Where to find text color options on iPhone

iPhone gives you color options for text in a few specific places, but not everywhere. You can change text color in the Notes app, in the Reminders app, and in some third-party apps like Google Docs or Microsoft Word. You cannot change the color of regular text messages in the built-in Messages app, though you can use effects like invisible ink or loud sound. The Mail app also does not offer text color controls in the compose window on iPhone — that feature exists on Mac but not on the phone.

The most straightforward place to change text color is the Notes app, which comes built into every iPhone. This is where most people start if they want to experiment with colored text.

Key Takeaways

  • The Notes app is the easiest place to change text color — open a note, tap the formatting button (three horizontal lines), and select a color from the palette.
  • Text color in Notes requires you to highlight the text first; you cannot set a default color for all new text you type.
  • The Reminders app also supports text color, but only for the reminder title itself, not for notes you add to a reminder.
  • Third-party apps like Google Docs, Microsoft Word, and Pages offer more advanced text formatting including color, but each app has its own method.
  • The built-in Messages app does not support text color changes, though you can add message effects like invisible ink or loud sound.

Changing text color in the Notes app

Open the Notes app and either create a new note or open an existing one. Highlight the text you want to color by tapping and holding a word, then dragging to select the full passage. Once the text is highlighted, look for the formatting toolbar — it appears above the keyboard and shows a button with three horizontal lines (the formatting menu icon).

Tap that formatting button. A menu will appear with options including Bold, Italic, Underline, and Strikethrough. Below those options, you will see a color palette with circles in different colors: yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, blue, green, and gray. Tap the color you want. The highlighted text will change to that color when ready.

If you do not see the formatting menu, make sure you have text selected. The button only appears when text is highlighted. Also note that you must select text each time — Notes does not let you set a default color for all future text in that note.

Changing text color in the Reminders app

Open the Reminders app and tap a reminder to open it. You will see the reminder title at the top. Tap and hold the title text to highlight it, then tap the formatting button (three horizontal lines) in the toolbar above the keyboard. The same color palette appears — select your color.

Keep in mind that in Reminders, you can only color the reminder title itself. If you add notes or details to a reminder by tapping the info icon, those notes cannot be colored. Only the main reminder text at the top supports color formatting.

Using text color in Google Docs and Microsoft Word

If you use Google Docs on your iPhone, open a document and highlight the text you want to color. Tap the formatting button (usually a paintbrush or "A" icon with a colored underline) in the toolbar. A menu will appear with text color options. Google Docs shows a wider range of colors than Notes does, and you can also set text highlighting (background color) separately from text color.

Microsoft Word on iPhone works similarly. Highlight your text, then tap the Home tab in the toolbar. Look for the text color button — it usually shows as an "A" with a colored bar underneath. Tap it to see color options. Word also lets you choose highlighting color from a separate button nearby.

Both apps store your formatting when you save, so colored text will remain colored when you open the document again on any device.

Why you cannot change text color in Messages

Apple's Messages app does not include a text color feature on iPhone. The app is designed to keep messages straightforward and readable across different devices and operating systems. If you send a colored text message to someone with an Android phone, they would not see the color anyway — it would appear as plain text.

What Messages does offer instead are message effects. You can send a message with invisible ink (the recipient taps to reveal it), loud or gentle sound effects, or animated effects like confetti or balloons. These are accessed by tapping and holding the send button before you send a message, then selecting an effect from the menu.

Text color in Pages and other Apple apps

If you use Apple's Pages app for word processing, you can change text color the same way as in Notes. Highlight text, tap the formatting button, and select a color. Pages also lets you change text color through the formatting panel on the right side of the screen — tap the paintbrush icon to access more detailed color options, including the ability to create custom colors by adjusting hue and saturation.

Numbers (Apple's spreadsheet app) and Keynote (presentation app) also support text color. The process is the same: select the text, open formatting options, and choose a color. These apps tend to have more color choices than Notes because they are designed for more detailed document work.

Limitations and what to know before you start

Text color on iPhone works only within the app where you create it. If you copy colored text from Notes and paste it into Messages, the color will not transfer — it will paste as plain text. The same applies when copying between most apps. Color formatting is usually preserved only when you copy and paste within the same app, or when you export a document in a format that supports color (like PDF or Word document).

Also, colored text can sometimes be harder to read, especially if you use a color that does not contrast well with your background. If you use Dark Mode on your iPhone, test your colored text to make sure it is still readable. Some colors that look fine in Light Mode may become dim or hard to see in Dark Mode.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the color of text in iMessage or regular text messages?

No. The built-in Messages app does not support text color changes. You can add message effects like invisible ink or animated backgrounds, but not text color. If you need colored text in a message, you would need to create it in another app (like Notes), take a screenshot, and send the image instead.

Will colored text show up the same on someone else's iPhone?

It depends on the app. If you send a note or document through an app that supports color (like Google Docs or iCloud Notes), the color will appear on the other person's device. If you try to send colored text through Messages, it will not work — the color will not transfer.

Can I set a default text color so everything I type is colored?

No. On iPhone, you must highlight text after you type it, then explore color. You cannot set a default color that applies to all new text you create. This is different from some desktop apps, which do allow default formatting.

What if my colored text looks faint or hard to read?

Check your display settings. If you use Dark Mode, some colors may not have enough contrast against the dark background. Try a brighter or more saturated color. You can also switch to Light Mode temporarily to see if the color is more readable, then switch back.

Can I use custom colors, or only the preset ones?

In Notes and Reminders, you are limited to the preset color palette. In Pages, Numbers, and Keynote, you can create custom colors by tapping the color picker and adjusting hue, saturation, and brightness. Google Docs and Microsoft Word also offer custom color options through their color pickers.