Open the Font menu before you create a new document
The fastest way to change Word's default font is to set it before you open a blank document. Open Word, then go to the Home tab at the top. In the toolbar, find the font dropdown — it shows the name of the current font, usually Calibri. Click the small arrow next to it to open the full list of fonts.
Once the list opens, find the font you want to use instead. Scroll through the alphabetical list or type the first letter to jump to fonts starting with that letter. Click the font name to select it. The font will change in the dropdown box, but this only affects the current document, not future ones.
Key Takeaways
- To set a default font that Word uses for all new documents, open the font dropdown on the Home tab, select your font, then click the small arrow at the bottom right of the font box and choose "Set as Default".
- Word stores default fonts separately for each template, so changing the default for a blank document does not change it for other document types like letters or reports.
- If you use a font that is not installed on your computer, Word will substitute it with another font when you open the document on a different machine.
- You can also change the default font size at the same time you change the font — both options appear in the same menu.
Use "Set as Default" to make the change permanent
To make a font the default for all future blank documents, you need to access the font dialog box. On the Home tab, look for the small arrow in the bottom right corner of the font section — it is straightforward to miss because it is tiny. Click that arrow to open the full font dialog.
In the dialog box, select the font you want as your default from the list on the left. You can also change the font size and style (regular, bold, italic) at the same time. Once you have made your choices, look for the button labeled "Set as Default" at the bottom of the dialog. Click it. Word will ask you to confirm that you want to change the default font for all new documents based on the Normal template. Click "Yes".
From that point forward, every new blank document you create will open with your chosen font instead of Calibri. Documents you have already created will not change — this only affects new ones.
Different document types may have different defaults
Word uses templates to control how new documents look. The most common template is called "Normal," and that is the one that controls blank documents. If you create documents from other templates — such as a letter template, resume template, or report template — those may have their own default fonts.
If you want to change the default font for a specific template, open a document based on that template first, then follow the same steps: select your font, click the small arrow in the bottom right of the font section, and choose "Set as Default." Word will ask which template you want to change. Select the template you are using, and the new default will explore only to documents created from that template going forward.
Check that your font will work on other computers
Some fonts are built into Windows or come with Microsoft Office, and they appear on almost every computer. Others are specialty fonts that you installed yourself. If you send a document to someone else and they do not have that font installed, Word will substitute it with a different font automatically — usually Calibri or Times New Roman.
This substitution can change how your document looks. Margins might shift, page breaks might move, and the overall appearance can be quite different. If you are creating documents that other people will read or edit, stick with common fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri, or Courier New. These are safe choices that will look the same on almost any computer.
Change font size at the same time
While you are setting a new default font, you can also change the default font size. In the font dialog box, the size dropdown is right next to the font name. Common sizes are 11 or 12 points — most people find these readable on screen and in print. If you prefer larger or smaller text, you can select a different size before you click "Set as Default".
The font size and font name are linked in the default settings, so if you change one without changing the other, Word remembers both choices. You can always change the size for individual documents later by selecting the text and adjusting the size in the toolbar.
Revert to Word's original default if you change your mind
If you set a new default font and later decide you want to go back to Calibri, the process is the same. Open the font dialog, select Calibri from the list, and click "Set as Default." Word will switch back to Calibri for all new documents. There is no "undo" button for default changes, but you can always set it back manually.
If you are not sure what the original default was, Calibri 11-point is the standard font that Word uses when you first install it. That is a safe choice to return to if you want to match the way most Word documents look.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my default font affect documents I already created?
No. Changing the default font only affects new documents you create after the change. Any document you have already written will keep the font it was created with. If you want to change the font in an existing document, select all the text (Ctrl+A on Windows, Command+A on Mac), then pick a new font from the dropdown.
What if I want different default fonts for different types of documents?
You can create or modify templates for different purposes — letters, reports, resumes — and set a different default font for each one. Open a document based on the template you want to change, set the font as default, and tell Word to save the change to that specific template. New documents based on that template will use the new font.
Can I change the default font for just one document without affecting others?
Yes. Select all the text in that document (Ctrl+A), then change the font using the dropdown on the Home tab. This changes only that document. To avoid changing the default for all future documents, do not click "Set as Default" — just change the font in the dropdown.
Why does my font look different when someone else opens my document?
If the person opening your document does not have the font installed on their computer, Word substitutes it with a different font. Stick with common fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, or Calibri if you share documents with others. You can check which fonts are installed on your computer by looking in your system's font settings.
Does changing the default font in Word affect other Microsoft programs like Excel or PowerPoint?
No. Each Microsoft program has its own default font settings. Changing the default in Word does not change it in Excel, PowerPoint, or Outlook. You would need to change the default separately in each program if you want them all to use the same font.