diff --git a/src/js/controller/write.js b/src/js/controller/write.js
index b9b4e9e..3b0f532 100644
--- a/src/js/controller/write.js
+++ b/src/js/controller/write.js
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ define(function(require) {
         _ = require('underscore'),
         appController = require('js/app-controller'),
         axe = require('axe'),
-        aes = require('js/crypto/aes-gcm'),
         util = require('js/crypto/util'),
         str = require('js/app-config').string,
         pgp, emailDao, outbox, keychainDao, auth;
@@ -37,7 +36,6 @@ define(function(require) {
 
                 // fill fields depending on replyTo
                 fillFields(replyTo, replyAll, forward);
-                $scope.updatePreview();
 
                 $scope.verify($scope.to[0]);
             },
@@ -61,7 +59,6 @@ define(function(require) {
             $scope.bcc = [];
             $scope.subject = '';
             $scope.body = '';
-            $scope.ciphertextPreview = '';
             $scope.attachments = [];
             $scope.addressBookCache = undefined;
         }
@@ -321,21 +318,6 @@ define(function(require) {
         // Editing email body
         //
 
-        // generate key,iv for encryption preview
-        var key = util.random(128),
-            iv = util.random(128);
-
-        $scope.updatePreview = function() {
-            if (!$scope.sendBtnSecure || !$scope.body.trim()) {
-                $scope.ciphertextPreview = undefined;
-                return;
-            }
-
-            // Although this does encrypt live using AES, this is just for show. The plaintext is encrypted seperately before sending the email.
-            $scope.ciphertextPreview = aes.encrypt($scope.body, key, iv);
-        };
-        $scope.$watch('sendBtnSecure', $scope.updatePreview);
-
         $scope.sendToOutbox = function() {
             var email;
 
@@ -466,27 +448,6 @@ define(function(require) {
     //
 
     var ngModule = angular.module('write', []);
-    ngModule.directive('contenteditable', function() {
-        return {
-            require: 'ngModel',
-            link: function(scope, elm, attrs, ctrl) {
-                // view -> model
-                elm.on('keyup keydown', function() {
-                    // set model
-                    ctrl.$setViewValue(elm[0].innerText);
-                    scope.$digest();
-                });
-
-                // model -> view
-                ctrl.$render = function() {
-                    elm[0].innerText = ctrl.$viewValue;
-                };
-
-                // load init value from DOM
-                ctrl.$setViewValue(elm[0].innerText);
-            }
-        };
-    });
 
     ngModule.directive('focusMe', function($timeout, $parse) {
         return {
@@ -496,7 +457,12 @@ define(function(require) {
                 scope.$watch(model, function(value) {
                     if (value === true) {
                         $timeout(function() {
-                            element[0].focus();
+                            var el = element[0];
+                            el.focus();
+                            if (typeof el.selectionStart !== 'undefined' && typeof el.selectionEnd !== 'undefined') {
+                                el.selectionStart = 0;
+                                el.selectionEnd = 0;
+                            }
                         }, 100);
                     }
                 });
@@ -504,17 +470,6 @@ define(function(require) {
         };
     });
 
-    ngModule.directive('focusChild', function() {
-        return {
-            //scope: true,   // optionally create a child scope
-            link: function(scope, element) {
-                element.on('click', function() {
-                    element[0].children[0].focus();
-                });
-            }
-        };
-    });
-
     ngModule.directive('focusInput', function($timeout, $parse) {
         return {
             //scope: true,   // optionally create a child scope
diff --git a/src/sass/views/_write.scss b/src/sass/views/_write.scss
index 14fbb94..c95d2c5 100644
--- a/src/sass/views/_write.scss
+++ b/src/sass/views/_write.scss
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@
     .subject-box {
         flex-shrink: 0;
         position: relative;
-        margin: 20px 0 7px 0;
+        margin: 20px 0;
 
         input[type=file] {
             visibility: hidden;
@@ -146,33 +146,18 @@
         }
     }
 
