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.

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