How can I set the zoom of the Outlook reading pane?

I know we're able to use Ctrl+Mouse Wheel to zoom in and out, but is there a way of permanently setting the default zoom for the reading pane?

8 Answers

The Zoom level fixed appears to be fixed now in Outlook 2016. If you click on the zoom number in the lower right corner of your Outlook window, it will pop up a dialog.

Enter the desired zoom level, and click the box to save the preference. Walla! This will cure it for your messages in the reading pane.

This looks to be linked to the DPI settings on your computer as well as the zoom level set in Outlook.

One thing could be to change the text size on the emails -

Customize the font size for Plain Text messages

For Plain Text you can modify the display font via

• Outlook 2007 and previous:
  Tools → Options… → tab Mail Format → button Stationery and Fonts (or just Fonts… in previous versions of Outlook)
• Outlook 2010:
  File → Options → section Mail → button Stationery and Fonts

Source: Enlarge font in the Reading Pane – MSOutlook.info

How to set the default zoom for incoming emails in MS Outlook 2010:

• Start - Microsoft Office - Tools and Microsoft Office - a digital certificate for the Project VBA, create a certificate with the name, for example, Zoom
• Start Outlook
• File - Options - Trust Center - Trust Center Settings - Options, select Macros, or "notice for all macros" or "notification for digitally signed macros, all unsigned macros are disabled"
• Alt+F11 - run the VBA Editor
• In the upper left window, click on the Draft Project - MS Outlook Object and double-click on ThisOutlookSession
• To the right opens a window (View.Zoom.Percentage = 150 - scale by default)
• Tools - References, check Microsoft Word 14.0 Object Library
• F5 - come up with a name, for example, "Zoom - Create"
• Tools - Digital Signature: select the signature that we have previously created with the name of Zoom
• File - save
• Alt+Q
• Restart Outlook
• Box appears with a request to add to the trusted zone certificate.

Option Explicit Dim WithEvents objInspectors As Outlook.Inspectors Dim WithEvents objOpenInspector As Outlook.Inspector Dim WithEvents objMailItem As Outlook.MailItem Private Sub Application_Startup() Set objInspectors = Application.Inspectors End Sub Private Sub Application_Quit() Set objOpenInspector = Nothing Set objInspectors = Nothing Set objMailItem = Nothing End Sub Private Sub objInspectors_NewInspector(ByVal Inspector As Inspector) If Inspector.CurrentItem.Class = olMail Then Set objMailItem = Inspector.CurrentItem Set objOpenInspector = Inspector End If End Sub Private Sub objOpenInspector_Close() Set objMailItem = Nothing End Sub Private Sub objOpenInspector_Activate() Dim wdDoc As Word.Document Set wdDoc = objOpenInspector.WordEditor wdDoc.Windows(1).Panes(1).View.Zoom.Percentage = 150 End Sub 

I am shocked that there isn't a better answer for Outlook 2010 on Windows 7, so I will be checking back. What I settled on is pretty poor: using the "Make it easier to read what's on your screen" feature in Windows 7 and setting an overall magnification to 125%. Unfortunately, you have to log off and log back in in order to see the effect, which makes it a pain to experiment.

This feature is accessed in Windows 7 by right-clicking on the desktop, selecting "Screen resolution", and then clicking "Make text and other items larger or smaller" near the bottom. There is also an option to "Set custom text size (DPI)", but I didn't take the time to try it out. You can also access this dialog by typing "Make it easier to read" into the control panel search.

I tried 150%, but this caused unacceptable degradation to fonts in certain programs, such as MATLAB. At 125%, I am unhappy with some of the effects, but it is a fair balance to be able to read my email without zooming on every message. On the other hand it is a big downside to overcome deficiencies in one app, so I think I may just switch to this mode when I have a lot of email to read and then switch back - despite logging off and on twice!

I've been looking for a solution to help with this too in Outlook 2013 and just came across a third party commercial add on to help with this called "Zoom Email Windows Add-In" from .

I just installed the trial in Outlook 2013 32bit and it is working well for me, i.e. it automatically sets the zoom value in the Reading Pane to what I configured. I wanted to suggest this if you are still looking for a solution.

here is updated Outlook VBA code that resizes both opened messages and the reading pane. Microsoft blocked access to the Zoom parameter so you will have to first install Redemption drivers () and then under VBA Tools/References activate "Microsoft Word 15.0 Object Library" and "Redemption Outlook and MAPI COM Library". paste and run the code below, zoom is set in MsgZoom constant.

Option Explicit Dim WithEvents objInspectors As Outlook.Inspectors Dim WithEvents objOpenInspector As Outlook.Inspector Dim WithEvents objMailItem As Outlook.MailItem Dim WithEvents myOlExp As Outlook.Explorer Dim sExplorer As Object Dim Document As Object Dim Msg Const MsgZoom = 130 Private Sub Application_Startup() Set objInspectors = Application.Inspectors Set myOlExp = Application.ActiveExplorer Set sExplorer = CreateObject("Redemption.SafeExplorer") End Sub Private Sub Application_Quit() Set objOpenInspector = Nothing Set objInspectors = Nothing Set objMailItem = Nothing End Sub Private Sub objInspectors_NewInspector(ByVal Inspector As Inspector) If Inspector.CurrentItem.Class = olMail Then Set objMailItem = Inspector.CurrentItem Set objOpenInspector = Inspector End If End Sub Private Sub objOpenInspector_Close() Set objMailItem = Nothing End Sub Private Sub objOpenInspector_Activate() Dim wdDoc As Word.Document Set wdDoc = objOpenInspector.WordEditor wdDoc.Windows(1).Panes(1).View.Zoom.Percentage = MsgZoom End Sub Private Sub myOlExp_SelectionChange() On Error GoTo ErrHandler: Set Msg = Application.ActiveExplorer.Selection(1) Application.ActiveExplorer.RemoveFromSelection (Msg) Application.ActiveExplorer.AddToSelection (Msg) sExplorer.Item = Application.ActiveExplorer Set Document = sExplorer.ReadingPane.WordEditor Document.Windows.Item(1).View.Zoom.Percentage = MsgZoom Exit Sub ErrHandler: Exit Sub End Sub 

I've dug around everywhere to find a way to do this and just stumbled across it accidentally on my own.

Inside the Outlook client, on the bottom right of the Outlook pane, there's the zoom slider bar. Click on the number next to the bar. This pops up a new dialog box that lets you select a zoom level or type in a custom level. There is a checkbox at the bottom that says "Remember my preference." I've closed and re-launched Outlook several times and so far seems to be sticking at the level I set.

I have no idea why MS can't provide a straightforward answer for this, but I finally found it on my own.

The problem I'm encountering is that the Reading Pane changes with these fixes but the display text (File, Home, the ribbon button text) stays 100% sizing.

A band aid solution: I seem to have different visuals on my laptop for these controls since the laptop is a lower DPI (the laptop screen is not as high resolution). By using Outlook and other items with smaller text on my Laptop, I see these better than by scaling EVERYTHING too much. It's not an ideal solution but I now read my emails and other desktop applications on my laptop, and webpages on my monitor.