-    .body {
+    textarea {
         flex-grow: 1;
+        width: 100%;
+        border: none;
+        outline: none;
+        color: $color-grey-dark;
         line-height: 1.5em;
-        user-select: text;
-        overflow-y: scroll;
+        overflow-y: auto;
         // allow scrolling on iOS
         -webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch;
         // put layer on GPU
         transform: translatez(0);
-
-        *[contentEditable] {
-            outline: 0px;
-            cursor: text;
-        }
-
-        .encrypt-preview {
-            font-size: 0.9em;
-            margin-top: 3em;
-            font-family: monospace;
-            color: $color-grey-light;
-            word-wrap: break-word;
-            transition: opacity 0.5s;
-        }
-
-        .invisible {
-            opacity: 0;
-        }
     }
 
     .send-control {
diff --git a/src/tpl/write.html b/src/tpl/write.html
index 2baa4a9..e8ef6a5 100644
--- a/src/tpl/write.html
+++ b/src/tpl/write.html
@@ -58,13 +58,7 @@
       </span><!--/.attachment-->
     </div><!--/.attachments-box-->
 
-    <div class="body" focus-child>
-      <p ng-model="body" contentEditable="true" ng-change="updatePreview()" tabindex="3" focus-me="state.lightbox === 'write' && writerTitle === 'Reply'"></p>
-
-      <div class="encrypt-preview" ng-show="ciphertextPreview && sendBtnSecure">
-        <p>-----BEGIN ENCRYPTED PREVIEW-----<br>{{ciphertextPreview}}<br>-----END ENCRYPTED PREVIEW-----</p>
-      </div><!--/.encrypt-preview-->
-    </div><!--/.body-->
+    <textarea ng-model="body" spellcheck="true" focus-me="state.lightbox === 'write' && writerTitle === 'Reply'" tabindex="3"></textarea>
 
     <div class="send-control">
       <button wo-touch="sendToOutbox()" class="btn" ng-class="{'btn-primary': sendBtnSecure === false}" ng-disabled="!okToSend" tabindex="4">{{sendBtnText || 'Send'}}</button>
diff --git a/test/unit/write-ctrl-test.js b/test/unit/write-ctrl-test.js
index 76b811b..b53ffd3 100644
--- a/test/unit/write-ctrl-test.js
+++ b/test/unit/write-ctrl-test.js
@@ -64,7 +64,6 @@ define(function(require) {
                 expect(scope.state.writer.close).to.exist;
                 expect(scope.verify).to.exist;
                 expect(scope.checkSendStatus).to.exist;
-                expect(scope.updatePreview).to.exist;
                 expect(scope.sendToOutbox).to.exist;
                 expect(scope.tagStyle).to.exist;
                 expect(scope.lookupAddressBook).to.exist;
@@ -91,7 +90,6 @@ define(function(require) {
                 expect(scope.to).to.deep.equal([]);
                 expect(scope.subject).to.equal('');
                 expect(scope.body).to.equal('');
-                expect(scope.ciphertextPreview).to.equal(undefined);
                 expect(verifyMock.calledOnce).to.be.true;
 
                 scope.verify.restore();
@@ -124,7 +122,6 @@ define(function(require) {
                 expect(scope.subject).to.equal('Re: ' + subject);
                 expect(scope.body).to.contain(body);
                 expect(scope.references).to.deep.equal(['ghi', 'def', 'abc']);
-                expect(scope.ciphertextPreview).to.not.be.empty;
                 expect(verifyMock.called).to.be.true;
 
                 scope.verify.restore();
@@ -156,7 +153,6 @@ define(function(require) {
                 expect(scope.to).to.deep.equal([]);
                 expect(scope.subject).to.equal('Fwd: ' + subject);
                 expect(scope.body).to.contain(body);
-                expect(scope.ciphertextPreview).to.be.undefined;
                 expect(verifyMock.called).to.be.true;
                 expect(scope.attachments).to.not.equal(re.attachments); // not the same reference
                 expect(scope.attachments).to.deep.equal(re.attachments); // but the same content