Outlook 2013 is not recognizing the font-family

Question

Outlook 2013 is not recognizing the font-family

Is there a simpler way to specify the font-family in Outlook 2013 email coding? I've discovered that when adding it inline like this, the font-family is often ignored:

<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">Text</span>

I've also found success with this method:

<span><font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif">Text</font></span>

However, this can be tedious as every text area requires the addition of the <font> tag. Wrapping multiple elements in the tag is ineffective. Is there a way to set the font once and not have to worry about it?

html css outlook html-email outlook-2003

Answer 1

Answer №1

After encountering a similar issue, I stumbled upon a helpful post that resolved the problem:

To tackle this issue effectively, it is necessary to incorporate a specific conditional CSS code snippet immediately after the body tag within the email template. This snippet ensures that Outlook displays the desired font-family (such as Arial, Helvetica, or San-Serif) rather than defaulting to Times New Roman:

<!--[if mso]>
<style type="text/css">
body, table, td {font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif !important;}
</style>
<![endif]-->

Answer 2

After encountering a similar issue, I stumbled upon a helpful post that resolved the problem:

To tackle this issue effectively, it is necessary to incorporate a specific conditional CSS code snippet immediately after the body tag within the email template. This snippet ensures that Outlook displays the desired font-family (such as Arial, Helvetica, or San-Serif) rather than defaulting to Times New Roman:

<!--[if mso]>
<style type="text/css">
body, table, td {font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif !important;}
</style>
<![endif]-->

Answer 3

Answer №2

To ensure Outlook 2013 uses a specific font stack, one effective method is to enclose the text in a <span> tag and use the !important declaration when specifying the font-family. Despite removing Google fonts from the head section, Outlook will display the desired font while other email clients may still render Google fonts. See below for an example:

<head>
<link href='http://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Indie+Flower' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css'>
</head>

<body>
<table>
  <tr>
    <td style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">
      This text will always be displayed in Helvetica.
    </td>
  </tr>
</table>

<table>
  <tr>
    <td style="font-family: 'Indie Flower', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">
       In Outlook, Times New Roman will be shown, while other clients might show Helvetica or Indie Flower.
    </td>
  </tr>
</table>

<table>
  <tr>
    <td style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">
      <span style="font-family: 'Indie Flower', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif !important;">
        Outlook will display Helvetica, whereas other clients may show Indie Flower.
      </span>
    </td>
  </tr>
</table>
</body>

This tip was sourced from a helpful article at:

Answer 4

To ensure Outlook 2013 uses a specific font stack, one effective method is to enclose the text in a <span> tag and use the !important declaration when specifying the font-family. Despite removing Google fonts from the head section, Outlook will display the desired font while other email clients may still render Google fonts. See below for an example:

<head>
<link href='http://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Indie+Flower' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css'>
</head>

<body>
<table>
  <tr>
    <td style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">
      This text will always be displayed in Helvetica.
    </td>
  </tr>
</table>

<table>
  <tr>
    <td style="font-family: 'Indie Flower', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">
       In Outlook, Times New Roman will be shown, while other clients might show Helvetica or Indie Flower.
    </td>
  </tr>
</table>

<table>
  <tr>
    <td style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">
      <span style="font-family: 'Indie Flower', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif !important;">
        Outlook will display Helvetica, whereas other clients may show Indie Flower.
      </span>
    </td>
  </tr>
</table>
</body>

This tip was sourced from a helpful article at:

Answer 5

Answer №3

Just wanted to mention a different approach to the font issue at hand. It's not always necessary to specify your font-family within the body tag, contrary to what CoderRoller stated in previous responses.

I also came across another aspect of this problem. I had been using a Google Font API within the email like so:

And then within the body tag:

<!--[if mso]>
    <style type="text/css">
        body, table, td {font-family: 'Playfair Display', Helvetica, sans-serif !important;}
    </style>
<![endif]-->

However, Outlook does not support custom fonts in this manner. As a result, it disregards any fallback fonts listed after the custom font. If you encounter this issue, consider removing the custom Google font and opting for something like:

<!--[if mso]>
    <style type="text/css">
        body, table, td {font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif !important;}
    </style>
<![endif]-->

Currently, I have this CSS style in the HTML head. I tested it with Litmus and found that whether the declaration is inside the body or head tag doesn't affect the outcome.

