How to Change the Default Font in Microsoft Word (Step-by-Step)

How to Change the Default Font in Microsoft Word

Changing the default font in Microsoft Word is one of the easiest ways to personalize your documents and improve readability. If you often open Word and immediately change the font from Aptos to something else, you’re not alone. Many users prefer fonts like Century Gothic, Times New Roman, or Arial for professional or academic work.

In this complete guide, you’ll learn how to change the default font in Microsoft Word. This will ensure every new document opens with your preferred font style and size. It happens automatically. This guide is beginner-friendly, works for most Word versions, and includes troubleshooting tips.

Contents hide

1 How to Change the Default Font in Microsoft Word

2 What Is the Default Font in Microsoft Word?

3 Why Change the Default Font in Microsoft Word?

4 Before You Start: Things to Know

5 How to Change the Default Font in Microsoft Word (Step-by-Step Guide)

6 Understanding the Normal Template in Microsoft Word

7 How to Change the Default Font for One Document Only

8 How to Test If the Default Font Has Changed

9 Common Problems When Changing Default Font (And Fixes)

10 Advanced Customization: Fonts, Styles & Templates

11 Default Font Differences Across Word Versions

12 Best Fonts to Use as Default in Microsoft Word

13 FAQs: Changing the Default Font in Microsoft Word

14 Conclusion

What Is the Default Font in Microsoft Word?

The default font is the font Word uses automatically when you create a new blank document. For many recent versions of Microsoft Word, the default font is:

Font: Aptos
Style: Regular
Size: 12

Image showing a Microsoft Word toolbar with font options, including font selection, size, and formatting features.

This font is applied through Word’s Normal template, which controls formatting for all new documents unless you change it.

Why Change the Default Font in Microsoft Word?

There are many reasons users want to learn how to change the default font in Microsoft Word, including:

Save time by avoiding manual font changes
Meet school or workplace formatting rules
Improve readability and eye comfort
Maintain consistency across documents
Use a brand or personal writing style

If you write frequently, changing the default font can save hours over time.

Before You Start: Things to Know

Before changing your default font, keep these points in mind:

Changes affect new documents only
Existing documents won’t update automatically
The change is stored in the Normal template
You can choose to apply it to one document only or all future documents

Now let’s move on to the main steps.

Watch the Video Tutorial

If you prefer to see this in action, the full video walkthrough is below, showing each method step by step.

How to Change the Default Font in Microsoft Word (Step-by-Step Guide)

Method 1: Using the Font Dialog Box

Step 1: Open the Font Dialog

You have two options:

Click the small arrow in the bottom-right corner of the Font group on the Home tab
OR press Ctrl + D on your keyboard

Microsoft Word toolbar showing the default font dropdown and the Font dialog launcher icon — Click the small arrow in the Font group on the toolbar to open the Font dialog in Microsoft Word.

This opens the Font dialog box.

Step 2: Choose Font Style and Size

Inside the Font dialog box:

Select your preferred Font (e.g., Century Gothic)
Choose Font Style (Regular, Bold, Italic)
Select Font Size (e.g., 12)

Microsoft Word Font dialog showing Century Gothic selected with regular style and size 12 — Select your preferred font, style, and size in the Font dialog before setting it as the default.

You’ll see a live preview of how the text looks.

Step 3: Set as Default for All Documents

At the bottom of the dialog box, click Set As Default.

You’ll see two options:

This document only
All documents based on the Normal template

Select All documents based on the Normal template, then click OK.

Microsoft Word Font dialog highlighting the Set As Default button — Click Set As Default to apply the selected font as the default in Microsoft Word.

A confirmation message will appear. Click Yes.

Method 2: Using Keyboard Shortcut (Ctrl + D)

This method uses the same steps but is faster:

Press Ctrl + D
Choose your font, style, and size
Click Set As Default
Select All documents based on the Normal template
Click OK

That’s it!

Understanding the Normal Template in Microsoft Word

The Normal template (Normal.dotm) controls:

Default font
Paragraph spacing
Styles
Formatting for new documents

Microsoft Word Styles gallery showing the Normal style selected — The Normal style is selected, confirming the default font is now active in Microsoft Word.

When you change the default font, you are modifying this template. That’s why the font applies to all future Word documents.

How to Change the Default Font for One Document Only

If you only want to change the font for the current file:

Open the Font dialog box
Choose your font settings
Click Set As Default
Select This document only
Click OK

Microsoft Word font dialog showing the Set As Default option and the choice between this document only or all documents — Click Set As Default, then choose whether the font applies to this document only or all Word documents.

This keeps your global default font unchanged.

How to Test If the Default Font Has Changed

To confirm your changes worked:

Close Microsoft Word
Choose Don’t Save if prompted
Reopen Word
Click Blank Document

If the new document opens with your selected font and size, the default font has been successfully changed.

Common Problems When Changing Default Font (And Fixes)

Font Didn’t Change

Make sure you selected All documents based on the Normal template.

Font Reverts After Restart

Word may be in Read-only mode.
Run Word as administrator once and reapply settings.

Font Missing

Ensure the font is installed on your system.

Advanced Customization: Fonts, Styles & Templates

You can go beyond just changing the default font:

Modify Normal style
Customize Heading styles
Save custom Word templates
Set default line spacing

These options are found under Styles → Modify.

Right-click menu in Microsoft Word showing the Modify option for the Normal style — Right-click the Normal style and select Modify to change default font settings in Microsoft Word.

Default Font Differences Across Word Versions

Word Version	Default Font	Size
Word 2007–2013	Calibri	11
Word 2016–2021	Calibri	11
Word 365 (New)	Aptos	11

Steps to change the default font remain nearly identical across versions.

Best Fonts to Use as Default in Microsoft Word

Here are some popular choices:

Century Gothic – Clean and modern
Times New Roman – Academic and formal
Arial – Simple and professional
Georgia – Easy to read on screens
Calibri – Balanced and versatile

Choose based on your purpose and audience.

FAQs: Changing the Default Font in Microsoft Word

Can I change the default font permanently in Microsoft Word?

Yes, by selecting All documents based on the Normal template.

Will this affect old documents?

No, only new documents are affected.

Can I set different defaults for different templates?

Yes, custom templates can have their own defaults.

Why didn’t my default font change?

You may not have saved the Normal template correctly.

Does this work on Mac?

Yes, the steps are similar on macOS.

What is the fastest way to open font settings?

Press Ctrl + D.

Conclusion

Learning how to change the default font in Microsoft Word is a small adjustment that makes a big difference. It saves time, improves consistency, and allows you to work more comfortably.

Whether you’re a student, professional, or casual writer, setting a default font that suits your needs is a smart move. Follow the steps carefully. Then test your changes. Enjoy documents that are ready to go from the moment you open Word.