Where to change fonts depends on what you're working in
The steps to change a font differ depending on whether you're working in a word processor, web browser, email, or your operating system itself. Most programs have a font menu in the toolbar at the top—usually showing the current font name in a dropdown box. You click that box, select a new font from the list, and the text changes. But some places, like your desktop or system settings, require a different approach. This guide walks you through the most common places you'll need to change fonts and how to do it in each one.
The good news is that once you learn the pattern in one program, you'll recognize it in others. Font menus look similar across most software, and the basic steps stay the same: select the text you want to change, find the font dropdown, and pick a new one.
Key Takeaways
- In word processors and email, select your text first, then click the font dropdown in the toolbar and choose a new font from the list.
- Most fonts are already installed on your computer; you only need to read new ones if you want a style that isn't in the dropdown menu.
- To change the default font your computer uses everywhere, go to Settings (Windows) or System Preferences (Mac) and look for Display or Appearance options.
- Web browsers let you change the font size in settings, but the actual font depends on what the website designer chose.
- If a font you downloaded doesn't appear in your program, restart the program after installing it so it can load the new font.
Changing fonts in Microsoft Word and Google Docs
In Microsoft Word, select the text you want to change by clicking and dragging your mouse across it, or triple-click to select an entire paragraph. Look at the toolbar near the top of the window—you'll see a box with a font name in it (often "Calibri" or "Arial" by default). Click that box to open a dropdown list of all available fonts. Scroll through the list and click the font you want. The selected text changes when ready.
Google Docs works almost identically. Select your text, then click the font dropdown (it says "Arial" or another font name) in the toolbar. A list appears—scroll and click your choice. One difference: Google Docs shows a small preview of each font as you hover over it, which helps you see what it looks like before you click.
If you want to change the font for text you haven't typed yet, just click where you want to start typing, select a new font from the dropdown, and begin. Any text you type will use that font until you change it again.
Changing fonts in email programs
Gmail, Outlook, and most other email programs have a font menu in the compose window. When you click to write a new email, look for the formatting toolbar below the subject line. You'll see a dropdown showing a font name—click it to see your options. Select a new font, and any text you type from that point on will use it.
If you've already typed an email and want to change the font of existing text, select that text first (click and drag), then choose a new font from the dropdown. The selected text changes to the new font.
Some email programs also let you set a default font so every email you write starts in your preferred font. In Gmail, this is in Settings under the Compose tab. In Outlook, go to File > Options > Mail > Stationery and Fonts.
Changing the default font on your Windows desktop
To change the font Windows uses for labels on your desktop, file names, and system menus, open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then pressing Enter. Click "Ease of Access" on the left side, then "Display." Scroll down to find "Make text bigger" or "Font size"—you can increase the size here, though this affects system-wide text, not just the desktop.
For more detailed font control on Windows 10 and 11, you can also right-click on your desktop, select "Personalize," then click "Fonts" in the left menu. This shows all installed fonts and lets you preview them, but changing the system font itself requires going back to Settings > Ease of Access > Display.
Note that Windows doesn't let you change the actual font style (like switching from Arial to Times New Roman) for system text the way older versions did. You can only adjust the size and make text bolder or lighter.
Changing the default font on a Mac
On a Mac, click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select "System Preferences" (or "System Settings" on newer Macs). Click "General," then look for options related to font or appearance. Newer versions of macOS have limited built-in font controls for system text, but you can change fonts in individual programs.
To change fonts across many Mac programs at once, open "Font Book" (search for it using Spotlight by pressing Command + Space). Font Book shows all installed fonts on your computer. You can preview fonts here and see which ones are active. To disable a font so it stops appearing in dropdown menus, select it and click the minus button at the bottom.
Installing new fonts on your computer
Your computer comes with dozens of fonts already installed. If you want to use a font that isn't in the dropdown menu, you need to read and install it first. Websites like Google Fonts (fonts.google.com) and DaFont (dafont.com) offer free fonts you can read.
On Windows, read the font file (usually a .ttf or .otf file), then right-click it and select "Install." Windows automatically moves it to the Fonts folder. On a Mac, read the font file, then double-click it—a preview window opens. Click "Install Font" at the bottom, and the font is added to your system.
After installing a new font, close and reopen any programs where you want to use it. The program needs to reload its font list to see the newly installed font. If you don't see the new font in the dropdown after restarting the program, restart your entire computer.
Changing font size in web browsers
You can't change the actual font that a website uses—the designer chose that—but you can change the size. In most browsers, hold Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) and press the plus key to make text bigger, or the minus key to make it smaller. Press 0 to return to the default size.
You can also change this in browser settings. In Chrome, click the three-dot menu in the top-right, select "Settings," then click "Appearance." Adjust the "Font size" slider. In Firefox, go to Settings > Home > Fonts & Colors and change the font size there. In Safari on Mac, go to Safari > Settings > Appearance and adjust the font size.
Some browsers also let you override the website's font choice entirely. In Firefox, go to Settings > Home > Fonts & Colors, check "Allow pages to choose their own fonts," then uncheck it. This forces Firefox to use your chosen font on all websites, though it may make some sites look odd.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn't a font I downloaded show up in my program?
The program was open when you installed the font and hasn't reloaded its font list yet. Close the program completely and reopen it. If the font still doesn't appear, restart your entire computer. Make sure the font file actually installed—on Windows, check the Fonts folder in Settings to confirm it's there.
Can I change the font on my phone or tablet?
On Android, go to Settings > Accessibility > Text and Display > Font, then choose a new font. On iPhone and iPad, go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Larger Accessibility Sizes or Bold Text, but you can't change the actual font style the way you can on a computer.
What's the difference between a .ttf and .otf font file?
Both are font files that work on modern computers. TrueType (.ttf) is older and more widely supported. OpenType (.otf) is newer and can contain more advanced features. For most people, either works fine—just read whichever the website offers and install it the same way.
Will changing my default font affect documents I've already created?
No. Changing your system default font or program default font only affects new documents you create from that point forward. Documents you've already written keep their original fonts unless you manually select and change the text.
Can I use any font in any program?
Once a font is installed on your computer, it appears in the font dropdown of almost every program—word processors, email, design software, and more. The only exception is web browsers, where the website designer controls which fonts appear, not you.