Fix Word Changing Font to Times New Roman After Pasting a Shape
Question details
Users experience an issue where the text inside a copied text box or shape unexpectedly changes its font (e.g., from Calibri to Times New Roman) when pasted.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Copying and pasting text boxes, shapes, or objects within a drawing canvas in a document.
- Observed behavior
- The pasted shape loses its original text formatting, and the font automatically reverts to Times New Roman.
Determine if you need the pasted shape's text to remain editable, as the most reliable workaround will convert the shape into a static image.
Paste the Shape as a Picture
This temporary workaround converts the shape into an image, perfectly preserving its visual appearance and font styles.
Because this font change is a known behavior when copying shapes within a drawing canvas in Microsoft Word, pasting the object as a picture prevents Word from recalculating and altering the font data.
Select the text box or shape within your drawing canvas, right-click it, and choose 'Copy' (or press Ctrl+C).
Right-click the area where you want to place the copied shape. Under the 'Paste Options' menu, click the 'Picture (U)' icon.
Use Format Painter to Restore the Font
If you must keep the text inside the shape editable, you can manually reapply the original font formatting using the Format Painter tool.
Report the Issue to Microsoft
Since this is an ongoing bug related to the drawing canvas in Word, reporting it directly to the development team helps prioritize a permanent fix.
Experience Flawless Formatting with WPS Office
Tired of unpredictable formatting bugs like fonts changing automatically? WPS Office provides a highly stable word processing experience that accurately preserves your shapes, text boxes, and drawing canvases without unnecessary glitches.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installer for your operating system.
- 2. Open your Word Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing document containing the drawing canvas and shapes.
- 3. Edit with Confidence: Copy and paste your shapes freely. WPS Writer reliably retains your original fonts and styling without unwanted alterations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my font automatically change to Times New Roman when pasting?
This is a known bug in certain versions of Microsoft Word related to how the application handles clipboard data within a drawing canvas. When a shape is duplicated, Word sometimes loses the local font styling and reverts to its base default font, which is often Times New Roman.
Can I lock the font so it doesn't change when pasting in Word?
There is no direct 'lock font' feature to prevent this specific drawing canvas bug. However, pasting the object as a picture or quickly using the Format Painter tool are the best ways to bypass the issue.
Will pasting the shape as a picture allow me to edit the text later?
No. When you paste an object as a picture, Word flattens the shape and its text into a static image file. You will not be able to highlight, delete, or modify the text inside it afterward.
