Google Docs is one of the most widely used word processing applications on the internet. It offers a range of features, is extremely user-friendly, and best of all, it’s completely free.
If you’re a regular user of Google Docs, you probably already know that the default font in Google Docs is Arial. It’s set to a size of 11 and has a line spacing of 1.15.
Arial is suitable for most professional use cases for which Google Docs is typically used, such as writing letters, creating lists, or crafting reference documents. However, for certain use cases, Arial may not be the best font choice as it can appear ordinary and dull.
Google Docs, like any traditional word processor, allows you to easily change the font while working on your document. However, if you plan on using a different font multiple times, it can be tedious to change the font each time you open a new document.
It makes sense, then, to change the default font in Google Docs once and for all to match your preferences and save valuable time. Once you know how to do it, you can always play around with different default font styles.
The Key Reasons to Change the Default Font in Google Docs
There are several reasons why you might need or want to change the default font in Google Docs, such as:
- Standardization: Your organization may require you to use a particular font style for all documents to ensure standardization.
- Branding: To share Google Docs documents with people outside your organization, you need to use a font that aligns with your organization’s branding.
- Personal Touch: Changing the default font gives all your Google Docs documents a personal touch. Moreover, Google offers many beautiful and free fonts to choose from.
- Stand Out: Not many people change the font when using Google Docs, so you can stand out by using a different font. This is particularly important for job applications—you can grab attention by creating an outstanding resume.
How to Change the Default Font in Google Docs: Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Open a Google Docs document (you can also use a document you’ve already created).
Quick Tip: If you want to open a new Google Docs document, simply open a new tab in your browser, type “docs.new” in the address bar, and hit “Enter”.
As you can see, this Google document uses the default Arial font, with a font size of 11 and a line spacing of 1.15.
Step 2: Select the text and set the desired font format and style. You can change the font, font size, line spacing, and much more.
(Note: If you’re opening a new Google Docs document, simply set the font style on the empty text).
In the example above, the font has been changed to Merriweather, with a font size of 12 and a line spacing of 1.5.
Step 3: Select a few lines of text with the new style by dragging the cursor over them.
Step 4: Click on “Format” → “Paragraph styles” → “Normal text”. Select “Update ‘Normal text’ to match”.
Step 5: Click on “Format” → “Paragraph styles” → “Options”. Select “Save as my default styles”.
That’s it! Your new font settings have been set as the default. From now on, every time you open a new Google Docs document, it will automatically have the new default font style you’ve defined.
Try it out. Open a new document:
… And you will see that your new font settings will be the default settings.
FAQ: How to Reset the Default Font in Google Docs?
How to reset the default font in Google Docs?
If you want to reset the default font to Google Docs’ original font, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open a new Google Docs document or an existing document.
Step 2: Click on “Format” → “Paragraph styles” → “Options” → “Reset styles”.
You should see a confirmation box stating that the default style for this document has been reset.
Step 3: Next, simply follow step 5 from the previous section. That is, click on “Format” → “Paragraph styles” → “Options”. Select “Save as my default styles”.
The default font style and settings have now been reset to Google Docs’ original font.
Is it possible to change the default font in the mobile version of Google Docs?
Unfortunately, it’s not possible to change the default font in the mobile (iOS/Android) versions of Google Docs. You can only do it via the web-based application on a PC.
However, the default font you have chosen will also display in the mobile version of Google Docs.
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