How To Set Default Font In Google Docs

Google Docs is a popular word processing application that allows users to create, edit, and collaborate on documents online. One of its default settings is the Arial 11pt font that is applied to all new documents. While Arial is a clean and readable font, you may want to customize the default font in your Google Docs documents.

Fortunately, Google Docs makes it easy to change the default font so it matches your preferences or style guide. This article explains the step-by-step process for changing the default font in Google Docs.

Why Change The Default Font?

Here are some common reasons you may want to update the default font in Google Docs:

Branding Purposes: If you regularly create documents for a company or organization, it can be helpful to change the default font to match their branding guidelines. This creates consistent, professional documents.
Readability: You may find certain fonts easier to read or more visually appealing than Arial. Choosing a font you like can make working in Docs more enjoyable.
Accessibility: Some fonts, like OpenDyslexic, are designed to increase readability for those with dyslexia or vision impairments.

Personal Preference: Even if you are just using Docs for personal documents, if you dislike Arial, you can pick any font you want as the default for all new docs.

How To Change The Default Font

Changing the default font in Google Docs is a quick and simple process:

1. Open A Document

First, open any existing Google Docs document or start a new blank document. The steps below work the same whether you use an old file or create a new one.

2. Select Text

Next, highlight any text in your document and select the font and formatting you want to use as the new default. Feel free to customize it—the size, style, color, etc.—however you like.

For example, you may select the text, make it Georgia font, size 12pt, and bold.

3. Update The Normal Text Style

With your text selected and formatted, go to the toolbar and click Format > Paragraph Styles > Normal Text.

Then click the option to Update Normal Text to match your selected text style.

4. Set As Default

Still in the Paragraph Styles menu, click Options > Save as my default styles to make this new font format the default for all future documents.

5. Confirm It Worked

Finally, open a brand new Google Doc to confirm your new default font appears. As long as you completed step 4, all new documents should now have your chosen font style already applied.

And that’s it! Just repeat those steps whenever you want to switch the default font to something new. It will now automatically apply to any new Docs you create.

Customizing Other Text Styles

The above steps focus specifically on updating the Normal Text style that is used for paragraphs and body copy. But you can also customize other text styles in Google Docs, like headings.

Here is the process for changing a text style like Heading 1:

In your open Doc, highlight text you have styled with Heading 1.
Update the font and formatting of that text however you wish—for example, making the text Dark Blue Georgia, size 16pt, and italic.
Go to Format > Paragraph Styles > Heading 1.

Click Update Heading 1 to match your selected text.
Save this as the new default style under Options.

Now whenever you apply Heading 1 to text in Google Docs, it will automatically have this new font and formatting.

Repeat this for any other text styles, like subtitles, blockquotes, etc. Just select text with that style, customize the font, update the style to match, and save as default.

Tips For Changing Default Font

Here are some handy tips when changing the default font in Google Docs:

Check company/brand guidelines: If documents are for professional purposes, ensure any font changes align with organizational branding rules.

Preview options: Format a Heading 1 with one font, a paragraph with another font, view them side-by-side, then decide what looks best as the default.
Test readability: Before cementing a font choice for all new documents, write a page or two of text in that font to ensure it is readable/accessible.
Try font combinations: Choose one font for headings and another complimentary font for normal text. This creates visual hierarchy.

Reset defaults if needed: If you change the default font then want to return to the original Arial style, simply go to Format > Paragraph Styles > Options > Reset styles.

Customizing Beyond The Font

Changing the default font is a great way to customize Google Docs to your preferences, but you can tweak even more default settings:

Margins: The default margin in Docs is 1 inch. You can change this under File > Page setup for all new documents.

Spacing: Similarly, the default line spacing is 1.15. Adjust this using Format > Line spacing then save as default.
Indentations: You can increase/decrease default indent sizes for lists or block quotes.
Columns: Turn on the setting to default all new docs to have two columns rather than one under Format > Columns.

Don’t be afraid to poke around the Format, Insert, or File menu to see what other default settings you can customize! Just remember to save any changes under the relevant style or options menu.

Additional Tips & Tricks

Here are a few final tips for customizing default fonts and text in Google Docs:

Use keyboard shortcuts (on Windows, Ctrl + Shift + F) to swiftly change the font of selected text without touching your mouse.

Try third-party Google Docs add-ons like Power Styles for even more control over text styles and defaults.
Change the default font, style, and size of text pasted from other sources by going to Tools > Preferences and adjusting the “Pasted text” settings.
Use the Styles sidebar pane to easily view and update text styles throughout a document. Open it under View > Show Styles sidebar.

If you want to use a font that Google Docs doesn’t natively support, use the Add-ons store to install extra fonts.
When collaborating, ensure all users download custom fonts to their device too so they can view docs correctly.

So try out a new default font and make Google Docs work even better for your needs! Adjusting these style settings makes creating documents more efficient and enjoyable.