Change your default font before you start typing

To change the default font in Microsoft Word, open a blank document, select all text with Ctrl+A (or Cmd+A on Mac), then go to the Home tab and click the small arrow next to the font name. Choose your font, size, and color, then click the "Set as Default" button at the bottom of the font menu. Word will ask you to confirm — select "Yes, and apply the default formatting to the current document" or "Yes, only to new documents based on the Normal template" depending on whether you want to change only future documents or this one too.

The process is slightly different depending on your Word version. In Word 2019 and earlier, the button says "Default" instead of "Set as Default". In Word Online, you cannot set a permanent default font — you must change it manually each time you open a new document. On Mac, the steps are the same, but the button location may vary slightly depending on your Office version.

Key Takeaways

  • The fastest way to set a default font is to open a blank document, select all text, choose your font from the Home tab, and click "Set as Default".
  • Word applies your default font only to new documents created from the Normal template, not to documents already open or based on other templates.
  • If you want to change the font in an existing document without affecting future documents, select the text and change the font without clicking "Set as Default".
  • Word Online does not support saving a default font, so you will need to change fonts manually each time you create a new document.
  • Your default font choice persists across all devices where you sign in with the same Microsoft account, unless you change it again.

Why your font choice does not stick to existing documents

When you set a default font in Word, the change applies only to new documents you create from that point forward. Word stores this setting in the Normal template — a hidden file that serves as the blueprint for every blank document you open. Changing the default does not retroactively alter documents you have already created or saved.

If you want to change the font in a document you are currently working on, select all the text (Ctrl+A), pick your font from the Home tab, and close the document. The next time you open it, the new font will be there. You do not need to click "Set as Default" unless you want that font to become your default for all future documents.

Using the font menu versus the font dropdown

The font dropdown on the Home tab shows your current font and lets you pick a different one quickly, but it does not give you access to the "Set as Default" button. To reach that button, click the small arrow in the lower right corner of the Font group on the Home tab — this opens the full font dialog box. The button appears at the bottom of this dialog.

In Word 2016 and later, you can also right-click selected text and choose "Font" from the context menu to open the same dialog. On Mac, the dialog opens from the Format menu under Font. Once the dialog is open, the "Set as Default" button is in the same place regardless of how you opened it.

Changing default font size and spacing at the same time

The font dialog box lets you set not just the typeface but also the size, color, bold or italic style, and line spacing all at once. If you want your default document to always open in 12-point Calibri with 1.5 line spacing, you can configure all of that before clicking "Set as Default". Word will remember the entire combination and apply it to every new blank document.

This is useful if your workplace or school requires a specific font and size for all submissions. Set it once in the font dialog, click "Set as Default", and you will never have to change it manually again — unless you switch to a different device or sign out of your Microsoft account.

What happens when you sync across devices

If you use Word on multiple devices and sign in with the same Microsoft account, your default font setting syncs across them. Change the default on your laptop, and the next time you open Word on your tablet, it will use the same font. This sync happens automatically through your Microsoft account settings.

If you use Word on a shared computer or sign in with a different account on another device, the default font will be whatever was last set on that device or account. Changing the default on a work computer will not affect your home computer unless both are signed in under the same Microsoft account.

Resetting to Word's original default font

Word's built-in default font is Calibri, 11 point. If you want to go back to this setting, open a blank document, select all text, choose Calibri from the font dropdown, set the size to 11, and click "Set as Default". Confirm the change when Word asks.

If you have changed the default multiple times and are not sure what you set it to, the quickest way to check is to open a new blank document and look at what font appears in the font dropdown. That is your current default. If you want something different, follow the same steps: select all, pick your font, and click "Set as Default".

Why templates override your default font

If you create a new document from a template instead of opening a blank document, the template's font settings override your default. Templates are pre-designed documents with their own fonts, colors, and layouts built in. Changing your default font does not change the fonts in templates you have already downloaded or created.

To change the font in a template, open the template file itself (not a document based on it), make your changes, and save it. The next time you create a new document from that template, it will use the updated font. If you want to change only the Normal template — the one used for blank documents — follow the standard "Set as Default" process described above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my default font affect documents I have already saved?

No. Your default font setting applies only to new documents you create after making the change. Documents you have already saved keep their original fonts. To change the font in an existing document, open it, select all text with Ctrl+A, pick a new font, and save the file.

Can I set a different default font for different types of documents?

Not directly through Word's interface. However, you can create custom templates with different default fonts and open new documents from those templates instead of from the blank template. Each template can have its own font settings, and Word will use the template's font when you create a document from it.

What if the "Set as Default" button does not appear?

Make sure you have the full font dialog open, not just the font dropdown. Click the small arrow in the lower right corner of the Font group on the Home tab. If you are using Word Online, the "Set as Default" option is not available — you must change fonts manually each time. For Word on Mac, check that you are using a recent version of Office, as older versions may have different menu locations.

Will my default font change if I update Word?

No. Windows and Mac updates to Word preserve your default font settings. However, if you uninstall and reinstall Word, or if you reset your Microsoft account, your default font will revert to Calibri, 11 point. You will need to set it again after a fresh installation.

Can I set a default font for just one user on a shared computer?

Yes, if each user has their own Windows or Mac account. Each user account stores its own Word settings, including the default font. When you sign in with your account and set a default font, it applies only to documents you create while signed in as that user. Other users on the same computer will have their own separate default.