Web Browsers - Setting a Default Font and Size

This document explains how to choose the default font & size for Internet Explorer, Safari, and Firefox on Mac and Windows computers.

Firefox 3+ - Windows

    1. In Firefox, click on the Tools button on the upper left hand corner of the screen.
    2. Select Options.
    3. In the Content tab under Fonts and Colors, select your desired default font & size from the drop-down menus.
    4. Click Advanced.

Ff_screenshot_new1win.png

    1. Make sure the "Allow pages to choose their own fonts, instead of my selections above" box is unchecked.

Firefox_screenshot_3.png

  1. Click OK.
  2. Click OK again to exit Options.

Internet Explorer 8+ - Windows

    1. In Internet Explorer, click on the Tools button on the upper right hand corner of the screen.
    2. Select Internet Options.

IE_screenshot_1.png

    1. In the General tab, click on Accessibility.

IE_screenshot_2.png

    1. Make sure the boxes for "Ignore font styles specified on webpages" and "Ignore font sizes specified on webpages" are checked.

IE_screenshot_3.png

    1. Click OK.
    2. In the Internet Options window, select Fonts.

IE_screenshot_4.png

    1. Under "Webpage font," select your desired default font.

IE_screenshot_5.png

    1. Click OK.
    2. Click OK again to exit the Internet Options box.
    3. Click the Page button on the upper right hand corner of the screen.
    4. Click Text Size and select your desired default font size.

IE_screenshot_6.png

Firefox 8 - Mac

    1. In Firefox, click on the Firefox tab in the upper left hand corner of the screen.
    2. Select Preferences.
    3. In the Content tab under Fonts and Colors, select your desired default font & size from the drop-down menus.
    4. Click Advanced.

Mac_Ffscreenshot_1new.png

    1. Make sure the "Allow pages to choose their own fonts, instead of my selections above" box is unchecked.

Mac_Ffscreenshot_3.png

  1. Click OK.
  2. Exit out of the Preferences box.

Safari 5 - Mac

    1. In Safari, click on the Safari tab in the upper left hand corner of the screen.
    2. Select Preferences.
    3. In the Appearance tab, select desired Standard font.

Mac_Safari_screenshot1.png

*Safari only allows users to make font changes in websites that have not previously specified a particular font. Mac users who would like to use a specific font for all websites should use Firefox.

Safari does allow users to set a minimum font size for all websites:

    1. In Safari, click on the Safari tab in the upper left hand corner of the screen.
    2. Select Preferences.
    3. In the Advanced tab, select a minimum font size and make sure the box next to "Never use font sizes smaller than" is checked.

Mac_Safari_screenshot2.png


Keywords:
web browser default font size text ie internet explorer mozilla firefox safari mac windows accessibility 
Doc ID:
25134
Owned by:
Help Desk KB Team in DoIT Help Desk
Created:
2012-07-14
Updated:
2024-07-17
Sites:
DoIT Help Desk