• Outlook User
  • Exchange Admin
  • Office 365
  • Outlook Developer
  • Outlook.com
  • Outlook Mac
  • Common Problems
    • Outlook BCM
    • Utilities & Addins
    • Video Tutorials
    • EMO Archives
    • Outlook Updates
    • Outlook Apps
    • Outlook & iCloud Issues
    • Forums

Large Fonts in Messages Sent by Outlook

Slipstick Systems

› Outlook › Email › Large Fonts in Messages Sent by Outlook

Last reviewed on August 11, 2017   —  7 Comments

August 3, 2011 by Diane Poremsky 7 Comments

We're seeing complaints that some parts of a message have characters 10 times larger than expected. The problem comes and goes, and doesn't affect all messages.

When I send an email, the recipient receives my message with parts of the message having 120pt font characters. It's not reproducible.

The cause is an antivirus scanner scanning your email. We believe it is due to a change in mso.dll, first installed by KB2289158. As a result, several antivirus scanners are removing the dot in the font size so 10.0pt becomes 100pt and 12.0pt becomes 120pt. Not all messages are affected and within messages, often just a sentence or word is affected.

Even if you uninstall that update, the mso.dll will be install by later cumulative updates. Also note that the problem is usually with the sender's computer.

To fix this, you need to disable the email scanning feature of your antivirus software. Scanning your email with an antivirus scanner is not necessary, on either inbound to outbound email. Microsoft Outlook does not run active content in email and attachments are automatically saved (to the securetemp folder) before Outlook opens them, so your antivirus will pick up any viruses at that time.

If your antivirus software installs an Outlook add-in, disable or uninstall it. Reports from other users indicate the problem is with the Outlook add-ins. While email scanning is not necessary, using the scanning feature supplied for other email clients does not appear to cause this problem.

Disabling email scanning will not fix messages already in your Inbox, but future messages should not be affected.

To disable the COM Addin in Outlook 2010 and newer:

  1. Go to File, Options, Add-ins.
  2. Click on the Go button at the bottom of the screen to open the Addin dialog.
    addins dialog in outlook
  3. Uncheck the antivirus addin to disable the add-in.
    uncheck addin to disable
  • In Microsoft Outlook 2007 go to Tools, Trust Centers, Add-ins, Go button at the bottom of the screen to disable the antivirus add-in.
  • In Outlook 2003 and older, look in Tools, Options, Other, Advanced, Com add-ins

Do not disable your antivirus completely - only disable the email scanning module!

If this does not solve the problem, disable email scanning in the antivirus software. You may need to uninstall the antivirus software and reinstall using a custom option, choosing not to install the email scanner module.

McAfee, Trend, and AVG are known to cause this problem (and others) but it may not be limited to these three antivirus vendors. Microsoft's Security Essentials does not scan email as it downloads. Do not disable the antivirus completely - only disable the email scanning module!

 

Other causes

There are two other causes of large fonts in email. In both cases, the entire message is affected, not just a sentence or two as it is when the anti-virus scanner is the cause.

Zoom: when zoom is the problem, its usually because fonts are tiny, not too large. Hold Ctrl as you scroll the mouse wheel, press Ctrl+ the plus or minus key or use the Zoom menu to change the setting.

Windows Display settings: go to Settings in Windows 10 or Control panel in older versions and find Display (use Search if you don't see it). If Windows is configured to Scale above 125%, Outlook's dialogs can be hard to read and buttons may be off the screen.

Windows 10:
windows 10 display settings

Older Windows versions:
Display dialog

Large Fonts in Messages Sent by Outlook was last modified: August 11th, 2017 by Diane Poremsky
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Share on Skype (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Related Posts:

  • Up-to-date antivirus definitions on each desktop will help prevent mos
    Should you use client side antivirus scanning in Outlook?
  • Outlook downloads mail slow in Windows 8
  • Two Copies of Sent Messages in Outlook
  • Common Outlook Outgoing Server (SMTP) Errors

About Diane Poremsky

A Microsoft Outlook Most Valuable Professional (MVP) since 1999, Diane is the author of several books, including Outlook 2013 Absolute Beginners Book. She also created video training CDs and online training classes for Microsoft Outlook. You can find her helping people online in Outlook Forums as well as in the Microsoft Answers and TechNet forums.

Leave a Reply

7 Comments on "Large Fonts in Messages Sent by Outlook"

2500
Photo and Image Files
 
 
 
Audio and Video Files
 
 
 
Other File Types
 
 
 
2500
Photo and Image Files
 
 
 
Audio and Video Files
 
 
 
Other File Types
 
 
 

  Subscribe  
newest oldest most voted
Notify of
JACK WINTER
JACK WINTER
Share On TwitterShare On Google

I am experiencing the exact same periodic but not always large font issue. I am using Office 2016 Version 16.0.8229.2103, Outlook 16.0.8229.2103, and Symantec-Norton Security Version 22.10.0.85. I attempted to use the instructions for Microsoft Outlook 2010 to disable the email scanning feature but when I arrived at the COM Add-ins dialog box there was no antivirus add-on to disable. Can you help me with Outlook 2016?

