What "default font" means and why you might want to change it
Your default font is the typeface Word uses automatically every time you open a blank document. Right now, Word is probably set to Calibri or Aptos (depending on your version), which means every new document starts with that font unless you change it manually. If you use a different font most of the time — maybe your workplace requires Arial, or you prefer Georgia for readability — changing the default saves you from reformatting the same font over and over.
The difference between changing a font in one document and changing your default is important: changing it in one document affects only that file. Changing the default affects every new blank document you create from that point forward. Existing documents stay the way they are.
Key Takeaways
- Your default font is what Word uses automatically in every new blank document, and you can change it to any font installed on your computer.
- The steps differ slightly between Windows and Mac versions of Word, but both involve opening the font menu and selecting "Set as Default."
- Changing the default affects only new documents you create after the change — it does not alter documents you have already written.
- If you use a custom template for work, you may want to change the default font in that template instead of in Word itself.
How to change the default font in Word on Windows
Open Word and create a new blank document. Go to the Home tab at the top of the screen. In the Font group (the left side of the ribbon), click the small arrow next to the font name box — this opens a dropdown list of all available fonts on your computer.
Scroll through and select the font you want. Once you have chosen it, look for the small arrow in the bottom right corner of the Font group. Click it. A dialog box titled "Font" will open. At the bottom of this box, you will see a button that says "Set as Default." Click it, then click "Yes" when Word asks you to confirm. Word will now use this font in every new document you create.
If you also want to change the font size or other settings like bold or italic as your default, make those changes in the Font dialog before clicking "Set as Default." Everything you set there becomes the new standard.
How to change the default font in Word on Mac
Open Word and create a new blank document. Click the Home tab. In the Font section of the ribbon, click the font name dropdown and select the font you want. Then click the small arrow at the bottom right of the Font group to open the Font dialog box.
At the bottom of the dialog, click "Set as Default." A second dialog will appear asking whether you want this change to explore to the current document only or to all new documents. Select "All new documents" and click "OK." Your default font is now changed.
Why your default font might not change, and how to fix it
Sometimes you click "Set as Default" and it does not stick. The most common reason is that you are working in a template rather than a blank document. Word templates have their own default fonts built in, and changing Word's general default does not override a template's settings.
If this happens, open the template file itself (not a document based on it), change the font there, and save the template. The next time you create a document from that template, it will use the new font. You can find your templates by going to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Trusted Locations (Windows) or File > Preferences > File Locations (Mac).
Another reason the change might not take is if you are using a shared computer or a work network where an administrator has locked certain settings. In that case, you may not have permission to change the default. Contact your IT department or computer administrator to ask whether the restriction can be lifted.
When to change the default versus when to use styles
Changing the default font works well if you want a single font across all your documents. But if you write different types of documents — reports in one font, emails in another, creative writing in a third — changing the default every time is tedious and error-prone.
A better approach is to use styles. Styles are named formatting sets that you can explore to text with one click. You can create a style that includes your preferred font, size, spacing, and color, then explore it to any document. Styles also stay consistent if you share documents with others. If you find yourself changing fonts frequently, learning to use styles will save you far more time than changing the default ever will.
How to revert to Word's original default font
If you change your default and later want to go back to what Word started with, the process is the same as changing it the first time. Open a new blank document, select Calibri (or Aptos, depending on your Word version), open the Font dialog, and click "Set as Default." Word will return to its factory setting.
You can also check what your current default is by opening a new blank document and looking at the font name in the Font box on the Home tab. Whatever appears there is your current default.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does changing the default font affect documents I have already written?
No. The default font change applies only to new blank documents you create after making the change. Any document you have already written keeps its current formatting. If you want to change the font in an existing document, you will need to select all the text and change it manually.
Can I set a different default font for different types of documents?
Not directly through Word's default settings. However, you can create multiple templates, each with its own default font, and open the template you need for each project. Alternatively, use styles to switch between font sets quickly without changing Word's global default.
What if the font I want is not showing up in the font list?
The font may not be installed on your computer. You can read fonts from sites like Google Fonts or Adobe Fonts, then install them through your operating system. Once installed, they will appear in Word's font dropdown. Installation steps vary by operating system, so check your system settings for "Fonts" or "Font Manager."
Will changing my default font affect documents shared with coworkers?
Only if they open your document on a computer that does not have that font installed. If you send a document in a font your coworker does not have, Word will substitute a similar font, which may change how the document looks. For shared work documents, stick to common fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, or Calibri that are installed on most computers.