Outlook OFT: Hyperlink underline color changes to blue in Outlook New and Outlook for Mac

Outlook OFT Hyperlink Underline Color Issue

We're seeing an issue when sharing email proofs using an Outlook Template File (OFT).

Expected Behavior

• Hyperlink text color: White
• Hyperlink underline color: White (matching the link styling defined in the HTML)

Actual Behavior

• Hyperlink text remains white.
• Hyperlink underline changes to the default Outlook blue color.

Observed In

• Outlook New (Windows)
• Outlook for Mac

Not Observed In

• Outlook Classic (Windows)
• EML-based email proofs (renders correctly across all tested Outlook clients)

Testing Performed

• Inline link styling (color, text-decoration, text-decoration-color)
• Global anchor styling (a, a:link, a:visited, etc.)
• Outlook-specific styles (span.MsoHyperlink, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed)
• Tested with and without nested spans

The issue only occurs when the email is opened/shared through the OFT workflow. The same HTML renders correctly when distributed as an EML file.

Has anyone encountered this behavior in Outlook New or Outlook for Mac when using OFT templates? Any recommended workaround to preserve the hyperlink underline color during compose/forward from an OFT?

No repository file or test is identified. Start by reproducing the hyperlink behavior through the OFT workflow in Outlook New and Outlook for Mac, comparing it with EML proofs and Outlook Classic; done means identifying whether a reliable workaround preserves the underline color or documenting that the behavior is client-controlled.