Office Settings & Configuration

How to Change Default Excel Font to Calibri on iPad

Adam Davis Sep 28, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to set Calibri as the default unformatted font for new Excel workbooks on an iPad to meet specific software compatibility requirements.

How to Change the Default Excel Font to Calibri on iPad

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: iPadOS
Scenario: Creating new spreadsheets on an iPad where the default cell font must be Calibri instead of the new default Aptos, without applying manual formatting to the cells.
Observed behavior: Excel for iPad defaults to Aptos and does not feature a setting to change the default font for all new workbooks. Changing the font manually marks the cells as formatted, which breaks the user's specific software tool.

Before you start

Ensure your Excel for iPad app is updated to the latest version, and prepare to use a desktop computer or laptop to create a reusable template, as the iPad app limits default font customization.

Solution 1Recommended

Create a Calibri Template on Desktop to Use on iPad

Bypass the iPad app's limitations by generating a blank workbook with Calibri set as the default base font on a desktop computer, then access it on your iPad.

Since the Excel app for iPadOS lacks the native ability to change the application-wide default font, the best workaround is to modify the default font in the desktop version, save it as a template, and open that file on your iPad.

Set Default Font on Desktop

Open Excel on a Windows or Mac computer. Go to File > Options > General. Under the 'When creating new workbooks' section, change 'Use this as the default font' to Calibri.

Save a Blank Template

Create a new blank workbook (which will now default to Calibri natively) and save it to a cloud location accessible from your iPad, such as OneDrive or iCloud Drive.

Open and Duplicate on iPad

Launch Excel on your iPad, open the saved blank template from your cloud storage, and use 'Save a Copy' whenever you need to start a new spreadsheet with unformatted Calibri cells.

Maintains Unformatted Status: Using a desktop-created template ensures the cells are natively Calibri, preventing external software tools from misinterpreting them as manually formatted cells.

Solution 2

Manually Format Cells to Calibri

If you cannot access a desktop computer to create a template, you can manually change the font for an entire sheet, though this applies direct formatting.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Highly Compatible Mobile Spreadsheet Experience

If limitations in Excel for iPad disrupt your workflow, consider using WPS Office. It provides a robust, lightweight, and highly compatible spreadsheet editor for iOS, ensuring seamless formatting and document management across all your devices.

1. Download the App: Search for WPS Office in the Apple App Store on your iPad and download the application.
2. Open a New Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office, tap the '+' icon to create a new spreadsheet, and explore its comprehensive formatting options.
3. Save and Sync: Save your documents easily to WPS Cloud or third-party cloud services for cross-device accessibility.

Completely free and lightweight Office alternativeExceptional compatibility with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) formatsFamiliar user interface makes transitioning effortlessConsistent cross-platform synchronization between iOS, Windows, and Mac

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the default font setting directly inside the Excel for iPad app?

No, Microsoft currently does not provide a feature within the iPadOS version of Excel to change the default font for all new workbooks. This is why a desktop workaround is often required.

Why does my software reject cells that I manually changed to Calibri?

Manually changing the font applies explicit cell formatting. Some data-processing tools require the base document theme (default font) to be Calibri, and they will reject or misread cells that rely on manual formatting overrides.

Does Excel for iPad sync font settings from my desktop Excel account?

No, Excel for iPad uses its own built-in application defaults (currently Aptos) and does not sync application-level settings from your desktop version. However, it will respect the base default font of any specific workbook template created on the desktop.

Office App Problems