Formatting Issues

How to Stop Word from Changing Fonts on Hyperlinks

Nimra Malik Oct 12, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user is experiencing unexpected font changes, particularly on hyperlinks, where manual formatting reverts after the document is reopened.

How to Stop Word from Changing Fonts on Hyperlinks

Product: Microsoft Word 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Formatting a document or template that contains hyperlinks and varied font sections.
Observed behavior: Word intermittently changes fonts (e.g., from Arial 10 to Calibri 11) on hyperlinks and sometimes regular text. Manual formatting works temporarily but reverts automatically upon reopening the file.

Before you start

Verify whether this font substitution issue occurs in all your Word documents or just a specific template, as this will determine if you need to adjust styles for a single file or globally.

Solution 1Recommended

Modify the Built-in Hyperlink Styles

Update the Hyperlink and FollowedHyperlink styles to permanently stop Word from overriding your preferred font settings upon reopening.

Word automatically applies default styles to web addresses and links. Simply selecting the text and manually changing the font is often overridden by this base style when the document reloads. Modifying the underlying style solves this permanently.

Open the Styles Pane

Navigate to the Home tab and click the small launcher arrow in the bottom right corner of the Styles group, or press Alt+Ctrl+Shift+S on your keyboard.

Modify the Hyperlink Style

Scroll through the Styles list to find 'Hyperlink'. Right-click it and select 'Modify'.

Set the Desired Font

In the Formatting section, choose your preferred font (e.g., Arial) and size. Ensure the preview matches your template needs.

Save the Style Setting

Select 'Only in this document' (or 'New documents based on this template' if you want this to apply globally), then click OK.

Update the FollowedHyperlink Style

Repeat the exact same steps for the 'FollowedHyperlink' style in the Styles pane to ensure links don't change fonts after they are clicked.

Check for Corrupt Font Files: If the issue only affects specific characters or custom fonts, a damaged font file might be causing Word to substitute it with Calibri. Try applying a standard system font to see if the issue persists.

Solution 2

Reset the Default Document Font Correctly

If non-hyperlinked text is also changing unexpectedly, you can safely redefine the default font for the Normal style without applying unwanted formatting to the entire document.

Format Consistency in WPS Writer

Manage Hyperlink Styles Effortlessly in WPS Office

If your Word documents continue to exhibit formatting glitches, WPS Office provides an intuitive Styles pane that makes it easy to set and lock in your preferred fonts, ensuring your formatting never reverts unexpectedly.

1. Open your Document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open the .docx file that contains your hyperlinks.
2. Access Styles and Formatting: Go to the Home tab, then click the 'Styles and Formatting' icon to open the dedicated styling panel on the right side of your screen.
3. Customize the Hyperlink Style: Locate 'Hyperlink' in the panel, right-click it, and select 'Modify'. Adjust your font settings and confirm to apply permanent formatting changes.

100% compatible with Microsoft Word .docx files and stylesEasily customize and lock hyperlink fonts to match your template requirementsLightweight architecture prevents intermittent formatting bugsFree to use with a highly familiar interface for instant productivity

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my font change back to Calibri when I reopen my Word document?

This happens because manual formatting (like selecting a link and changing the font size or family directly) is often overridden by the document's built-in default Styles (such as 'Normal' or 'Hyperlink') when the file is reloaded. Modifying the underlying Style instead of the text directly prevents this.

How do I remove hyperlink formatting entirely without deleting the text?

You can remove a hyperlink's formatting and functionality by right-clicking the link and selecting 'Remove Hyperlink'. Alternatively, if you want to keep the link but make it look like regular text, select the text and apply the 'Normal' style from the Home tab's Styles gallery.

Why does clicking 'Set as Default' in the Font dialog underline my whole document?

When you press Ctrl+D and click 'Set as Default', Word applies all currently active settings in that dialog to the entire document's Normal style. If you had an underlined hyperlink selected when you opened the dialog, Word adopts the underline as the new default for all text. Always ensure the 'Underline style' is set to '(none)' before setting a default.

Document & File Issues