Choosing the right font is an integral part of designing an effective PowerPoint presentation. The default font in PowerPoint is Calibri for body text and Calibri Light for headings. However, you may want to customize the default font to match your brand style guide or tailor it to the topic and tone of your presentation.
Changing the default font in PowerPoint only takes a few simple steps, but it can make a big difference in creating a polished, professional look for your slides. Here is a step-by-step guide to changing the default font in PowerPoint for Windows and Mac.
Step 1: Open the Slide Master View
The first step is to access the Slide Master view, which controls the design elements applied to all slides. Here’s how:
On Windows:
- Click on the “View” tab
- Click on “Slide Master” in the Master Views group
On Mac:
- Click on the “View” menu
- Select “Slide Master”
This will open the Slide Master view where you can edit the master slides.
Step 2: Select a Text Placeholder
In the left pane, click on the slide master thumbnail at the top. This represents the default look and formatting of all slides.
Next, click inside one of the text placeholders, such as the title or body text boxes. The text and background will become highlighted when selected.
Step 3: Change the Font
With a placeholder selected, you can change its default font by going to the “Home” tab. Click the font drop-down menu and select your preferred font family and size.
The new font will be applied to the selected text placeholder as well as any slides based on that master.
Step 4: Save the Changes
After updating the fonts, be sure to save your changes. On Windows, go to File > Save As and select “PowerPoint Template” to save your font updates as a template.
On Mac, click File > Save Theme to save the font changes in the theme. Now whenever you create new presentations, they will use the updated font choices.
Customizing Fonts Further
You can further customize font styles and sizes for various slide elements like titles or body paragraphs. Simply select those placeholders in the Slide Master and format text as needed before saving changes.
Some other font tips for PowerPoint:
- Use a simple, easy to read font like Arial for body text
- Choose a decorative font for titles to make them stand out
- Limit to 2-3 font families per presentation
- Make sure fonts have italic/bold/underline formatting options
- Check font usage rights if using a custom font
Replacing Fonts Mid-Presentation
If you’ve already started designing slides and want to change the font theme, it’s easy to replace fonts across your entire presentation.
On Windows:
- Go to the “Home” tab
- Click the arrow below “Replace Fonts”
- Select the font you want to replace
- Choose the new replacement font
- Click “Replace” to change all instances
On Mac:
- Go to the “Format” menu
- Choose “Replace Fonts”
- Select the font to replace and set the new font
- Click OK
This will replace all occurrences of the selected font with your new choice.
Font Tips for Accessibility
Choosing fonts in PowerPoint that maximize readability and legibility is important for accessibility. Here are some top tips:
- Stick to simple, sans serif fonts like Arial or Calibri
- Use at least 18pt for body text
- Ensure sufficient contrast between text and background
- Left align text instead of justified
- Avoid using all caps for large blocks of text
- Rely more on visual styling for emphasis
Following these best practices will ensure your presentation fonts are easy for every audience member to read.
Quick Recap
Changing the default font in PowerPoint is simple once you access the Slide Master view and update text placeholders. Consider your presentation style, brand guidelines, topic, and audience accessibility when selecting fonts.
Replacing fonts mid-way through designing slides is also easy by using the Replace Fonts tool. Follow the tips in this article to choose the perfect fonts to effectively communicate your ideas in PowerPoint.
