Microsoft has made a significant change by announcing a new default font after 15 years. The company has introduced Aptos, a modern successor to Calibri, as its new default font. The decision to change the font was driven by the need for a typeface that would be sharp and uniform on higher resolution screens. Microsoft stated that its previous default font, Calibri, had served its purpose but was now being replaced due to advancements in technology.
The transition to Aptos as the default font will be implemented across Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel for millions of users worldwide. Microsoft had previously commissioned five new fonts, including Bierstadt, Grandview, Seaford, Skeena, and Tenorite, which were added to the font selection options. The company sought feedback from users on their preferred default font, and Bierstadt, now known as Aptos, resonated the most.
Aptos is a sans serif font with similarities to mid-20th-century Swiss typography. It features simple letterforms, even strokes, and high readability. Microsoft describes Aptos as bold, well-defined, directive, and constrained, embodying professionalism, adaptability, and subtle expressions. While Aptos becomes the default font, users still have the flexibility to choose their preferred font from the available options.
This font change is part of a broader wave of updates coming to Microsoft 365, aimed at making the software more expressive and inclusive. Alongside the new default font, Microsoft is introducing a redesigned font picker experience, as well as new themes, colors, and backgrounds.
