If you often send the same type of messages—like replies, announcements, reminders, or customer support emails—creating an email template in Outlook 2013 can save you a lot of time. Instead of rewriting the same content over and over, you can open a ready-made template, personalize it, and send it instantly.
This guide explains what Outlook templates are, why they’re useful, and how to create, save, and use them in Outlook 2013. Written in simple, clear language and optimized for SEO.
⭐ What Is an Email Template in Outlook 2013?
An email template is a pre-designed email message you can reuse anytime. It can include:
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Text
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Formatting
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Images
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Signatures
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Subject lines
Templates are perfect for repetitive emails and improve both speed and consistency.
How to Create an Email Template in Outlook 2013
Follow these steps to build your own custom template:
Step 1: Open a New Email
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Launch Outlook 2013.
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Click New Email on the Home tab.
This opens a blank message window where you’ll design your template.
Step 2: Write or Design Your Email
Type the message you want to use as your reusable template.
You can add:
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Headings
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Bullet points
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Images
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Hyperlinks
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Your signature
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Custom formatting
Make your message as complete as possible—only leave blank areas where you’ll personalize later.
Step 3: Save the Email as a Template (.oft File)
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Click File in the email window.
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Choose Save As.
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In the “Save as type” dropdown, select Outlook Template (*.oft).
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Name your template (example: Follow-Up Reminder).
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Click Save.
Your template is now stored in Outlook’s default templates folder.
How to Use Your Email Template in Outlook 2013
Once your template is created, using it takes only a moment.
Method 1: Open Templates from File > New Items
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Go to Home tab.
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Click New Items.
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Select More Items.
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Choose Choose Form.
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Under “Look In,” select User Templates in File System.
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Pick your saved template and click Open.
Your saved message appears as a new email—just edit and send.
Method 2: Add a Shortcut to the Quick Access Toolbar (Optional)
If you use templates often, you can make them easier to access:
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Click the down arrow on the Quick Access Toolbar.
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Select More Commands.
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From the left pane choose All Commands.
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Add Choose Form to the toolbar.
Now you can open templates with a single click.
Tips for Better Outlook 2013 Templates
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Create multiple templates for different purposes.
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Leave placeholders like:
[Customer Name], [Date], [Order Number]. -
Update your templates regularly to keep information fresh.
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Store templates in clearly named folders if you manage many of them.
Final Thoughts
Creating an email template in Outlook 2013 is a small task that delivers big productivity benefits. With just a few clicks, you can save time, reduce typing, and ensure your emails are consistent and professional every time.