Office Settings & Configuration

How to Fix Word Bold Shortcut Changing from Ctrl+B to Ctrl+N

Aamir Naveed Akram Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs a permanent fix for the bold keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+B) in Microsoft Word, which keeps automatically overriding to Ctrl+N.

Fix Word Bold Shortcut Changing from Ctrl+B to Ctrl+N

Product: Microsoft 365 Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Using keyboard shortcuts to apply bold formatting to text in Word documents.
Observed behavior: The default bold shortcut (Ctrl+B) unexpectedly changes to Ctrl+N, and manual restorations are lost upon restarting the application.

Before you start

Ensure you close all other active Microsoft Office applications before modifying keyboard settings to prevent conflicts when saving the global template.

Solution 1Recommended

Restore the Shortcut and Save to the Normal Template

Manually reassign the Ctrl+B shortcut to the Bold command and save it to the Normal template so the fix applies globally to all future documents.

Microsoft is investigating reports of shortcuts changing unexpectedly, which frequently occurs due to conflicts between different language versions of Word. Applying the fix directly to the global Normal template overrides these temporary software glitches.

Open Word Options

Launch Microsoft Word and navigate to File > Options > Customize Ribbon.

Access Keyboard Customization

Click the 'Customize...' button located next to 'Keyboard shortcuts:' at the bottom left of the window.

Locate the Bold Command

In the 'Categories' list, select 'Home Tab'. In the 'Commands' list on the right, select 'Bold'.

Reassign the Shortcut

Click inside the 'Press new shortcut key' input box and press Ctrl+B on your keyboard.

Save to Normal Template

Ensure the 'Save changes in' dropdown menu is set to 'Normal.dotm' (not the current document), click 'Assign', and then close the dialogs.

Restore the Shortcut and Save to the Normal Template

Permanent Configuration: Saving your settings to Normal.dotm ensures this keyboard mapping persists every time you start Microsoft Word.

Solution 2

Use the Alternative Bold Shortcut

If you cannot change the template settings immediately, use Word's built-in secondary shortcut for bolding text.

Solution 3

Verify Proofing Language Settings

Shortcut anomalies can sometimes be triggered by Word automatically shifting between different regional keyboard languages.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my Ctrl+B shortcut suddenly change to Ctrl+N in Word?

This is a known bug being investigated by Microsoft. It is often caused by conflicts between different language versions of Word, automatic updates, or third-party add-ins altering the default keyboard mappings.

Where is the Normal.dotm template located on my computer?

The Normal template is typically located in the C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates folder. Saving changes here ensures they apply to all newly created documents.

Will resetting all shortcuts fix the Ctrl+B issue?

Yes, clicking the 'Reset All' button inside the Customize Keyboard dialog will revert all shortcuts to their factory defaults. However, this will also erase any other custom shortcuts you have previously created.

What is the shortcut to unbold text in Word?

You can use the exact same shortcut (Ctrl+B or Ctrl+Shift+B) to toggle bold formatting off. Pressing it once applies bold, and pressing it again on the same selected text removes it.

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