Where to find the font settings in Windows 10

Windows 10 stores font settings in two places: the Settings app for system-wide changes, and individual programs for document-specific fonts. The fastest route depends on whether you want to change fonts everywhere on your computer or just in one program like Word or email.

To change fonts that affect your whole system — the typeface you see in menus, notifications, and file names — open Settings by pressing Windows key + I, then go to Ease of Access > Display. This is where you control the default font size and style for the entire operating system. Changes here take effect after you restart your computer.

If you want to change fonts in a specific program, that program has its own font menu. Microsoft Word, Google Chrome, Outlook, and Notepad all let you pick fonts without touching system settings. This approach is faster if you only need the change in one place.

Key Takeaways

  • System-wide font changes happen in Settings > Ease of Access > Display, and require a restart to take effect.
  • Individual programs like Word, Chrome, and Outlook have their own font menus and do not need a system restart.
  • You can change font size, style, and color in most programs by selecting text and using the Format menu or toolbar.
  • Windows 10 comes with dozens of built-in fonts, and you can install additional fonts by downloading .ttf or .otf files from the internet.
  • Changing fonts in one program does not affect fonts in other programs unless you set a new default.

Changing fonts in Microsoft Word and Office programs

In Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, the font menu sits in the Home tab at the top of the screen. Click the dropdown that shows the current font name — usually "Calibri" or "Arial" — and select a different one from the list. The change applies when ready to any text you select or type after that.

To change the default font for all new documents you create in Word, select the font you want, then go to Home > Styles > Normal (right-click) > Modify. In the dialog box, check the box that says "New documents based on this template" and click OK. From that point forward, every new Word document will open with your chosen font.

You can also change font size, color, and style (bold, italic, underline) from the same Home tab. Select your text first, then click the size dropdown, the color button, or the B, I, U buttons to explore formatting.

Changing fonts in Chrome, Firefox, and Edge browsers

Web browsers let you change the font for websites you visit, though the website's own design may override your choice. In Chrome, open Settings (three dots in the top right), go to Appearance, and scroll to Fonts. You can set separate fonts for serif, sans-serif, monospace, and other categories.

In Firefox, go to Settings > Home > Fonts & Colors and check the box next to "Allow pages to choose their own fonts, instead of my selections above." Uncheck that box if you want your chosen font to appear on every website. Edge uses the same approach: Settings > Appearance > Fonts.

Keep in mind that many websites are designed to look a certain way and will ignore your font preference. The browser font settings work best on plain-text sites and sites that do not have strict design rules.

Installing new fonts on Windows 10

Windows 10 comes with about 200 fonts built in, but you can read and install more. Fonts are files that end in .ttf (TrueType) or .otf (OpenType). read the font file from a website like Google Fonts, DaFont, or Font Squirrel.

Once you have the file, right-click it and select "Install." Windows will copy it to the Fonts folder and make it available in every program on your computer. You do not need to restart. The new font will appear in your font menus the next time you open a program or the next time you click the font dropdown in a program that is already open.

To see all installed fonts, open Settings > Personalization > Fonts. This shows every font on your system, including the ones you installed. You can also uninstall fonts from this screen by clicking one and selecting "Uninstall."

Changing fonts in Outlook and email

In Outlook, go to File > Options > Mail > Stationery and Fonts. Click "Fonts" and choose the font you want for composing new messages. You can set a different font for replies and forwarded messages if you prefer.

The font you set here becomes the default for every new email you write. If you want to change the font of a single email, select all the text (Ctrl + A) and use the font dropdown in the toolbar, the same way you would in Word.

Gmail in a web browser does not have a system-wide font setting, but you can change the font of individual emails by selecting the text and using the font menu in the compose window.

Changing font size for menus and notifications

If you want to make text larger or smaller across your entire Windows 10 system — in menus, file names, notifications, and dialog boxes — go to Settings > Ease of Access > Display. Under "Make text bigger," move the slider to the right to enlarge text or to the left to shrink it.

This setting affects system text only, not the text inside programs like Word or Chrome. Those programs have their own font size controls. After you change the system text size, you must restart your computer for the change to take effect everywhere.

If you need text even larger, Windows 10 also has a Magnifier tool that zooms in on your entire screen. Open it by pressing Windows key + Plus sign (+). Use the minus sign (−) to zoom out.

Troubleshooting fonts that do not appear

If you installed a font but it does not show up in your programs, restart the program you are using. Fonts are loaded when a program starts, so a program that was already open will not see a newly installed font until you close and reopen it.

If a font still does not appear after restarting, check that the file is actually in the Fonts folder. Go to Settings > Personalization > Fonts and scroll through the list. If the font is not there, the installation did not work. Try downloading the font again and installing it a second time.

Some fonts are corrupted or incompatible with Windows 10. If a font causes programs to crash or behave strangely, uninstall it by going to Settings > Personalization > Fonts, clicking the font, and selecting "Uninstall."

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the font for file names in File Explorer?

File names use the system font set in Settings > Ease of Access > Display. You cannot change the font for file names alone without changing the font for your entire system. Adjust the text size slider if you want file names to be larger or smaller.

What happens if I delete a font from the Fonts folder?

Programs will no longer be able to use that font. If a document was created with that font and you open it without the font installed, Windows will substitute a different font, which may change how the document looks. Keep fonts you use regularly installed.

Can I use fonts from my Mac on Windows 10?

Most fonts work on both Mac and Windows if they are in .ttf or .otf format. read the Windows version of the font if the website offers separate downloads. Some Mac-specific font formats will not work on Windows.

Does changing the default font in Word affect documents I already created?

No. Changing the default font only affects new documents you create after the change. To change the font in an existing document, open it, select all text (Ctrl + A), and pick a new font from the Home tab.

Why do some websites ignore my browser font settings?

Websites can specify their own fonts in their design code, and most modern websites do. Your browser font settings act as a fallback only when a website does not specify a font. You cannot override a website's design choices without using browser extensions.