How to Set a Default Font in Microsoft Word

It’s really no wonder that Microsoft Word is the world’s most popular word processor. The application allows users to easily create documents ranging from laundry lists to flyers to academic dissertations. This versatility comes from Microsoft Word’s use of templates. A template is a preset format for a document, and each template has different layout and font settings.

Microsoft Word’s standard template is the normal.dotm template. Microsoft Word uses this template every time you open a blank document. If you want Microsoft Word to use a certain font for every new document, then you need to change the normal.dotm template.

The process of changing the normal.dotm template depends on the version of Microsoft Word that you’re using. Here are step-by-step guides for each version that is currently in use.

Word 2007

1. Open up a new document. The document should automatically be using the normal.dotm template.
2. Select “Fonts” in the font grouping and select your preferred font. The font that is usually preselected for the default will be removed once you complete the set-up for the new default font.
3. Click “OK,” and then click “Yes” when Microsoft Word asks you to save your changes.
4. Click “OK,” then the Microsoft Office button, and then “Word Options.”
5. Go to the “Customize” tab and select “Save All” after selecting “Commands Not in the Ribbon.”
6. Click “Add,” then “OK,” then “Save All.”

Microsoft Word 2010

1. Open up a new document. The document should automatically be using the normal.dotm template.
2. Select “Fonts” in the font grouping and select your preferred font.
3. Click “Set as Default” option.
4. Click “All Documents Based on the Normal.dot Template.”
5. Click “OK.”

Microsoft Word 2013

1. Open a new document. The document should automatically be using the normal.dotm template.
2. Find the “Home” tab in the menu ribbon above the blank document. Follow the ribbon to the “Styles” section, found in the middle. The style option found on the far-left of the “Styles” section is labeled “Normal.” Right-click the “Normal” option.
3. A drop-down menu will appear under the “Normal” option. Click “Modify.” A dialog box will open.
4. In the dialog box, set the desired font and settings (i.e. size, indentation, spacing, etc.)
5. Select the “New Documents Based on This Template” option.
6. Click “OK.”