Enter
8. Follow the instructions on the screen to calibrate your screen clear type. This will help to reduce eye strain

Not all displays handle custom DPI levels well and some Windows 10 apps may behave strangely.

If you are viewing your live mail in a browser, you can simply press Ctrl + + or – to zoom in or out respectively. You can also press Ctrl + Scroll your mouse wheel to zoom in and out.