Please tell me how to change the default font and paragraph settings in Microsoft 365 for documents

Please tell me how to change the default font and paragraph settings in Microsoft 365 for documents to Bookman Old Style, 12 point font, single spacing?

Friday, September 19, 2025

You can easily change the default font and paragraph settings in Microsoft 365 Word documents so that all new documents automatically use your preferred style. This saves you from having to manually change the formatting every time you start a new file.

Here's how to set the default font to Bookman Old Style, 12 point font, with single spacing:

Step 1: Access the Font Settings

1. Open a new or existing Microsoft Word document.
2. On the Home tab of the ribbon, look for the Font group.
3. Click the small arrow (the dialog box launcher) in the bottom-right corner of the Font group. This will open the Font dialog box. You can also press Ctrl + D as a shortcut.
   
   

Step 2: Set the Default Font

1. In the Font dialog box, select the following options:
• Font: Bookman Old Style
• Font style: Regular
• Size: 12
2. After making your selections, click the Set As Default button in the bottom-left corner of the dialog box.
3. A pop-up will appear asking, "Do you want to set the default font to Bookman Old Style, 12 pt for:"
4. Select "All documents based on the Normal template?"
5. Click OK.
   
   

Step 3: Access the Paragraph Settings

1. With the Home tab still selected, look for the Paragraph group.
2. Click the small arrow (the dialog box launcher) in the bottom-right corner of the Paragraph group. This will open the Paragraph dialog box.
   
   

Step 4: Set the Default Paragraph Spacing

1. In the Paragraph dialog box, under the Indents and Spacing tab, look at the Spacing section.
2. Set the following options:
• Line spacing: Single
• Before: 0 pt
• After: 0 pt
3. Click the Set As Default button in the bottom-left corner.
4. A pop-up will appear. Select "All documents based on the Normal template?"
5. Click OK.
   
   

By following these steps, all new documents you create in Microsoft Word will automatically open with Bookman Old Style, 12-point font, and single spacing. This is a change to the "Normal" template, which is the basis for all new blank documents.

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