How to Change the Default System Font on Windows 10 and 11

Do you ever get bored seeing the same old system font everywhere on your Windows PC? Did you know you can easily change it to something more visually appealing? Customizing the default system font is an easy way to give your Windows PC a fresh new look.

In this simple guide, I’ll walk you through the quick process of changing the default system font on Windows 10 and Windows 11. I’ll also provide some font recommendations to help you choose a new system font that looks great. So, if you’re ready to give your Windows environment an aesthetic upgrade, let’s get started!

Why Change the Default Font?

Before we get into the how-to, you may be wondering—why change the system font in the first place? Here are some of the benefits:

• Make text easier to read. The default fonts like Calibri or Segoe UI are readable, but others may be more legible.
• Add personality and style. Fonts evoke certain moods and styles. Changing it up can liven things up.
• Customize different devices. If you use multiple Windows devices, a custom font provides visual consistency.
• It’s fast and easy. Changing the font takes just a few clicks but makes a significant impact.

As you can see, there are plenty of good reasons to change the default system font on your Windows PC. It allows you to put your stamp on things. Let’s look at how it works for Windows 10 and 11.

How to Change Default System Font on Windows 10 And 11

Changing the system font in Windows 10 only takes a few steps:

1. Open the Start menu and click “Settings” to open Windows Settings.
2. Click on “Personalization.”
3. Click on “Fonts” in the left sidebar.
4. Identify the font you want to set as default, and if you don’t have it installed, you can search for the font online and install it.

5. Select the new font you want from the list—for example, Arial, Calibri Light, Cambria, etc and note down the name.

6. Launch Notepad on your computer, and copy and paste the registry code below into it.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Fonts]
"Segoe UI (TrueType)"=""
"Segoe UI Bold (TrueType)"=""
"Segoe UI Bold Italic (TrueType)"=""
"Segoe UI Italic (TrueType)"=""
"Segoe UI Light (TrueType)"=""
"Segoe UI Semibold (TrueType)"=""
"Segoe UI Symbol (TrueType)"=""

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\FontSubstitutes]

"Segoe UI"="NEW-FONT-NAME"

7. Now, edit the above registry code. Enter the new font name where you see ‘NEW-FONT-NAME’. The font name should be the same as in the installed font. See the example below.

8. As seen above, the name of the font I want to install is Anka/Coder. Let’s say your font name is Bookman Old Style; you need to enter it exactly as spelt in the registry file you’re creating.
9. Now, save the file using any name you want using the Save As option and add a .reg extension to it (e.g. newFont.reg). In the Save as type dialogue box option, click on the drop-down and change it from text document to all files.
10. Once the file is saved, locate the file on your computer and double-click on it. You’ll get a prompt that you’re about to make changes to your registry file; click ok to continue.
11. Restart your computer for changes to take effect.

That’s it; you’ve successfully changed the default font on your Windows PC. If you want to change to another font, just replace the current font name with the name one in the registry file and save it.

How to restore the default font in Windows 10 and 11

If you want to revert to the default font, you can simply put Segeo UI in the new font space or copy the code below and paste it to Notepad, as we did earlier.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Fonts]
"Segoe UI (TrueType)"="segoeui.ttf"
"Segoe UI Black (TrueType)"="seguibl.ttf"
"Segoe UI Black Italic (TrueType)"="seguibli.ttf"
"Segoe UI Bold (TrueType)"="segoeuib.ttf"
"Segoe UI Bold Italic (TrueType)"="segoeuiz.ttf"
"Segoe UI Emoji (TrueType)"="seguiemj.ttf"
"Segoe UI Historic (TrueType)"="seguihis.ttf"
"Segoe UI Italic (TrueType)"="segoeuii.ttf"
"Segoe UI Light (TrueType)"="segoeuil.ttf"
"Segoe UI Light Italic (TrueType)"="seguili.ttf"
"Segoe UI Semibold (TrueType)"="seguisb.ttf"
"Segoe UI Semibold Italic (TrueType)"="seguisbi.ttf"
"Segoe UI Semilight (TrueType)"="segoeuisl.ttf"
"Segoe UI Semilight Italic (TrueType)"="seguisli.ttf"
"Segoe UI Symbol (TrueType)"="seguisym.ttf"
"Segoe MDL2 Assets (TrueType)"="segmdl2.ttf"
"Segoe Print (TrueType)"="segoepr.ttf"
"Segoe Print Bold (TrueType)"="segoeprb.ttf"
"Segoe Script (TrueType)"="segoesc.ttf"
"Segoe Script Bold (TrueType)"="segoescb.ttf"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\FontSubstitutes]

"Segoe UI"=-

You can name it defualtFont.reg so it will be easy to differentiate should you have created multiple font registry files you’re trying to test.

It is as straightforward as that! Once you save the changes, you’ll see your chosen font applied across most of Windows, including system menus, File Explorer, desktop icons, and many more. However, the font doesn’t apply to the Windows start menu, settings panel and Microsoft Store apps.

Picking the Best Font for your Windows Environment

Now that you know how to change the default Windows system font, which one should you choose? The options are nearly endless, so deciding can be tricky. Here are some top fonts to consider and what makes them great options:

• Cascadia Code – A monospaced font by Microsoft designed to give you a fresh experience for command line and code editors. This font will bring razor-sharp clarity to your Windows UI, and it is one of my favourites.
• Lucida Handwriting – A cursive style font with a sleek appeal. It is the very first font I used on my Windows PC, it is clear and legible.
• FF DIN Round Pro – Designed for creativity, FF Din Round Pro brings a vintage look to your Windows interface and has excellent readability.

Play around with some of these top font picks as well as others you’re interested in. Think about which designs best fit your preferences and usage. No matter what you ultimately select as the replacement font, following the steps outlined earlier makes the change process simple and fast.

Extra Tips for Customizing System Fonts

Beyond just picking a single font as the Windows default, there are a couple of additional customization options worth noting:

• Adjust font sizing – Don’t like the current size of fonts across Windows? Go back to Display Settings > Custom Scaling to tweak sizes.
• Individual app defaults – Certain programs may not follow the OS defaults. You can usually customize fonts in their settings.

As you can see, changing the default Windows font only scratches the surface of overall customization possibilities. But it remains one of the easiest ways to shift your system’s look immediately.

Give Your Windows Desktop a Fresh Feeling

Changing something as small as the system font makes a surprisingly significant visual impact. It can make your Windows environment feel completely new and different. Hopefully, this guide has convinced you to take a few minutes and try picking a new default font for your installed version of Windows.

And because it is so easy and fast, feel free to switch back to the original default if you ever feel the need to return to the old look. Customizing Windows is all about choosing a style that appeals most to you. So, try out some new fonts and see which ones become your future favourites!