Change your default font before you start typing
The font Word uses when you open a blank document is Calibri, 11 point. You can change this to any font installed on your computer, and Word will use your choice every time you start a new document. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Word on Windows or Mac, but both take about two minutes.
Changing the default font is different from changing the font in a document you already have open. If you want to change only the current document, you can select all the text and pick a new font from the toolbar. But if you want Word to remember your preference and use it automatically in every new document going forward, you need to change the default through the font settings.
Key Takeaways
- Word's default font is Calibri 11 point, and you can change it to any font on your computer through the font dialog box.
- On Windows, open the Home tab, click the font dropdown arrow, then select "Set as Default" at the bottom of the font list.
- On Mac, go to Format > Font, choose your font and size, then click "Set as Default" in the dialog box.
- Your new default applies only to new documents you create after the change, not to documents you already have open.
- If you use a template or a style set, changing the default font may not affect documents based on that template.
How to change the default font on Windows
Start with a blank document. Click the Home tab at the top of the ribbon if it is not already selected. Look for the font dropdown box — it shows the name of the current font, usually "Calibri" in a new document.
Click the small arrow next to the font name to open the list of all fonts on your computer. Scroll through and click the font you want. The list is alphabetical, so if you want Garamond, scroll down to the G section. Once you click a font, the dropdown closes and that font is now selected.
Now click the arrow again to open the font list one more time. At the very bottom of the list, you will see "Set as Default". Click it. A dialog box appears asking you to confirm. Click "Yes" and you are done. Word will now use this font in every new blank document you create.
How to change the default font on Mac
Open a new blank document. At the top of the screen, click Format in the menu bar. From the dropdown, select Font. A dialog box opens showing all available fonts.
Find the font you want in the list on the left side of the box. Click it once to select it. You can also change the font size in the Size column on the right if you want a different default size. Once you have chosen your font and size, look for the button labeled "Set as Default" — it is usually at the bottom right of the dialog box. Click it, and Word saves your choice.
What happens after you change the default
The new default takes effect immediately, but only for new documents. Any document you already have open will keep its current font. Any document you created before the change will still use the old font when you open it again later.
If you create a new document based on a template, the template's font settings may override your default. The same is true if you apply a style set — the style set's fonts take priority over your default. You can still change the font in those documents by hand, but the default you set will not automatically apply to them.
How to find fonts on your computer
Word can only use fonts that are installed on your computer. If you do not see a font you want in the dropdown list, it is not installed. You can download fonts from websites like Google Fonts or DaFont, but you need to install them on your computer before Word can use them.
On Windows, right-click a font file and select "Install". On Mac, double-click the font file and click "Install Font" in the dialog that appears. After installation, the font will show up in Word's font list the next time you open the program.
Changing font size and other properties at the same time
When you set a default font, you can also set a default size. On Windows, before you click "Set as Default", use the font size dropdown next to the font name to pick your size. On Mac, the size option is in the same dialog box where you choose the font.
You can also set defaults for bold, italic, and other formatting, though this is less common. The process is the same: format the text the way you want it, then set it as default. However, most people find it easier to apply formatting as they type rather than building it into the default.
Reverting to Word's original default
If you want to go back to Calibri 11 point, follow the same steps you used to set your custom default, but choose Calibri from the font list and set it as default again. There is no "reset to original" button — you simply pick Calibri and confirm.
If you are not sure what your current default is, open a new blank document and look at the font shown in the toolbar. That is your default font.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does changing the default font affect documents I already created?
No. Documents you created before the change keep their original fonts. The new default only applies to new documents you create after making the change. If you want to change the font in an existing document, you need to select all the text and change it by hand.
Why does my default font not appear in a new document?
The document may be based on a template or style set that has its own font settings. Templates and style sets override your default. You can change the font in that document by hand, or you can modify the template itself if you want the change to affect all future documents based on it.
Can I set different defaults for different types of documents?
Not through the default font setting. However, you can create custom templates with different fonts and open a new document from a template instead of from a blank document. Each template can have its own default font.
What if the font I want is not in the list?
The font is not installed on your computer. Download it from a font website, install it on your computer, then close and reopen Word. The font will appear in the list the next time you open the program.
Does the default font change affect Word on other devices?
No. Each device has its own copy of Word with its own settings. If you use Word on your laptop and your desktop, you need to set the default font separately on each one. If you use Word online through Microsoft 365, the online version has its own default setting separate from your desktop version.