Office Settings & Configuration

How to Fix OneNote Pasting Text in the Wrong Font Size

WPS Content Manager Oct 10, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to stop OneNote from automatically pasting text in an incorrect font size (e.g., size 10) instead of their preferred default font (e.g., Calibri 18).

How to Fix OneNote Pasting Text in the Wrong Font Size

Product: Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Pasting text from other sources or joining paragraphs within a OneNote notebook.
Observed behavior: Text is pasted or reformatted to size 10, ignoring the preferred default font size of 18. Attempts to fix this via settings or macros are blocked by organizational policies.

Before you start

Before modifying your OneNote settings, verify whether your computer is managed by an organization or school, as strict IT policies may restrict certain paste configurations or macro usage.

Solution 1Recommended

Adjust Advanced Paste Settings and Verify Default Font

Change OneNote's default paste behavior and ensure your default font preferences are correctly applied in the software options.

Open OneNote Options

Launch Microsoft OneNote, click on 'File' in the top-left corner of the window, and select 'Options'.

Verify Default Font

In the 'General' tab, locate the 'Default font' section. Ensure the font is set to Calibri and the size is set to 18, then click 'OK'.

Modify Paste Settings

Navigate to the 'Advanced' tab within the Options menu. Scroll down to the 'Cut, copy, and paste' section.

Set Default Paste Behavior

Change the default paste options to 'Keep Text Only' or 'Keep Source Formatting' depending on your needs, so OneNote stops forcing size 10 text upon pasting.

Adjust Advanced Paste Settings and Verify Default Font

Settings Applied: Once these settings are applied, new text pasted into your notebooks should adhere to your selected preferences.

Solution 2

Use Paste Unformatted Keyboard Shortcuts

Bypass default paste formatting glitches by utilizing standard Windows shortcut keys to strip incoming formatting.

Solution 3

Contact IT Support Regarding Policy Restrictions

If paste settings are grayed out or macros are disabled, organizational policies are likely the cause and must be bypassed.

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4. Adjust Settings: Easily adjust your paste formatting settings by clicking the 'Menu' and navigating to 'Options'.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does OneNote keep changing my font size when I paste?

OneNote often retains the source formatting of the copied text or reverts to a system default (like size 10) if the 'Keep Text Only' setting is not configured correctly in the Advanced Options menu.

How do I permanently set my default font to Calibri 18 in OneNote?

Go to File > Options > General. Under the 'Default font' section, choose Calibri from the dropdown menu and set the size to 18. This setting applies to all newly typed text.

Why are my OneNote paste settings grayed out?

If your computer is managed by a school or workplace, IT administrators may use Group Policy to lock down certain settings in Microsoft Office applications, preventing you from changing them manually.

Can I use macros to fix the paste formatting issue in OneNote?

While third-party add-ins and macros can automate formatting tasks, organizational security policies often disable macro execution. If permitted, you can install trusted OneNote add-ins like Onetastic to manage text formatting.

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