How to Format Email in the iPhone Mail App

By Cullen Thomas Updated 11/17/2020

* This article is from our Tip of the Day newsletter. . *

This article will tell you how to format an email in the Mail app on your iPhone. Rich text email, including bold text and fonts, has come to the iPhone! Starting in iOS 13 and continuing in iOS 14, you can format emails to your pleasure in the Mail app by simply composing an email, selecting the text you want to format, and then tapping the "Aa" option just above the keyboard. A menu of text formatting options will replace the keyboard, and you can format your email like a pro. Here’s how to format your text in the Mail app on an iPhone.

Related: How to Create New Folders in the Mail App on Your iPhone

iPhone Life
Discover your iPhone's hidden features
Get a daily tip (with screenshots and clear instructions) so you can master your iPhone in just one minute a day.

How to Format Emails on the iPhone

  1. Open the Mail app.
  2. Create a new message (or reply to a message thread).

    text mailtext mail app
     
  3. Compose the text you wish to format.
  4. Long press on the text to select a word; drag the grab points to select more or less text.

    bold lettershow to indent on iphone
     
  5. Tap the Aa option that appears on the left side of the menu at the top of the keyboard. A menu of text formatting options will appear. 
  6. Choose the options you wish to apply. 

    how to format an email
     
  7. Press the X at the top right of the menu to finish formatting and return to composing.
  8. That’s it! Now you know how to apply rich text formatting in the Mail app on the iPhone.
Master your iPhone in one minute a day: Sign up here to get our FREE Tip of the Day delivered right to your inbox.

Topics

How-To
Apps
Mail
Email
Apple Apps

Author Details

Cullen Thomas's picture

Author Details

Cullen Thomas

Cullen Thomas is a senior instructor at iPhone Life. For ten years as faculty at Maharishi University, Cullen taught subjects ranging from camera and audio hardware to game design. Cullen applies a passion for gadgetry to answer questions about iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple cloud services; to teach live classes; and to specialize in the privacy and security aspects of the Apple ecosystem. Cullen has dual degrees in Media & Communications and Literature, and a Masters degree from the David Lynch Graduate School of Cinematic Arts.

Offline, Cullen designs videogames with Thought Spike Games, writes fiction, and studies new nerdery.

Mastodon: @CullenWritesTech@infosec.exchange

Email: cullen@iphonelife.com

Signal: +1-512-814-5526