Either you have opened a new Write message in 'Plain Text' or the 'Formatting Bar' is not enabled. You set the default to use HTML in Account SEttings: Right click on mail account name folder in Folder Pane and selct 'SEttings' Select 'Composition & Addressing' Select checkbox: 'Compose messages in HTML format' See image below - note more recent versions now open in a tab so the OK button no longer exists. Note: even if this option is selected you can still choose to use 'Plain Text' for a particular email by hold down 'Shift' key when clicking on 'Write' button. If you have opened a 'Write' window in HTML mode, but 'formatting Bar; is not enabled: In Write' window: View > Toolbars > select 'Formatting Bar' See image below: note newer version will have different colour and new addressing area but the toolbar options are identical.