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Fix Word Automatically Changing Times New Roman to Courier Font
Question details
The user needs to stop Microsoft Word from unexpectedly changing the document font to Courier when they want to use Times New Roman.
- Product
- Word for Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Typing new content, pasting text, or continuing to a new paragraph in a Word document.
- Observed behavior
- Selected sentences or new paragraphs automatically switch from Times New Roman 12-point to Courier 11-point, and the issue persists across printed pages and PDF exports.
Ensure you know which specific paragraphs are affected, and check whether the issue happens primarily after pasting text from an external source or just while typing.
Remove Direct Formatting using Keyboard Shortcuts
Use this quick shortcut to clear any hidden manual formatting overrides that might be forcing the Courier font.
Often, pasted text or accidental keystrokes can apply direct formatting that overrides your document's default styles. Clearing this direct formatting is the most reliable way to restore your intended font.
Highlight the specific passage, sentences, or paragraphs where the font incorrectly changed to Courier.
Press the Ctrl + Spacebar keys simultaneously on your keyboard. This removes direct character formatting and reverts the text to the underlying default paragraph style (which should be Times New Roman).
Check and Adjust Paragraph Styles with Reveal Formatting
Investigate and modify the underlying paragraph styles causing the font shift if the shortcut does not permanently solve the issue.
Easily Manage Fonts and Styles with WPS Writer
If you frequently struggle with stubborn formatting changes, WPS Writer offers an intuitive interface to manage paragraph styles, clear unwanted formatting, and maintain document consistency effortlessly.
- 1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open your .docx file.
- 2. Select the text: Highlight the text displaying the incorrect Courier font.
- 3. Clear formatting instantly: Navigate to the Home tab and click the 'Clear Formatting' eraser icon (or press Ctrl + Spacebar) to restore the default Times New Roman font.
- 4. Apply styles: Use the visual Styles gallery on the Home tab to assign consistent formatting to your paragraphs, preventing future errors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Word change my font when I press Enter to start a new line?
This happens because the paragraph style you are currently typing in has its 'Style for following paragraph' setting configured to a different style (like one that uses Courier). You can fix this by right-clicking your current style, selecting Modify, and changing the following paragraph style back to Normal.
How do I stop pasted text from changing my document's font?
When pasting text from another source, use the 'Keep Text Only' paste option. You can do this by right-clicking and selecting the clipboard icon with an 'A', or by pressing Ctrl + Shift + V in supported applications. This forces the pasted text to adopt your document's current Times New Roman formatting.
Does this Courier font issue appear when I export my document to PDF?
Yes, if the text is formatted as Courier within the document, it will also appear as Courier in printed copies and PDF exports. You must clear the formatting and restore it to Times New Roman before printing or exporting.
Why didn't manually changing the font back to Times New Roman permanently fix it?
Manually changing the font applies 'direct formatting' over the existing style. If the underlying paragraph style is still set to Courier, typing new text or updating styles might cause the direct formatting to be lost, reverting the text back to Courier. Using Ctrl + Spacebar clears the conflict.
