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2 min fix 2 min read Recently reviewedBeginner

By , IT support technician

Quick Answer

Go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Email Security, and uncheck the box for Read all standard mail in plain text.

How to Fix Outlook Displaying Emails in Plain Text Instead of HTML ​

Estimated Time to Fix: 2 minutes

Applies to: Microsoft Outlook (Classic)
Article Type: Troubleshooting
Last Updated: 2026-07-20

Summary ​

This article guides you through fixing a specific issue in Microsoft Outlook where every email you receive looks like a plain text document, missing all pictures, colors, logos, and layout formatting.

Symptoms ​

  • All incoming emails have no formatting (bold, italics, colors).
  • Images and company logos in emails appear as small attachments rather than displaying in the body of the email.
  • You see an information bar at the top of emails saying, "We converted this message into plain text format."

Prerequisites ​

  • None required.

Instructions ​

1. Disable the "Read as Plain Text" Setting ​

  1. This issue is almost always caused by a single security setting being accidentally enabled in Outlook's Trust Center.
  2. Open Microsoft Outlook.
  3. Click File in the top left corner, then click Options at the bottom left.
  4. In the Options menu, click Trust Center on the left sidebar.
  5. Click the Trust Center Settings... button.
  6. In the new window, click Email Security on the left.
  7. Under the "Read as Plain Text" section, uncheck the box next to Read all standard mail in plain text.
  8. Click OK to close the Trust Center, then click OK again to close Outlook Options.

2. Verify Success ​

  1. Select an email in your inbox that was previously displaying incorrectly.
  2. It will immediately reload and display with its original HTML formatting, images, and colors intact.

Troubleshooting ​

WARNING

If the emails still appear as plain text after changing this setting, the sender may be actively choosing to send their emails in plain text format. You cannot force a plain text email to become HTML if it was sent as plain text.

Symptom / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
Only some emails are plain textSender preferenceThe sender composed the email in plain text. This is normal and requires no action.
Emails still strip images and show a red XPicture blockOutlook may be blocking pictures to protect your privacy. Click the information bar at the top of the email and select Download Pictures.