How do I change the default font in Word 2013?

Anonymous
2013-04-03T20:38:32+00:00

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 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2013-04-03T22:02:00+00:00

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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  1. Anonymous
    2015-07-21T22:55:09+00:00

    I had this same question, but when looking around in the Customise Ribbon menu, I noticed I had unchecked the "Design" tab, so checked it to make sure it would be added back to my ribbon.

    Once it added, I opened it and right there in front of me was the "Colors" and "Fonts" menus, with the "Set as Default" button to the right, beneath the "Paragraph Spacing" and "Effects" menus.  Choose which options you want, and then hit the "Set as Default" button.  Once the pop-up confirmation dialogue box appears, choose "Accept" and it will then change your default settings for the document you have open, as well as any NEW documents you create from that moment forward.

    I knew there had to be a simple, easy option within the programme itself for modifying default settings.  This is it.

    Opus

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-06-08T13:32:58+00:00

    This one works perfectly. Thank you I hated the default font Calibri.

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  3. Jay Freedman 208.3K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2015-06-06T13:35:23+00:00

    I suspect that the theme, colors, and fonts buttons may be disabled for one of two reasons: either 64-bit Office doesn't properly support themes, or the program expects the theme XML files to be in a different folder location than they are actually installed.  I'm not certain of this, because I have never used 64-bit Office.

    In 32-bit Office 2013 (running on 64-bit Windows), the theme files are located in the user's profile at C:\Users<login name>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates\LiveContent\15\Managed\Document Themes<locale ID>. The locale ID for English is 1033, and the one for Farsi is 1065. I would expect 64-bit Office to use the same location, but that's just a guess.

    Microsoft recommends using 32-bit Office instead of 64-bit unless you require the large-memory capability for Excel or Access. There are many add-ins, and possibly other features, that are not supported by the 64-bit programs.

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-06-06T12:41:03+00:00

    Hi Mr Freedman .

    Excuse me, i can't speak English well.

    I have a problem with my word 2013. I want change my theme font in word. I follow all ways to do it, but I could not, because in my ''Design'' Tab , fonts button and themes button are Disable. (PrntScr is Attach) 

    I test it with Persian (my language) and English. please help me and thanks. 

    My OS is windows 7 ultimate Service Pack 1, 64 bit.

    My Microsoft Office is 2013 Pro Plus ,Service Pack 1 ,Jul 2014 ,64 bit

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