How do I change the default font in Word 2013?

Anonymous

I am using Office 2013 on a Windows 7 platform. When I open Word the font is set to Calibri size 11. I would like the default to be Times Roman size 12. I cannot seem to find this as an option.

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Jay Freedman 208.3K Volunteer Moderator

In the old days, you would modify the Normal style and click the "New documents based on this template" option in the Modify Style dialog to make it change Normal.dotm. While that still sorta works, it now has some nasty side effects (such as not taking effect in tables). The right way:

Open a new blank document.
Click the Design tab.
Click the Fonts button (near the right end of the Document Formatting group) and click Customize Fonts at the bottom of the gallery.
Change the Body Font box to Times New Roman, and optionally change the Heading Font and the Name entries. Click OK
Click the Set as Default button (to the right of the Fonts button) and OK the prompt.
To change the size, first display the Styles pane (Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S) and click the Manage Styles button (third from left at the bottom).
Go to the Set Defaults tab of the dialog. With the "+Body" entry selected in the Font box, select 12 in the Size box. Click the "New documents based on this template" option and click OK.
Close Word. If you're prompted to save the Normal template, say yes.

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67 additional answers

Anonymous

2013-08-07T00:11:36+00:00

Charles,

Thanks for the quick response.

I opened the from Windows, with Word closed. I DID figure a work-around: I saved a file as template from within Word, then when I reopen Word 2013, I now choose "Personal" and my template is there.

This, however, hasn't solved the macro problem.

PS--Thanks for the advice about using an old thread. I posted a new one this morning.

David
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Charles Kenyon 170.9K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2013-08-06T23:24:09+00:00

OK.

What is the modified date on the file?

Did you actually open the .dotm file as a document for editing? Rotten terminology, I know. Did you use File Open from within Word? Use the vba? Right-click on it from Windows?

Are you connected to a corporate network with some sort of login?

Again, by tagging onto an older thread that has been marked as "Answered," you are limiting your pool of responders.
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Anonymous

2013-08-06T18:12:24+00:00

Charles,

My correction---I meant to say I did modify the normal.dotm, not .doc.

The changes are NOT there when I reopened the file. It always reverts back to the Office default.
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Charles Kenyon 170.9K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2013-08-06T16:48:06+00:00

Hi OperaFan,

Please see my response to your other post.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/office/forum/office_2010-word/word-2010-macros-disappear-when-word-is-closed/6207ff4f-2694-4cc9-9b67-b0cc7a1fd3d0?page=6

This problem probably has to do with either an Add-In or a network administrator keeping you from saving changes to normal.

It is normal.dotm, not normal.doc. Any file named normal.doc has nothing to do with this problem.

Open the normal.dotm file. See Normal Template in Microsoft Word - How to Open.

Make your changes in that file directly. Do NOT add any text including no headers or footers.

Save the file. Close Word and reopen. Are your changes there?
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