Where to find font color settings on iPhone
Font color on iPhone depends on which app you are using. Apple's built-in apps — Notes, Mail, Messages, and Reminders — each handle text color differently, and third-party apps like Google Docs or Microsoft Word have their own controls. There is no single iPhone-wide setting that changes the color of all text everywhere on your device.
The most common place to change font color is in the Notes app, where you can highlight text and explore color directly. Mail lets you change text color when composing a message. If you are using a third-party app, the color tool is usually in a formatting menu or toolbar, often marked with an "A" or a paint bucket icon.
Key Takeaways
- Notes app: select text, tap the formatting brush icon, then choose a color from the menu that appears.
- Mail app: compose a message, select text, tap the arrow icon, then tap "Text Color" to pick a shade.
- Third-party apps like Google Docs and Word have their own color pickers, usually in a toolbar or the Format menu.
- Font color changes only affect the text you select — it does not change the color of text you type afterward unless you select that text too.
- Some apps do not support text color at all, particularly messaging apps like iMessage, which use the system font color.
Changing text color in the Notes app
Open Notes and create a new note or open an existing one. Type or select the text you want to color. If the text already exists, tap and hold a word, then drag to select all the text you want to change.
Once text is selected, look for the formatting toolbar at the bottom of the screen. Tap the paintbrush icon (it looks like a brush dipped in paint). A menu will appear with color options: yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, blue, green, and gray. Tap the color you want. The selected text will change when ready. Tap elsewhere in the note to deselect and see the result.
If you do not see the paintbrush icon, swipe left on the toolbar at the bottom of the screen. The formatting options are sometimes hidden and require swiping to reveal them. On older iPhone models or iOS versions, the icon may appear in a different location, but the process is the same.
Changing text color in the Mail app
Open Mail and tap the compose button (pencil icon) to start a new message. Type your message or select text you have already written. To select text, tap and hold a word, then drag to highlight what you want to color.
With text selected, tap the arrow icon that points right (usually in the top toolbar). A menu will expand showing formatting options. Tap "Text Color." A color picker will appear with a range of colors to choose from. Select the color you want, and the text will change. Tap outside the color picker to close it and continue editing.
Not all versions of Mail show the text color option in the same place. If you do not see it after tapping the arrow, look for a formatting menu or an "Aa" icon in the toolbar. Some older iOS versions require you to tap "More" or a three-dot menu to find text color options.
Changing text color in Google Docs and Microsoft Word
In Google Docs, open a document and select the text you want to color. Tap the paintbrush icon in the toolbar at the top of the screen. A color palette will appear. Tap the color you want, and the text will change. You can also tap the "A" icon with a colored underline to access text color options.
In Microsoft Word, select your text and look for the "Home" tab at the bottom of the screen. Tap the "A" with a colored bar underneath it (this is the font color button). A color menu will open. Choose your color, and the text will update. Word also lets you pick custom colors by tapping "More Colors" at the bottom of the palette.
Both apps save your changes automatically, so you do not need to do anything extra to keep the color. If you are working on a document shared with others, they will see the colored text on their devices too.
Why text color sometimes does not work
Some iPhone apps do not support text color at all. iMessage, for example, does not let you change the color of individual words — the entire message uses the system text color. SMS text messages also do not support colored text. If you send a colored message from Notes or Mail to someone using iMessage, they will see the text in the default color on their end.
Text color also does not carry over when you copy and paste text into an app that does not support it. If you copy colored text from Notes and paste it into iMessage, the color will be lost and the text will appear in the default color. This is a limitation of the receiving app, not a problem with your iPhone.
Some third-party apps have limited color options or do not let you change text color at all. Check the app's formatting menu or help section to see what options are available. If the app does not have a color tool, there is no way to add one without the app developer updating the software.
Changing font color for accessibility
If you are changing text color to make it easier to read, consider using high-contrast colors. Dark text on a light background or light text on a dark background is easier for most people to read than similar shades. Yellow text on white, for example, is hard to see.
iPhone also has system-wide accessibility settings that can help with readability. Go to Settings, tap Accessibility, then Display & Text Size. You can turn on Bold Text, Increase Contrast, or Reduce Transparency to make all text on your phone easier to read. These settings affect the entire system, not just one app.
If you are using colored text in a document you plan to share, remember that some people may have difficulty reading certain color combinations. Pairing colored text with bold or larger font size makes it more readable for everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the color of text I type after selecting a color?
No. When you select a color in Notes or Mail, it only applies to text you have already selected. Once you deselect and start typing new text, it will be the default color. You have to select each piece of text separately and explore color to it. Some apps remember your last color choice, but this is not standard across all iPhone apps.
Will colored text show up the same way on other devices?
It depends on the app and how the document is shared. In Google Docs and Microsoft Word, colored text stays colored when someone opens the document on another device. In Notes, colored text may not display correctly if you share the note with someone using an Android phone or older Mac. Always check how the recipient will see the text before sending.
Can I undo a color change?
Yes. Tap the undo button (curved arrow) in the top left of most apps, or use the keyboard shortcut three-finger swipe left. This will remove the color and return the text to its default state. You can undo multiple times to go back several steps.
Is there a way to set a default text color for all my notes?
No. iPhone does not have a setting to change the default text color system-wide or within individual apps. You have to manually select and color each piece of text. Some third-party note apps may have this feature, but Apple's built-in apps do not.
What if the color picker does not appear?
Make sure you have selected text first — the color tool only works on highlighted text. If you still do not see the color option, check that you are using the latest version of the app by going to the App Store and updating if needed. Older iOS versions may not have text color features in all apps.