Gmail is among the most widely used email services in the world. It boasts of more than a billion users and most individuals take hours a week reading and writing their mails using Gmail. The simple and neat design is one of the factors that make Gmail very easy to use. It is well-read, the design is contemporary, and the messages appear professional. A large portion of this is due to the font in which Gmail is written.
Have you ever wondered what typeface Gmail is, whether it can be changed, or even why the fonts are considered such an important issue with email, then this guide will provide the answers to all of them. We will consider the default Gmail font, its appearance across various devices, customization, and also why the font used by Gmail is important to read and to be a professional writer.
The Standard Font that Gmail Uses.
On most current browsers and devices, the default Google Sans is used in the interface of Gmail. This is the typeface that you use in menus, lists in an inbox and labels. It is a design system of Google and provides Gmail with a unified appearance with all the other Google products, such as Google Drive, Docs, and Google Calendar.
Gmail fallback font is generally Arial when it comes to writing and reading e-mails. Whereas the Arial font is not found on your device, Gmail will use the text in the style of the sans-serif which is an overall font family which comprises clean and simple text designs.
So in short:
- Gmail interface: Google Sans
- Gmail email body: Arial (or falls back to a sans-serif)
Why Gmail Uses These Fonts
Google Sans and Arial are the default in Gmail because of various reasons.
- Readability. The two fonts are easy to read on any size screen.
- Professional look. The Arial font is a popular business communication font and it has a neutral sound.
- Compatibility. Arial is installed in almost all the computers and phones hence Gmail can be used to show emails at all times.
- Branding. Google Sans provides a common design to all the Google applications.
- Simplicity. The standard fonts make Gmail fast and do not have compatibility issues.
Gmail Interface vs. Emails Fonts.
One should be aware that the font visible on the menus in Gmail is not necessarily the font used in an email.
- Google Sans is used in the interface of Gmail (buttons, inbox list, sidebar).
- Reading of emails in Gmail will default albeit in Arial.
- In case the sender utilized a substitute font like Times new roman or Verdana, Gmail will make an effort to show the font. In the case Gmail does not have the font, it substitutes it with Arial or Sans-serif.
This implies that you would have various fonts, based on who was writing the email and the formatting they applied.
The process of changing the default font in Google mail.
There are users who think that when writing their own emails they like a different style. Gmail also gives you options to change the font in which you are typing a message.
The following are the steps involved in changing the default font:
- Browse and log in to Gmail.
- In the upper right hand corner, there is a gear icon that you should click.
- Select “See all settings.”
- On the General tab, there is a scroll bar to the bottom that has a default text style.
- Select the font, size and color of your choice.
- Go down and press save changes.
Once it is done, every new email that you will create will be in your selected font. It is important to remember though that the recipient might not necessarily see the same font as his device might not support it. It will then be replaced by Gmail with Arial or any other fallback font.
Fonts Available in Gmail
As you personalize your font in Gmail you will realize that there are a few options that Gmail offers. The following are some of the common fonts:
- Arial
- Times New Roman
- Verdana
- Georgia
- Trebuchet MS
- Comic Sans MS
The reason behind the use of these fonts is that they are said to be web safe. It implies that they are compatible with a majority of devices and browsers. In Gmail, the list is capped to prevent display issues with other platforms.
Is it possible to use custom fonts in Gmail?
The default setting does not enable custom font uploading and installation on Gmail. Direct fonts such as Roboto, Calibri, or fancy script fonts cannot be used in the font settings of Gmail.
Nevertheless, it has certain workarounds:
- It also supports copying and pasting text that is currently on Google Docs or Microsoft Word in case it has a special font. Gmail can retain the formatting, but when sent to another person, he/she may not view it in the same form.
- The extensions or add-ons that enable custom fonts in Gmail can be used in the browser. These are not formal and might not necessarily be effective.
- To be sure of the outcome, you may write something in some other utility, and save it as an image and insert the image in your e-mail. However this is not feasible when sending long messages.
Therefore, though custom fonts can be done with tricks, Gmail is the place where it can be simple and dependable with simple fonts.
Fonts on Mobile Gmail App
The Gmail mobile is a little bit different as compared to the desktop version. The interface of Gmail itself is in Google Sans on smartphones, although the text of the email body is frequently Roboto, the Android system font.
Apple has a default system font of San Francisco where Gmail can show emails on iPhones.
This implies that the font on a mobile may not be the same as that on a desktop. Nevertheless, Gmail attempts to maintain the sanity of style.
The importance of Font in email communication.
Fonts are not merely choices of design. They influence the perception of the message in your emails by people. The default fonts in Google mail were selective due to the following reasons:
- Professional impression. Google Sans and Arial are both contemporary and neutral-looking, which is suitable to use with business emails.
- Readability. The fonts are not serif, but they are easier to read on the screens than the serif fonts.
- Consistency. The adoption of identical fonts in Gmail makes the interface seem easy to use.
- Accessibility. Simple fonts ensure that individuals who have eyesight challenges read messages more conveniently.
With so many weird fonts on Gmail, emails would appear to be uneven or even unprofessional.
Common Questions About Gmail Fonts
Q: What is the default font being used by Gmail?
The Gmail interface is based on Google Sans. The emails are normally presented in arial or fallback in a sans-serif.
Q: Is it possible to edit the font of Gmail?
Yes. In Gmail settings, default text style enables you to customize your default composing font.
Q: Do you perceive the same font that I use?
Not always. When the recipient does not have a device that can display the font that you have used, Gmail will substitute it with Arial or one that serves as a fallback.
Q: Does Gmail support custom fonts?
Not directly. Gmail has only a few web-safe fonts.
Q: Why does Gmail not look the same on my phone and my computer?
The mobile app of Gmail is displayed in such system fonts as Roboto (Android) or San Francisco (iOS), but the desktop variant of the application is displayed in Google Sans and Arial.
The font, which is used by Gmail, may be a minor detail, yet it contributes significantly to the appearance and feel of emails. Google Sans is the default interface and Arial the default email content of Gmail, so there will be no problem with readability, professionalism, and compatibility in all devices.
Although it is possible to change the default font used to compose messages, Gmail restricts the selection to standard web-safe fonts so that everything is the same. Due to the device, mobile Gmail can show slightly different fonts such as Roboto or San Francisco.
Finally, the font system of Gmail is aimed to make email communication bright, businesslike, and readable. It is not important whether you use the default or customized the font, but what is important is that your message is received by the recipient.
