The quickest way to change your default font

To set a default font in Microsoft Word, open the Home tab, click the small arrow in the bottom right corner of the Font group, then select "Set as Default" at the bottom of the dialog box. Word will ask you to confirm — choose "This document only" if you want the change for just one file, or "All documents based on the Normal template" if you want every new Word document to use that font from now on.

The process takes about 30 seconds and works the same way in Word for Windows and Word for Mac. Once you set a default, every blank document you create will open with your chosen font already selected, so you won't have to change it manually each time.

Key Takeaways

  • The "Set as Default" option lives in the Font dialog box, which you reach through the small arrow button in the Home tab's Font group.
  • You can set a default for just the current document or for all future documents based on Word's Normal template.
  • Changing the default font does not affect documents you have already created — only new blank documents going forward.
  • If you want a specific font size, line spacing, or other formatting as your default too, set those options before clicking "Set as Default".

Where to find the Font dialog box

In Word for Windows, go to the Home tab at the top of the ribbon. Look for the Font group — it shows your current font name and size. In the bottom right corner of that group, you will see a small arrow button. Click it to open the Font dialog box.

In Word for Mac, the process is identical. Open Home, find the Font group, and click the small arrow in the corner. The Font dialog box will appear with the same options as Windows.

Choosing "This document only" versus "All documents"

When you click "Set as Default," Word shows you two choices. "This document only" changes the font for just the file you have open right now. Use this if you want a specific font for a particular project but do not want it to affect your other documents.

"All documents based on the Normal template" changes the default for every new blank document you create from that point forward. This is the choice most people make if they have a font they prefer for everyday writing. The change is permanent until you set a different default.

Setting other formatting as default at the same time

Before you click "Set as Default," you can adjust other options in the Font dialog box — font size, bold or italic, color, or effects like underline. Whatever you have selected when you click "Set as Default" becomes part of your default formatting.

For example, if you want your default font to be Calibri at 12 point with 1.5 line spacing, set all three before clicking the button. Line spacing lives in a separate dialog (go to Home, click the arrow next to the line spacing icon), so you may need to set that separately and then return to set the font as default.

Why your old documents do not change

Setting a new default font only affects documents you create after you make the change. Any file you have already written will keep whatever font it was using. This is by design — Word assumes you formatted older documents intentionally and does not overwrite your choices.

If you want to change the font in an existing document, select all the text (Ctrl+A on Windows, Command+A on Mac), then choose your new font from the Font dropdown in the Home tab. That change applies only to the document you are working in.

Resetting to Word's original default

Word's original default font is Calibri at 11 point. If you have set a different default and want to go back, open the Font dialog box again, select Calibri, set the size to 11, and click "Set as Default" followed by "All documents based on the Normal template."

You can also reset Word entirely by deleting the Normal template file, though this is more drastic and will reset other settings too. For most people, simply setting Calibri as the default is the simpler route.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does setting a default font affect documents I share with other people?

No. Your default font setting is local to your computer. When you send a document to someone else, they see the fonts you actually used in that file, not your default settings. If you used your default font and they do not have that font installed, Word will substitute the closest match on their system.

Can I set different defaults for different types of documents?

Not directly through Word's interface. The default applies to all new documents based on the Normal template. However, you can create custom templates with different fonts and use those templates when you start a new document, which gives you the same practical result.

What if I set a default font but new documents still open in a different font?

This usually means you chose "This document only" instead of "All documents based on the Normal template." Open the Font dialog again and click "Set as Default," then make sure you select the option for all documents. If the problem persists, your Normal template file may be corrupted, and you may need to delete it and let Word create a fresh one.

Can I set a default font for just one folder or project?

Not through the default font setting. Instead, create a template file with your preferred font and save it in a location you can find easily. When you start a new document for that project, open the template instead of a blank document. The new file will inherit all the formatting from the template.