Our security team wants outgoing mail to certain systems in plain text, and separately I would rather read incoming mail without remote images and formatting tricks.
Where do the plain text switches live for composing, per recipient and for reading?
How to switch Outlook to plain text for composing and reading
Solved Email & Outlook
AJ
Andrew Jackson August 11, 2020
2 replies
6,470 views
Reviewed by moderators
Three independent switches, one per need. Outlook keeps them in three different dialogs, so here is the map:
Composing default: File, Options, Mail, then set Compose messages in this format to Plain Text. Every new message starts plain from then on, with the Format Text tab on any open message letting you switch an individual one back to HTML when a table or formatting genuinely matters.
Per recipient enforcement, the neat fit for your security requirement: open the contact, double click their email address to open its properties and set Internet format to Send Plain Text only. Outlook then strips formatting to that recipient regardless of how the message was composed, so nobody has to remember the rule, the address book enforces it.
Reading incoming as plain: File, Options, Trust Center, Trust Center Settings, Email Security, then tick Read all standard mail in plain text. Messages display without rendered HTML, remote images or hidden formatting. Any individual message can be flipped back to its HTML view through the banner Outlook shows at the top when you need to see the original layout.
Set the per recipient enforcement on the four system addresses, security team satisfied since nobody can forget. Reading in plain has also been quietly wonderful for focus.