You can change the default formatting and other settings for new documents by modifying the Normal template. New blank documents that are based on the Normal template will use the settings you choose.
Important
If you modify the Normal template by mistake, you can restore the default behavior by deleting, renaming, or moving the template. Word recreates the Normal template the next time you open Word. Before you modify any other template, make a backup copy.
Change the default font
When you change the default font in a template, the new font is used in new documents based on that template. New blank documents use the settings in the Normal template.
Open the template or a document based on the template whose default settings you want to change.
On the Format menu, select Font, and then select the Font tab.
Make any changes that you want, and then select Default.
Note
Most of the styles in Word are based on the Normal style. Changing the default font also changes the Normal style, which affects any other style that is built on the Normal style.
Change the default character spacing
When you change the default character spacing in a template, settings such as scale, spacing, position, and kerning are used in new documents based on that template. New blank documents use the settings in the Normal template.
- Open the template or a document based on the template whose default settings you want to change.
- On the Format menu, click Font, and then click the Advanced tab.
- Make any changes that you want, and then click Default.
Change the default margins
When you change the default margins in a template, the new margins are used in new documents based on that template. New blank documents use the settings in the Normal template.
- Open the template or a document based on the template whose default settings you want to change.
- On the Format menu, select Document, and then select the Margins tab.
- Make any changes that you want, and then select Default.
Change the default layout
Changing the default layout in any template means that the section breaks, headers and footers, and other layout attributes are used in every new document that is based on that template. For example, the layout attributes for new blank documents are based on the Normal template.
- Open the template or a document based on the template whose default settings you want to change.
- On the Format menu, select Document, and then select the Layout tab.
- Make any changes that you want, and then click Default.
Change other default settings in the Normal template
You can customize the Normal template and change default settings for many aspects of a document, such as text formatting, paragraph formatting, document formatting, styles, text, pictures, AutoText entries, and keyboard shortcuts. To make changes to Normal.dotm, you must open the file from Word. If you open Normal.dotm from the Finder, Word will create a new blank document based on the template.
On the File menu, select Open.
In the Open dialog box, browse to the folder that contains the Normal.dotm file.
Double-click Normal.dotm. The Normal template opens.
In the Normal template, make the changes that you want.
Save and close the Normal template.
Tip
- If you make extensive changes to your Normal template, we recommend that you periodically back up the file. To back up your Normal template, copy the file and rename it, or move it to another location.
- You can quickly and easily format a whole document to give it a professional and modern look by applying a document theme. A document theme is a set of formatting choices that can include a color scheme (a set of colors), a font scheme (a set of heading and body text fonts), and an effects scheme (a set of lines and fill effects).