Read Outlook Messages using Plain Text

You have two options if you want to use plain text formatting: read all mail using plain text or convert the message to plain text format before hitting reply.

If you are using Office 2002/XP SR1 update (does not work on earlier builds), you now have the ability to force all incoming messages to be displayed as plain text in both the preview pane and opened message form. This is done with a registry key that stops the HTML engine from rendering the content.

Unlike other utilities, such as zapHTML, the message is not actually converted to plain text (or RTF) and if you want to see it in HTML format, you can either remove the key or view it on another computer. In Outlook 2003 and up, you can still read mail in HTML format but will need to click the Infobar to restore the HTML format.

Convert plain text to HTML on the fly When Read-as-plain text is enabled in Outlook 2003, 2007, or 2010, the Infobar will say if the message was converted to plain text. You can easily switch individual messages to HTML by clicking in the Infobar and displaying the message as HTML.

Enable Read as Plain Text in Outlook 2003 and up

To enable Read as plain global settings in Outlook 2007, go to Tools, Trust Center; in Outlook 2010, its File, Options, Trust Center, Email Security. In Outlook 2003, look for the option in Tools, Options, Email Options.

Outlook 2002 SR1 Registry Key

The key you'll use in Outlook 2002 SR1 (and up) is:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Outlook\Options\Mail
DWORD:READASPLAIN
Data Value: 1

Once the key is set and you restart Outlook, all messages will be displayed as plain text.

If you don't want to edit the registry to make the change in Outlook 2002, you can use Attachment Options to set this key (and more) for you.

Change format to plain text

If you prefer to change the messages to plain text when you reply, open the message, go into Edit Message mode then switch to plain text format before hitting Reply.