Join the AMA (Ask Me Anything) with the Firefox leadership team to celebrate Firefox 20th anniversary and discuss Firefox’s future on Mozilla Connect. Mark your calendar on Thursday, November 14, 18:00 - 20:00 UTC!

This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Hierdie gesprek is in die argief. Vra asseblief 'n nuwe vraag as jy hulp nodig het.

How does one convert a plain text email to a rich text email and enable the "formatting" menu bar?

  • 5 antwoorde
  • 4 hierdie probleem
  • 1 view
  • Laaste antwoord deur rollybrown

more options

In composing a new email, or replying to a received email, the new message or reply sometimes opens as a plain text email and I can find no option for converting it to rich text and enabling the bar identified as the "formatting bar" in the toolbars portion of the "view" menu.

In composing a new email, or replying to a received email, the new message or reply sometimes opens as a plain text email and I can find no option for converting it to rich text and enabling the bar identified as the "formatting bar" in the toolbars portion of the "view" menu.

Gekose oplossing

New 'Write' message: If you have HTML formatting enabled for the mail account then all new Write messages will start in that format option.

  • right click on mail account in Folder Pane and select 'Settings'
  • select 'Composition & Addressing'
  • select 'Compose messages in HTML format'
  • click on OK

Note: This needs to be done for each mail account. senario: If you have mail account A setup to use HTML and mail account B not set up. If you are viewing messages in account B and click on 'Write', it will open as plain text.

You can still revert to Plain Text for a specific email by holding 'Shift' key and clicking on 'Write'. So, if all mail accounts are set up to use HTML, check you are not holding down the Shift key by accident on occassions.

If you have HTML enabled but 'Formatting Bar' does not show then enable it: View > Toolbars > Formatting Bar


If you have received an email from someone who sent it as plain text then it is likely that person would like to receive in Plain Text. This can be set up for that contact in the Address Book.

Lees dié antwoord in konteks 👍 0

All Replies (5)

more options

At the top of your composition window do you have a series of menus - File, Edit, View etc? If so, click on the Options menu and choose Delivery Format.

more options

amanchesterman said

At the top of your composition window do you have a series of menus - File, Edit, View etc? If so, click on the Options menu and choose Delivery Format.

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately, the "delivery format" option only shows up when I don't need it (i.e., when the message is already rich text). Any other ideas?

more options

Gekose oplossing

New 'Write' message: If you have HTML formatting enabled for the mail account then all new Write messages will start in that format option.

  • right click on mail account in Folder Pane and select 'Settings'
  • select 'Composition & Addressing'
  • select 'Compose messages in HTML format'
  • click on OK

Note: This needs to be done for each mail account. senario: If you have mail account A setup to use HTML and mail account B not set up. If you are viewing messages in account B and click on 'Write', it will open as plain text.

You can still revert to Plain Text for a specific email by holding 'Shift' key and clicking on 'Write'. So, if all mail accounts are set up to use HTML, check you are not holding down the Shift key by accident on occassions.

If you have HTML enabled but 'Formatting Bar' does not show then enable it: View > Toolbars > Formatting Bar


If you have received an email from someone who sent it as plain text then it is likely that person would like to receive in Plain Text. This can be set up for that contact in the Address Book.

more options

In any email which allows the HTML: Options > Delivery format...select 'Auto-detect'.

Opening in Plain Text mode will not show the option because by default it is Plain Text.


What version of Thunderbird are you using? What OS ?

Does it occur in thunderbird Safe mode? in thunderbird 'Help' > 'Restart with addons disabled' then test the email which previously opened in Plain Text.

more options

Thanks, ToadHall! That helped!