Formatting Issues

How to Stop Word from Automatically Changing Fonts Between Paragraphs

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to prevent Microsoft Word from automatically changing the font and size (such as switching to Aptos Display) when pressing Enter to start a new paragraph.

Product: Microsoft Word (Microsoft 365)
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Typing a document and pressing Enter to create a new paragraph.
Observed behavior: The font unexpectedly changes from the selected font (e.g., Tahoma 12) to a different font (e.g., Aptos Display 10.5) in the newly created paragraph.

Before you start

Ensure you have a new, blank Word document open. Modifying the default Normal template is the most effective way to resolve persistent font changes across all future documents.

Solution 1Recommended

Set a New Default Font for All Documents

This method updates the Normal template to ensure your preferred font stays consistent across paragraphs and new documents.

Microsoft 365 recently updated its default font to Aptos. To revert to your preferred font and stop it from switching back, you must apply the changes to the root template.

Open Font Settings

In a new blank Word document, navigate to the Home tab and click the small dialog box launcher arrow in the bottom right corner of the Font group, or simply press Ctrl+D.

Select Your Preferred Font

In the Font dialog box, choose your desired font (e.g., Tahoma) and font size (e.g., 12) from the lists.

Set as Default

Click the 'Set As Default' button at the bottom left of the dialog box. When prompted, select 'All documents based on the Normal template' and click OK. Restart Word for the changes to fully take effect.

Existing Documents: This change only applies to new documents created after the adjustment. Existing documents and individually applied styles will retain their original formatting.

Solution 2

Inspect Formatting Using Shift+F1

Use Word's Reveal Formatting tool to identify if a specific style configuration is forcing the font change.

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3. Enjoy Consistent Typing: Type and press Enter without worrying about sudden font switches to Aptos Display or other defaults.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Word change my default font to Aptos Display?

Microsoft 365 recently updated its default Office theme, replacing the traditional Calibri and Tahoma fonts with the new Aptos font family. This causes newer versions of Word to default to Aptos unless manually overridden.

Will changing the default font fix the issue in my current document?

No, modifying the Normal template only applies to new documents. For existing documents, you need to select all text (Ctrl+A) and manually apply your preferred font, or modify the document's internal Normal style.

What does 'Style for following paragraph' mean in Word?

This is a style setting that dictates what formatting will automatically be applied when you press Enter. If it is set to a different style than what you are currently typing in, the font and layout will change in the next paragraph.

Document & File Issues