Where you change font depends on what you're using

Font changes work differently depending on whether you're working in a document, an email, a web browser, or your device's system settings. A word processor like Microsoft Word or Google Docs has font controls in the toolbar. Your phone's settings menu controls fonts across most apps. A website you visit may let you change fonts through browser settings or accessibility options, but not always. The steps below cover the most common places you'll need to change fonts.

The method you use also depends on whether you want to change fonts just in one document, across all your documents, or system-wide on your device. Each approach uses different menus and takes a different number of steps.

Key Takeaways

  • In Microsoft Word and Google Docs, select the text you want to change, then click the font dropdown menu in the toolbar and pick a new font.
  • On Windows, go to Settings > System > Display > Font to change system-wide fonts; on Mac, use System Preferences > General.
  • On iPhone, go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Larger Accessibility Sizes; on Android, go to Settings > Display > Font Size.
  • In most web browsers, you can increase text size with Ctrl+Plus (Windows) or Command+Plus (Mac), or change fonts through browser settings under Accessibility.
  • Some websites override your browser font settings, so browser changes may not work on every page you visit.

Changing fonts in Microsoft Word

Open your document and select the text you want to change. You can select a single word, a paragraph, or the entire document by pressing Ctrl+A (Windows) or Command+A (Mac). Look at the toolbar near the top of the screen — you'll see a dropdown box that shows the current font name, usually "Calibri" or "Arial" by default.

Click that dropdown box and a list of available fonts will appear. Scroll through and click the font you want. The selected text will change immediately. If you want to change the font for all new documents you create, select all text, change the font, then go to File > Options > Advanced > Default Font (Windows) or Word > Preferences > View (Mac).

Changing fonts in Google Docs

Open your document and select the text you want to change. At the top of the page, click the font dropdown — it usually shows "Arial" by default. A menu will open showing available fonts. Click the one you want, and your text will change right away.

Google Docs also lets you set a default font for new documents. Go to File > Settings, and under "Default font" choose the font you prefer. From then on, every new document you create will start with that font instead of Arial.

Changing system fonts on Windows

To change fonts across your entire computer, go to Settings > System > Display. Scroll down and click "Font" or "Advanced display settings" depending on your Windows version. You'll see options to change the system font size and, in some versions, the actual font itself. Make your selection and click Apply.

Note that changing system fonts affects how text appears in menus, dialog boxes, and some applications, but not in web browsers or programs that use their own font settings. If you only want to make text larger without changing the font, you can also go to Settings > Ease of Access > Display and increase the text size slider.

Changing system fonts on Mac

Go to System Preferences > General. Near the bottom, you'll see options for "Sidebar icon size" and font size. Click the dropdown next to font size and choose your preferred size. This affects system menus and some applications.

To change fonts in specific Mac applications, open the app and look in its menu bar — many have a Format or View menu with font options. For example, in Mail, go to Format > Font > Show Fonts to open the font panel and make changes.

Changing fonts on iPhone and iPad

Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size. You'll see a slider for "Text Size" — move it to the right to make text larger. Below that, tap "Larger Accessibility Sizes" if you need even bigger text. These changes affect most apps on your phone.

Some apps have their own font settings too. Open the app, look for a Settings or Preferences menu (usually a gear icon), and look for text size or font options there. Not all apps offer this, but many reading and note-taking apps do.

Changing fonts on Android

Go to Settings > Display > Font Size and move the slider to your preferred size. You can also go to Settings > Accessibility > Text and Display > Font Size for additional options. These changes apply to most system apps and many third-party apps.

Individual apps may have their own font settings as well. Open the app, tap the menu (usually three dots or lines), and look for Settings or Preferences. Many email, messaging, and reading apps let you adjust fonts there.

Changing fonts in web browsers

Most browsers let you increase text size without changing the font. Press Ctrl+Plus (Windows) or Command+Plus (Mac) to make text larger. Press Ctrl+Minus or Command+Minus to make it smaller. This works on most websites, though some sites override these settings.

For more control, go to your browser's settings. In Chrome, go to Settings > Appearance > Font Size. In Firefox, go to Settings > Home > Fonts & Colors. In Safari on Mac, go to Safari > Preferences > Fonts. You can set a default font and size, though again, some websites ignore these settings and use their own fonts instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't changing my browser font work on some websites?

Some websites are designed with specific fonts built into their code, and they override your browser settings. You can still increase text size with Ctrl+Plus or Command+Plus on most sites, but the font itself may not change. If a site is hard to read, try zooming in instead.

Can I change fonts in email?

Yes. In Gmail, click the formatting icon (looks like lines with an "A") while composing an email, then select your font. In Outlook, select your text and use the font dropdown in the toolbar. In Apple Mail, select text and go to Format > Font > Show Fonts.

What if I change my system font and things look broken?

Go back to Settings and choose a standard font like Arial, Calibri, or Segoe UI. Custom or decorative fonts can sometimes cause display problems. If text is still broken, restart your computer.

Do font changes on my phone affect all apps?

System-wide font changes affect most apps, but not all. Some apps have their own font settings that override your phone's settings. If an app's text is too small, check that app's settings menu first before changing your phone's system font.

Can I use fonts that aren't already installed?

On Windows and Mac, you can download new fonts from sites like Google Fonts or DaFont, then install them. On phones, most apps can only use fonts that came with the phone or the app itself, though some apps like Adobe Creative Cloud let you access additional fonts.