How to Use a Custom Font in Microsoft Word SmartArt
Question details
The user needs to apply a specific custom font to text within a Microsoft Word SmartArt graphic, as the diagram keeps reverting to standard system fonts.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Formatting text inside a SmartArt diagram to match document branding or personal aesthetic preferences.
- Observed behavior
- SmartArt ignores the custom fonts used in regular document text and automatically defaults to the active document theme font, such as Calibri.
Ensure that your custom font is properly installed on your Windows system and that you are using the desktop version of Microsoft Word, as Word for the web does not support customizing font themes.
Create a Custom Font Theme in Word Desktop
Since SmartArt elements are hard-coded to pull from the document's theme fonts, you must override the global theme font settings to apply your custom font to the diagram automatically.
Microsoft Word handles SmartArt text formatting differently than standard paragraph text. Instead of relying on direct text selections, SmartArt pulls its default styles from the active 'Heading' and 'Body' theme fonts. Altering these root settings will resolve the issue.
Launch the Windows desktop version of Microsoft Word, open your document, and click on the 'Design' tab located on the top ribbon.
Locate the 'Document Formatting' group, click on the 'Fonts' drop-down button, and select 'Customize Fonts' at the very bottom of the list.
In the 'Create New Theme Fonts' dialog box, use the drop-down menus to select your desired custom font for both the 'Heading font' and the 'Body font'.
Type a name for your new theme, click 'Save', and then either insert a new SmartArt graphic or refresh your existing one to see the custom font applied.
Easily Format Diagrams and Apply Custom Fonts in WPS Office
If you find Microsoft Word's theme settings restrictive or overly complicated, try WPS Writer. As a highly compatible word processor, WPS Office makes it incredibly simple to insert smart diagrams and directly format them with any custom font of your choosing without modifying global document themes.
- 1. Open WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open your document using the WPS Writer application.
- 2. Insert a Smart Diagram: Navigate to the 'Insert' tab on the top ribbon and select 'SmartArt' or 'Shapes' to add your graphic to the page.
- 3. Select the Diagram Text: Click directly into the text box or shape within the diagram that you wish to modify.
- 4. Apply Your Custom Font: Go to the 'Home' tab and simply choose your custom font from the main font drop-down menu to instantly apply it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my SmartArt keep reverting to Calibri?
SmartArt graphics are programmed to automatically use the active document's theme fonts rather than standard formatting. By default, Word uses Calibri as the standard theme font for both headings and body text. You must change the theme fonts via the Design tab to override this.
Can I use a custom font in SmartArt using Word for the web?
No, Word for the web has limited features compared to the desktop version. It does not support creating custom font themes or displaying certain custom fonts. You need to open your file in the Windows desktop application to execute this formatting.
How do I change the font for just one specific shape inside a SmartArt graphic?
If you do not want to change the entire document's theme fonts, you can click on an individual shape within the SmartArt diagram, highlight the text inside it, and manually apply a custom font from the Home tab. However, adding new shapes later will still default to the theme font.