Vote Up00Vote Down Reply
August 11, 2017 12:50 pm
Diane Poremsky
Diane Poremsky
Share On TwitterShare On Google

The dialog for 2016 is the same as 2010 (I'll update the page). Is there any Norton or Symantec addin listed in the addins? Is you mail filtered on your mail server?

Are only parts of the message enlarged? If the entire message has huge fonts, it's more likely Zoom.

Vote Up00Vote Down Reply
August 11, 2017 10:57 pm
JACK WINTER
JACK WINTER
Share On TwitterShare On Google

Diane:
Thank you for your prompt reply of Aug 11. On Aug 12, I followed your instructions and unchecked “Microsoft Exchange Add-in” which resulted in “Microsoft Exchange Add-in” being listed as “Inactive Application Add-ins.” (Note: There is no Norton or Symantec add-in listed.) I purposely waited about one week to see if the problem continued (i.e., parts of the message are enlarged by 10 times.). In the last two days, I received only two messages with parts of the message enlarged. I am not sure if my ISP (ATT) which uses Yahoo filters my mail. What do you recommend? Thank you.
Jack

Vote Up00Vote Down Reply
August 24, 2017 10:10 am
KJ
KJ
Share On TwitterShare On Google
I had Total Defense Internet Security Suite Installed on a pc with newly installed Office 2013. The large font problem in Outlook email that I sent appeared immediately. Specifically, the problem was very large fonts appearing in the first line (and occasionally at spots in my signature) -- 10 times the prescribed font of size of 10. I got MS support and had Office 2013 reinstalled. Problem remained. I had my email service provider refresh my email settings. Problem remained. I closed my email account on my pc and established a new account (same email address). The problem remained. I researched it on line and -- once again -- ended up on the slipstick site. Per the comments on similar issues that I found here, I turned off the email scan portion of Total Defense. The problem remained. I then uninstalled Total Defense and installed Microsoft Security Essentials. The problem disappeared! I am running earlier installs of Total Defense Internet Security Suite on other computers (all Office 2013 or Office 2010) without any problems of this nature. Weird science! In any event, the above steps on the one pc solved a problem that had vexed technical folks at both MS… Read more »
Vote Up00Vote Down Reply
April 30, 2015 8:59 pm
nate
nate
Share On TwitterShare On Google

Same issue here. two years ago it was an old novell gateway not re encoding a soft line break correctly. If the period fell at the end of the line, it ended up being stripped out and 10.0 became 100

Vote Up00Vote Down Reply
March 26, 2013 3:32 pm
judy
judy
Share On TwitterShare On Google

Thanks for this idea, but alas, I have Microsoft Security Essentials and there is no antivirus email scanning. So this just keeps happening. Any other ideas on how to solve the supersizing of fonts in middle of some - not all - messages?

Vote Up00Vote Down Reply
January 27, 2013 4:37 pm
Diane Poremsky
Share On TwitterShare On Google

This is for messages you send? Are the messages messed up in the sent folder? It's possible the problem is on the recipients side.

Vote Up00Vote Down Reply
January 27, 2013 6:28 pm

Visit Slipstick Forums.
What's New at Slipstick.com

Latest EMO: Vol. 23 Issue 10

Subscribe to Exchange Messaging Outlook






Our Sponsors

  • Popular
  • Latest
  • Week Month All
  • This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions
  • Adjusting Outlook's Zoom Setting in Email Adjusting Outlook's Zoom Setting in Email
  • How to Remove the Primary Account from Outlook How to Remove the Primary Account from Outlook
  • Pictures Don't Display in Outlook Messages Pictures Don't Display in Outlook Messages
  • Outlook is Not Recognized as the Default Email Client Outlook is Not Recognized as the Default Email Client
  • To Cc or Bcc a Meeting Request To Cc or Bcc a Meeting Request
  • The Signature or Stationery and Fonts button doesn't work The Signature or Stationery and Fonts button doesn't work
  • Remove a password from an Outlook *.pst File Remove a password from an Outlook *.pst File
  • Understanding Outlook's Auto-Complete Cache (*.NK2) Understanding Outlook's Auto-Complete Cache (*.NK2)
  • Exchange Account Set-up Missing in Outlook 2016 Exchange Account Set-up Missing in Outlook 2016
  • iCloud error: Outlook isn't configured to have a default profile iCloud error: Outlook isn't configured to have a default profile
  • Setting Custom Reminder Times Setting Custom Reminder Times
  • Add Additional Addresses to Room Mailboxes Add Additional Addresses to Room Mailboxes
  • Create a Task from a Message and include the Attachment Create a Task from a Message and include the Attachment
  • Forward email messages by date Forward email messages by date
  • Open multiple Outlook windows when Outlook starts Open multiple Outlook windows when Outlook starts
  • Office 365 Fraud Detection Checks Office 365 Fraud Detection Checks
  • Outlook Request: Calendar Details View Outlook Request: Calendar Details View
  • Outlook's "Not Junk" option isn't available Outlook's "Not Junk" option isn't available
  • Outlook Tip: Show all Mondays in the Calendar Outlook Tip: Show all Mondays in the Calendar
Ajax spinner

