"Offering free computer help, hints, and tips to the Internet populace." Now with over 3,820 tips!

Windows Live Mail

Send Email in Text Format, Even Replies

SUMMARY: Configure Windows Live Mail to use the more-compatible plain text format when writing e-mails.

Depending on your configuration, Windows Live Mail may by default send e-mail in HTML format. While this allows for text formatting in the message, some older e-mail clients may have trouble viewing the messages, and automated mailing lists often prefer text to HTML e-mail.

To send all e-mail in plain text instead, regardless of the sender's e-mail format, do the following:

1. Access the Windows Live Mail menu by clicking the menu button (see the screenshot to the right) or press Alt + M.

2. Select "Options".

3. When the options dialog box appears, click the "Send" tab.

4. Underneath "Sending", uncheck "Reply to messages using the format in which they were sent".



Ignoring the sender's e-mail format when writing replies with Windows Live Mail



5. Underneath "Mail Sending Format", click the "Plain Text" radio button.

6. Click "OK" to save your settings and close the dialog box.

EXPERT USERS: The Registry entries for these configuration items can be found here:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail\mail\Message Send HTML

1: Send HTML e-mail
2: Send plain text e-mail

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail\Reply To Messages In Original Format

1: Keep the original format
0: Ignore the original format

This tip was written for Windows Live Mail Version 2009 running on a netbook with Windows XP Home. Features, instructions, and screenshots for other versions / operating systems may vary.

Return to the Windows Live Mail page.

Print this tip


Get the Newsletter

Thanks For Sharing!



Newest Tips:

Microsoft Word 2010
Make Sure Others Can See Your Fonts
Microsoft PowerPoint 2010
Animations or Video Displaying Poorly?
Google Chrome
[MODIFIED] Report a Malfunctioning Web Page, Crash, or Other Issue
Google Gmail
Show Unread Message Count as an Icon

Follow Us!

About MalekTips and the Author

The MalekTips website was created in 1998 by Andrew Malek of Envision Programming. The page's goal is to freely disperse computer-related tips, hints, and informative articles. Tips are organized to be easy to find, and are presented clearly, in easy-to-understand language. MalekTips also provides information and links to public-domain, open source, freeware, shareware, and commercial software available for download. < more >