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
    2014-09-01T17:39:25+00:00

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-07-24T14:55:19+00:00

    Very Helpful ... once I found the little box at the bottom right of the font box it was very easy. Then I went to the other little bottom right boxes and changed all the default settings the way I like them...

    Thank you

    Linda Mare Franchell

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-06-25T11:05:49+00:00

    Thank you so much!!!  I have been trying for MONTHS to figure that out!  I don't know why I didn't start here first!  LOL

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-06-05T23:30:18+00:00

    You are absolutely right took me 2 minutes to change my default font.

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