Newest VBA Samples

Open multiple Outlook windows when Outlook starts

Set most frequently used Appointment Time Zones

How to change the From field on incoming messages

VBA: File messages by client code

Update Contact Area Codes

Set a reminder on selected items in the To-Do List

Replicate GTD: Create a task after sending a message

Use VBA to read fields in attached messages

Move Outlook Folders using VBA

Replicate Smart Lookup using a macro

Recent Bugs List

Microsoft keeps a running list of issues affecting recently released updates at Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in Outlook for Windows.

Windows 10 Issues

  • iCloud, Outlook 2016, and Windows 10
  • Better Outlook Reminders?
  • Coming Soon to Windows 10: Office 365 Search
  • Outlook Links Won’t Open In Windows 10
  • BCM Errors after Upgrading to Windows 10
  • Outlook can’t send mail in Windows 10: error Ox800CCC13
  • Missing Outlook data files after upgrading Windows?

Outlook 2016 Top Issues

  • The Windows Store Outlook App
  • Emails are not shown in the People Pane (Fixed)
  • Calendars aren’t printing in color
  • The Signature or Stationery and Fonts button doesn’t work
  • Outlook’s New Account Setup Wizard
  • BCM Errors after October 2017 Outlook Update
  • Excel Files Won’t Display in Reading Pane
  • Outlook 2016: No BCM
  • Exchange Account Set-up Missing in Outlook 2016

Repair PST

Convert an OST to PST

Repair damaged PST file

Repair large PST File

Remove password from PST

Merge Two Data Files

Sync & Share Outlook Data

  • Share Calendar & Contacts
  • Synchronize two computers
  • Sync Calendar and Contacts Using Outlook.com
  • Sync Outlook & Android Devices
  • Sync Google Calendar with Outlook
  • Access Folders in Other Users Mailboxes
  • “Live” Group Calendar Tools

Convert to / from Outlook

  • Converting Messages and Calendar or
    Address books
  • Moving Outlook to a New Computer
  • Moving Outlook 2010 to a new Windows computer
  • Moving from Outlook Express to Outlook

Recover Deleted Items

  • Recover deleted messages from .pst files
  • Are Deleted Items gone forever in Outlook?

Outlook 2013 Absolute Beginner's Guide

Diane Poremsky [Outlook MVP]

Make a donation

Calendar Tools

Schedule Management

Calendar Printing Tools

Calendar Reminder Tools

Calendar Dates & Data

Time and Billing Tools

Meeting Productivity Tools

Duplicate Remover Tools

Mail Tools

Sending and Retrieval Tools

Mass Mail Tools

Compose Tools

Duplicate Remover Tools

Mail Tools for Outlook

Online Services

Productivity

Productivity Tools

Automatic Message Processing Tools

Special Function Automatic Processing Tools

Housekeeping and Message Management

Task Tools

Project and Business Management Tools

Choosing the Folder to Save a Sent Message In

Run Rules on messages after reading

Help & Suggestions

Outlook Suggestion Box (UserVoice)

Slipstick Support Services

Contact Tools

Data Entry and Updating

Duplicate Checkers

Phone Number Updates

Contact Management Tools

Sync & Share

Share Calendar & Contacts

Synchronize two machines

Sharing Calendar and Contacts over the Internet

More Tools and Utilities for Sharing Outlook Data

Access Folders in Other Users Mailboxes

View Shared Subfolders in an Exchange Mailbox

"Live" Group Calendar Tools

Home | Outlook User | Exchange Administrator | Office 365 | Outlook.com | Outlook Developer
Outlook for Mac | Outlook BCM | Common Problems | Utilities & Addins | Tutorials
Outlook & iCloud Issues | Outlook Apps
EMO Archives | About Slipstick | Advertise | Slipstick Forums
Submit New or Updated Outlook and Exchange Server Utilities

Send comments using our Feedback page
Copyright © 2018 Slipstick Systems. All rights reserved.
Slipstick Systems is not affiliated with Microsoft Corporation.

You are going to send email to

Move Comment