Office Settings & Configuration

How to Stop Microsoft Word from Displaying Numbers in Farsi

Elise Williams Oct 10, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user needs to prevent Microsoft Word from automatically displaying typed or pasted numbers in Farsi.

How to Stop Microsoft Word from Displaying Numbers in Farsi

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Typing or pasting numbers into a document after installing new fonts or language settings in Windows.
Observed behavior: Numbers appear in Farsi script instead of standard numerals, and changing the theme fonts does not resolve the issue.

Before you start

Verify that your Windows system language and active keyboard layout are currently set to English (or your primary language) before adjusting internal Microsoft Word settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Modify Numeral Settings in Word Options

Adjusting the advanced numeral display options in Microsoft Word is the most direct way to force numbers to display in standard 1, 2, 3 format.

Microsoft Word has a specific setting for how numerals are displayed, which can sometimes default to right-to-left scripts (like Farsi or Arabic) if the corresponding language packs are detected on your PC.

Open Word Options

Launch Microsoft Word, click on the 'File' tab in the top left corner, and select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.

Navigate to Advanced Settings

In the Word Options dialog box, click on 'Advanced' in the left-hand navigation pane.

Locate Document Content Section

Scroll down the right pane until you find the section labeled 'Show document content'.

Change Numeral Format

Find the 'Numeral' dropdown menu. Change the selection from 'Context' or 'Hindi' to 'Arabic' (which represents standard Western numerals) or 'System'. Click 'OK' to save your changes.

Immediate Effect: Changing this setting should instantly update all existing numbers in your document to standard numerals without altering the surrounding text.

Solution 2

Adjust Windows Regional and Language Settings

If Microsoft Word relies on system preferences, removing or reconfiguring the Farsi language pack in Windows can resolve the numeral display issue.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my numbers suddenly change to Farsi in Word?

This typically happens if a right-to-left language pack (like Farsi or Arabic) was recently installed on Windows, or if Word's internal 'Numeral' display setting was accidentally changed to 'Context' or 'Hindi'.

Does changing the document theme font fix the number language?

No, changing the theme or document font usually will not affect the numeral language. The numeral display is controlled by Word's advanced document content settings or your Windows regional language settings.

How do I ensure Word uses my default keyboard language for numbers?

Go to Word Options > Advanced > Show document content, and set the 'Numeral' option to 'System'. This forces Microsoft Word to use the standard numeral style defined by your current Windows regional settings.

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