The fastest way to change font depends on which program you're using
In Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and most other document programs, you change font by selecting the text first, then picking a new font from a dropdown menu in the toolbar. The exact location of that menu changes slightly between programs, but the principle is the same: highlight what you want to change, click the font name, and pick a different one. This takes about three seconds once you know where to look.
The most common mistake is trying to change the font before selecting any text. If you do that, the program won't know what to change. Another common problem is not realizing that changing the font for one paragraph doesn't automatically change it for the whole document — you have to select all the text if you want everything to match.
Key Takeaways
- You must select the text you want to change before you can change its font — clicking the font menu without selecting anything won't work.
- In Word, the font dropdown is in the Home tab at the top left; in Google Docs, it's in the toolbar and says "Normal text" by default.
- To change the font for your entire document, use Ctrl+A (or Cmd+A on Mac) to select all text before picking a new font.
- If you want a font change to apply to all future documents, you can set a default font in your program's settings.
How to change font in Microsoft Word
Open your document in Word and find the text you want to change. Click at the beginning of that text and drag your mouse to the end to highlight it. You can also triple-click on a paragraph to select the whole thing, or use Ctrl+A to select everything in the document.
Look at the top of the screen in the Home tab. On the left side, you'll see a box with a font name in it — it might say "Calibri" or "Arial" or something else. Click on that box. A dropdown menu will appear showing all available fonts. Scroll through the list or type the first letter of the font you want (like "T" for Times New Roman) to jump to it. Click the font name and your selected text will change immediately.
If you want to change the default font for all new documents you create, go to File, then Options, then Display. Look for "Default font" and click the dropdown to pick a new one. This won't change fonts in documents you've already created — only in new ones going forward.
How to change font in Google Docs
Open your document in Google Docs and select the text you want to change. Click and drag to highlight it, or triple-click a paragraph, or use Ctrl+A for the whole document.
In the toolbar at the top, you'll see a box that says "Normal text" (or the name of whatever font is currently applied). Click on that box and a dropdown menu appears with font options. You can scroll through the list or type to search for a specific font. Click the one you want and the change happens right away.
Google Docs also lets you set a default font for new documents. Click File, then Settings. Under "Default font," pick the font you want, then click OK. Any new document you create after that will start with your chosen font.
How to change font in other programs
Most document programs — including LibreOffice, Apple Pages, and OpenOffice — follow the same basic pattern. Select your text first. Look for a font dropdown in the toolbar or menu bar. Click it and choose a new font. The exact location varies, but the idea is always the same.
If you're using a web-based program you're not familiar with, look for a toolbar at the top of the document. The font dropdown usually sits near buttons for bold and italic. If you can't find it, try right-clicking on your selected text — many programs show formatting options in a menu that appears.
Changing font size at the same time
While you have text selected, you can change both the font and the size in one step. Next to the font dropdown, you'll usually see a box with a number in it — that's the font size, measured in points. Click that box and pick a larger or smaller size. Common sizes are 10, 11, 12, and 14 points, though you can type any number you want.
If you're changing the font for a heading, you might want to make it larger too. If you're changing body text to a smaller font to fit more on the page, you'll adjust the size down. The font and size work together, so experiment to see what looks right for your document.
What to do if a font doesn't look right
Sometimes a font you pick won't display the way you expected. This usually happens because the font isn't installed on the computer or device you're using. If you send a document to someone else and they see a different font than you do, it's probably because they don't have that font on their computer.
To avoid this problem, stick with common fonts that come built into most computers: Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri, Verdana, and Georgia are safe choices. If you use a less common font and share the document with others, they may see a substitution font instead. Google Docs handles this better than Word because it stores fonts in the cloud, so anyone viewing your document sees the same font you chose.
Changing font for specific formatting like headings
If your document has headings, you might want to use a different font for them than for the body text. Select just the heading text and change its font separately. This is faster than changing the whole document and then going back to fix the headings.
Many programs also let you create or modify styles, which automatically apply font choices to specific parts of your document. In Word, look for the Styles panel on the right side. In Google Docs, go to Format and then Styles. This is more advanced, but it saves time if you're working with a long document that has multiple headings and sections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my font look different on someone else's computer?
If the font you chose isn't installed on their computer, their program substitutes a different one. Use common fonts like Arial or Times New Roman if you're sharing documents. Google Docs avoids this problem because it displays fonts from the cloud.
Can I change the font for just one word?
Yes. Click at the start of the word, drag to the end to select it, then change the font the same way you would for a paragraph. You can change the font for any amount of text, from a single letter to the entire document.
What's the difference between font and font size?
Font is the style or design of the letters — Arial looks different from Times New Roman. Font size is how big the letters are, measured in points. You can change one without changing the other.
How do I undo a font change if I don't like it?
Press Ctrl+Z (or Cmd+Z on Mac) to undo the last change. You can undo multiple times to go back several steps. If you've already saved the document, you can also close it without saving and reopen the original version.
Can I change the font for bullet points without changing the rest of the text?
Yes. Select just the bullet points by clicking and dragging across them, then change the font. The rest of your document stays the same. You can format bullet points differently from body text if you want them to stand out.