Remove Double Spacing in Outlook – A How-to Guide

After you open your Outlook app to check the emails, and you see that there are large gaps or uneven lines, trust me, this is a common issue right now. Once you know how to remove double spacing in Outlook, you will get back to using Outlook as normal. There are many causes behind this issue, like copying content, using a signature, or incorrect paragraph settings. Good news for you, in this article, we explore why Outlook adds extra spacing, and we will share some troubleshooting steps to restore normal line spacing in both new messages and replies.

Why Double Line Spacing Happen?

Most of the time, double spacing in Outlook usually happens because of a misconfiguration in formatting. If you copied the text from Word, websites, or other applications, Outlook may read it differently and add extra spacing between lines or paragraphs because they might use a different format than Outlook does. 

Sometimes the “Remove double spacing in Outlook” issue occurs because emails contain hidden HTML tags or incorrect paragraph settings. Sometimes, pasted content or signature templates that contain hidden formatting can cause deeper issues. As you have understood the reason behind the issue now it is now easier to remove double line spacing in Outlook.

How to Remove Double Line Spacing in Outlook

Here are some easy troubleshooting steps to remove double line spacing in Outlook and restore your Outlook to normal:

#Step 1. Check Paragraph Spacing Settings

1. Open Outlook and start a new message.
2. Click on the Format text tab on the ribbon.
3. Click on the Paragraph section 
4. You see, under spacing set both Before and After to 0 pt, and make sure Line spacing is set to Single.
5. Click Okay to save changes

By following the above steps, unnecessary spacing between lines and paragraphs gets removed. 

Also read: Outlook is Having Trouble Starting

#Step 2. Clear Formatting When Copying Text

Hidden HTML tags are added if you copy content from Word, a web page, or another document. To fix, follow below:

• Paste the same text you have copied into your email.
• Highlight the section and choose Message<Basic Text< Clear All Formatting
  These steps fix your text style and remove the unwanted double spaces.

#Step 3. Adjust the Default Style Template

1. Go to File > Options > Mail > Stationery and Fonts
2. Select Personal Stationery > New Mail Messages > Font
3. Under the paragraph spacing, make sure line spacing is set to Single, and spacing before/after is 0 pt.
4. Save your changes and then start Outlook again.

#Step 4. Check HTML or Plain Text Mode

If you receive any emails in HTML format, you will see double spacing, so in this case, simply switch to plain text mode temporarily and recheck again.

Go to Format Text > Format > Plain text

By doing this, you can easily detect whether the reason behind the spacing issue is HTML formatting or not.

#Step 5. Review Signature Formatting

Sometimes a signature, which has a poor format, can cause double spacing. If you have copied elements from Word or browsers:

• Go to File > Options > Mail > Signatures
• Select your signature and click Edit.
• Remove extra paragraph spaces and use single line breaks instead.
• Save the signature and test by composing a new message.

Other Tips to Remove Double Spacing in Outlook

Some best practices to prevent the problem from recurring, once you have learned how to remove double line spacing in Outlook:

• Make sure you are using Outlook’s built-in text editor rather than pasting the content from an external source.
• If you must paste, use “Paste as Plain Text” to avoid hidden HTML formatting.
• Check your NormalEmail.dotm template file for spacing errors. 
• Always use the updated version of Outlook, as the bugs causing the spacing issue get removed after the update.

Related article: How to Download All Emails From Outlook 365

Remove Double Spacing in Outlook – Quick Troubleshooting Tips

If the issue still persists after doing all the above fixes, then you should try resetting your Outlook or creating a fresh profile. 

Most of the time, the cached formatting settings cause this issue. You can follow these steps: Go to View > Reset View to restore default formatting. Then restart Outlook. This will reset all the bugs, and you will see that the double spacing is gone.

Author’s Verdict

To reiterate, once you know how to remove double spacing in Outlook and how to remove double line spacing in Outlook helps you in maintaining professional-looking emails. With the right steps and fixes, you can eliminate unwanted gaps and make sure your messages are easy to read every time. 

People Also Ask

Q. Why am I seeing Outlook add big gaps between lines?
If you set the paragraph spacing above 0 pt, or you have pasted text from an external source that has hidden formatting.

Q. What is the shortcut key to use a single line break in Outlook?
You need to press Shift + Enter shortcut key to use a single line break in Outlook.

Q. Is it possible that Outlook 365 also has a double spacing issue?
This issue can happen in Microsoft 365 as well if you are copying text or HTML content.

Q. Is it possible that signatures are causing double spacing in Outlook?
If you are copying the signatures, it carries a hidden style as well, causing double spacing; you can fix it by simply recreating your signature directly in Outlook.