Formatting Issues

How to Fix Microsoft Access Reports Printing Text at the Wrong Size

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to troubleshoot a Microsoft Access report that prints text at an incorrect size, despite applying font modifications.

Product: Microsoft Access
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Formatting and printing a report in Microsoft Access.
Observed behavior: The report prints with the correct font family, but it ignores any applied changes to the font size.

Before you start

Ensure you have design permissions for the Access database and open the report in Design or Layout view to modify control properties.

Solution 1Recommended

Adjust Font Size Control by Control in the Property Sheet

Microsoft Access does not support report-wide font size settings. You must adjust the font properties for each individual text box or control.

In Microsoft Access, formatting is applied at the control level rather than the document level. If you change a font setting without selecting the specific controls, the report will ignore the change.

Using the Property Sheet in Design View allows you to specify exact font sizes for individual text boxes, labels, and fields to ensure they print correctly.

Open the Report in Design View

Right-click your report in the Access Navigation Pane and select 'Design View' or 'Layout View'.

Select the Affected Control

Click on the specific text box, label, or field that is printing at the wrong size.

Open the Property Sheet

Press F4 on your keyboard, or click the 'Property Sheet' button located in the Design tab of the ribbon.

Modify the Font Size

Navigate to the 'Format' tab within the Property Sheet, locate the 'Font Size' property, and enter your desired numerical value.

Tip for Multiple Controls: You can select multiple controls simultaneously by holding down the Shift key and clicking them. This allows you to apply the same font size to all selected controls at once via the Property Sheet.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does changing the font size on the ribbon not affect my entire Access report?

Microsoft Access applies formatting to individual controls rather than treating the report as a single text document. To change the font size for the whole report, you must select all controls and adjust their size collectively.

How can I change the font size for all controls at once in Access?

Open the report in Design View, press Ctrl+A (or click and drag) to select all controls on the report, and then change the 'Font Size' value in the Property Sheet under the Format tab.

Can I adjust font sizes while in Layout View?

Yes. In Layout View, you can click to select the specific field or column you want to modify, and then use the text formatting tools in the ribbon or the Property Sheet to adjust the font size while previewing the data.

Document & File Issues