Yes, you can change text color on iPhone, but the method depends on what app you're using

iPhone does not have a system-wide setting to change the color of all text at once. Instead, text color changes happen inside individual apps — Messages, Notes, Mail, and others each have their own controls. Some apps let you pick text color directly; others let you change text through bold, italic, or underline formatting; and some don't offer color options at all.

The most common place to change text color is in the Notes app, where you can highlight text in different colors or use the text formatting menu. In Messages, you can use Tapback reactions and effects, but not change the color of your actual message text. If you use a third-party app like Google Docs or Microsoft Word, those apps have their own text color tools built in.

Key Takeaways

  • The Notes app lets you select text and change its color using the formatting menu — tap the arrow icon, then text color.
  • Messages does not let you change the color of message text itself, but you can add colored effects and reactions to your messages.
  • Mail does not have a built-in text color tool on iPhone, though some third-party email apps do offer this feature.
  • Third-party apps like Google Docs, Microsoft Word, and Pages all have their own text color controls inside the app.
  • iPhone's accessibility settings let you invert colors or increase contrast, but these affect the whole screen, not individual text.

Changing Text Color in the Notes App

The Notes app is the easiest place to change text color on iPhone. Open Notes and create a new note or open an existing one. Type or select the text you want to color, then tap the arrow icon at the bottom right of the keyboard (it looks like a right-pointing chevron). This opens the formatting menu.

In the formatting menu, look for the text color icon — it looks like an "A" with a colored underline. Tap it to see color options: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, and gray. Select the color you want, and the text you selected will change to that color. You can explore different colors to different parts of the same note.

If the arrow icon does not appear, make sure you have text selected. Tap and hold a word, then drag to select the text you want to color. The formatting menu only shows when you have text selected.

Using Highlight Color in Notes Instead of Text Color

Notes also lets you highlight text with a colored background instead of changing the text color itself. Select your text the same way — tap and hold, then drag. Open the formatting menu by tapping the arrow icon. Look for the highlighter icon, which looks like a marker pen. Tap it to choose a highlight color.

Highlight color and text color are separate tools. You can use both on the same text — for example, blue text with a yellow highlight. Experiment with combinations to see what is easiest to read on your screen. If you change your mind, select the text again and tap the highlighter icon, then choose "None" to remove the highlight.

Changing Text Color in Third-Party Apps

Google Docs, Microsoft Word, and Apple Pages all let you change text color on iPhone. The steps are similar across these apps: select the text you want to color, then look for a text color or formatting button in the toolbar. In Google Docs, tap the three-dot menu, then select "Text color." In Word, tap the Home tab, then the text color icon. In Pages, tap the formatting icon (usually a paintbrush or "A"), then look for text color options.

Other apps like Canva, Adobe Express, and Procreate also have text color tools, but each one works differently. Open the app's help menu or tutorial if you cannot find the text color button. Most apps put it in a formatting toolbar or a menu labeled "Text," "Format," or "Style."

Why Messages Does Not Let You Change Text Color

Apple's Messages app does not have a text color feature. Your message text will always appear in the default color for your conversation — usually black on a light background or white on a dark background, depending on your phone's Dark Mode setting. This is by design: Apple keeps Messages straightforward and focuses on other ways to express yourself.

What you can do in Messages is add effects to your messages. Send a message, then press and hold it before you send. Tap "Screen" or "Bubble" to add animations, confetti, or other visual effects. You can also use Tapback reactions — tap and hold a message you receive, then choose an emoji reaction like a heart, thumbs up, or laugh. These are not text color changes, but they do let you add color and personality to your conversations.

Changing Text Color Through iPhone Accessibility Settings

If you want to change how text looks across your entire iPhone — not just in one app — you can use accessibility settings. These settings affect all text on your screen, not individual words or messages. Go to Settings, then Accessibility, then Display & Text Size. Here you can increase text size, enable Bold Text, or turn on Larger Accessibility Sizes.

For color changes, go to Settings, then Accessibility, then Display & Text Size, then scroll down to find "Increase Contrast" or "Reduce Transparency." These options make text darker and backgrounds lighter, which can help if text is hard to read. You can also enable "Smart Invert" or "Classic Invert" under Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Color Filters to invert the colors on your entire screen, but this affects everything, not just text.

These accessibility settings are useful if you have vision difficulties, but they are not the same as choosing a specific color for specific text. They change the contrast and appearance of all text system-wide.

What to Do If Your App Does Not Have a Text Color Option

Not every app on iPhone supports text color changes. Mail, for example, does not have a built-in text color tool. If you need to send a colored email, you have a few options: use a third-party email app that supports text color (like Gmail's web version in Safari), copy and paste text from Notes or Google Docs into your email, or use a different email service that offers more formatting options.

For social media apps like Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok, text color is usually not an option because these apps control how text appears. If you want colored text in a post, take a screenshot of colored text from Notes or another app, then post the image instead. Some apps like Canva let you create images with colored text, which you can then share on social media.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the color of text in iMessage conversations?

No, iMessage does not have a text color feature. The color of your message text is set by your phone's theme and cannot be changed per message. You can add effects like confetti or balloons, or use Tapback reactions, but not change the actual text color.

How do I change text color in Mail on iPhone?

The Mail app does not have a built-in text color tool. If you need colored text in an email, write it in Notes or Google Docs first, explore the color there, then copy and paste it into your email. Some third-party email apps may offer text color options — check the app's settings or help menu.

Will changing text color in Notes sync to my Mac or iPad?

Yes, if you use iCloud to sync Notes across your devices, colored text will appear the same color on your Mac and iPad. The color is saved as part of the note and syncs automatically when you turn on iCloud sync in Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud.

Can I change the color of text in Safari on iPhone?

No, you cannot change the color of text on websites you visit in Safari. The text color is controlled by the website itself. You can change how the page looks by enabling Reader Mode (tap the lines icon in the address bar) and adjusting the background color and text size, but you cannot change individual text colors.

Is there an app that lets me change text color for all my apps?

No, there is no system-wide app that changes text color across all iPhone apps. Each app controls its own text appearance. You can change text color inside individual apps that support it (Notes, Google Docs, Word, Pages), but not globally across your phone.