Answer 6

Just wanted to mention a different approach to the font issue at hand. It's not always necessary to specify your font-family within the body tag, contrary to what CoderRoller stated in previous responses.

I also came across another aspect of this problem. I had been using a Google Font API within the email like so:

And then within the body tag:

<!--[if mso]>
    <style type="text/css">
        body, table, td {font-family: 'Playfair Display', Helvetica, sans-serif !important;}
    </style>
<![endif]-->

However, Outlook does not support custom fonts in this manner. As a result, it disregards any fallback fonts listed after the custom font. If you encounter this issue, consider removing the custom Google font and opting for something like:

<!--[if mso]>
    <style type="text/css">
        body, table, td {font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif !important;}
    </style>
<![endif]-->

Currently, I have this CSS style in the HTML head. I tested it with Litmus and found that whether the declaration is inside the body or head tag doesn't affect the outcome.

Answer 7

Answer №4

If you're looking for an easy fix, try this method. Simply enclose all your content with the outdated font element!

<font face="Arial">
<!-- insert text here -->
</font>

Answer 8

If you're looking for an easy fix, try this method. Simply enclose all your content with the outdated font element!

<font face="Arial">
<!-- insert text here -->
</font>

Answer 9

Answer №5

In my personal experience, I have found that the font tag is the most reliable option when it comes to Outlook (and surprisingly, Windows Phone). It's advisable to include standard CSS inline for styling your text as some email clients may not support the face attribute of the font tag.

Answer 10

In my personal experience, I have found that the font tag is the most reliable option when it comes to Outlook (and surprisingly, Windows Phone). It's advisable to include standard CSS inline for styling your text as some email clients may not support the face attribute of the font tag.

Answer 11

Answer №6

Are you constructing your emails using tables? If so,

<td style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">

This will be effective in all email clients. Only use a span if there is text that needs different styling.

In Outlook 2013, the tag in the header is not ignored. I have firsthand experience with this as I have created numerous emails where I specifically styled a:visited in the header to prevent Outlook from changing them to purple, and it works without fail!

UPDATE: To provide a more accurate response, unfortunately, you do need to specify the style inline every time (I initially overlooked this part of the question!)

Snippet:

<table width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
<tr>
<td style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center; color: #000000;">

Some text here.....
</td>
</tr>
</table>

Answer 12

Are you constructing your emails using tables? If so,

<td style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">

This will be effective in all email clients. Only use a span if there is text that needs different styling.

In Outlook 2013, the tag in the header is not ignored. I have firsthand experience with this as I have created numerous emails where I specifically styled a:visited in the header to prevent Outlook from changing them to purple, and it works without fail!

UPDATE: To provide a more accurate response, unfortunately, you do need to specify the style inline every time (I initially overlooked this part of the question!)

Snippet:

<table width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
<tr>
<td style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center; color: #000000;">

Some text here.....
</td>
</tr>
</table>

Answer 13

Answer №7

Utilizing custom fonts in email design is not universally compatible with all email clients.

Email clients that do support custom web fonts include AOL Mail, Native Android mail app (not Gmail app), Apple Mail, iOS Mail, Outlook 2000, Outlook.com app, and Outlook iOS.

For further information on using web fonts in emails, check out this informative article:

Answer 14

Utilizing custom fonts in email design is not universally compatible with all email clients.

Email clients that do support custom web fonts include AOL Mail, Native Android mail app (not Gmail app), Apple Mail, iOS Mail, Outlook 2000, Outlook.com app, and Outlook iOS.

For further information on using web fonts in emails, check out this informative article:

Outlook 2013 is not recognizing the font-family

Answer №1

Answer №2

Answer №3

Answer №4

Answer №5

Answer №6

Answer №7

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