‘Disable plain text mode in Gmail and Outlook/Hotmail’ [Full Guide]

Today’s email applications allow you to create emails fully loaded with text, graphics, images, animations, etc. On the same side, they also let you compose emails just with the help of simple text without any fancy features. There are basically two modes for composing the emails. One is known as the HyperText Markup Language (HTML) mode and the other is known as the Plain Text mode. The former one allows you to add all the fancy features to your emails whereas the latter one just allows you to create emails using plain text.

We know that the needs of people are changing these days and they are no longer satisfied with the features like plain text. It is quite understandable because your communication has certain requirements. You might want to attach a picture, a pdf, an audio file, a video with your email and it is just not possible with the Plain Text mode. Therefore, you might find the need of disabling it. In this article, we will discuss the methods through which we can disable the Plain Text mode in Gmail and Hotmail.

How to Disable the Plain Text Mode in Gmail?

In this method, we will explain to you how you can disable the Plain Text Mode in Gmail by using the Compose email option. For doing this, you will need to perform the following steps:

1. Launch any browser of your choice say, Google Chrome, type in Gmail in the search bar of your browser and then press the Enter key in order to navigate to Gmail “Sign in” page as shown in the following image:

2. Now choose a suitable account with which you want to log in to Gmail and click on it as highlighted in the image shown above.
3. Type the password of your Gmail account and then click on the Next button as highlighted in the image shown below:

4. Once you manage to log in to Gmail successfully, click on the Compose button as shown in the following image:

5. As soon as the New Message box appears on your screen, click on the three dots located at the bottom right corner of the New Message box as highlighted in the image shown below:

6. Finally, uncheck the option saying, “Plain Text Mode” from the menu that pops up as shown in the following image:

As soon as you will uncheck this option, your Plain Text mode will automatically be disabled in Gmail.

How to Disable the Plain Text Mode in Hotmail?

In this method, we will explain to you how you can disable the Plain Text Mode in Hotmail by modifying its Settings. For doing this, you will need to perform the following steps:

1. Launch any browser of your choice say, Google Chrome, type in Hotmail in the search bar of your browser and then press the Enter key in order to navigate to the Hotmail “Sign in” page as shown in the following image:

2. Type your Hotmail ID below the “Sign in” label and then click on the Next button as highlighted in the image shown above.
3. Now enter the password of your Hotmail account and then click on the “Sign in” button as highlighted in the image shown below:

4. Once you manage to sign in to Hotmail successfully, click on the Gear icon located on the right corner of the ribbon labeled as Outlook as shown in the following image:

5. As soon as you will click on this icon, a pop-up menu will appear on your screen. Scroll down this menu and then click on the link saying, “View all Outlook Settings” as highlighted in the image shown below:

6. Now choose the Customize Actions tab from the Outlook Settings window as shown in the following image:

7. In the Customize Actions Settings, scroll down to the Toolbar heading and uncheck the checkbox corresponding to the field saying, “Switch to Plain Text” as highlighted in the image shown below:

8. Finally, click on the Save button located at the top right corner of the Customize Actions Settings pane as highlighted in the image shown above.

As soon as you will click on this button, your Plain Text mode will automatically be disabled in Hotmail.