The Aptos font is the new default font in Microsoft 365, so if you opened Word or Outlook recently and your text looked a little different, this is why. It replaced Calibri, which had been the Office default for many years.
On this page you will learn what Aptos is, how it compares with Calibri, how to get the Aptos font legally, how to switch your default back to Calibri if you prefer it, and which free fonts give a similar look. The preview above shows a clearly labelled free look-alike, because Aptos itself is a Microsoft font.
What Is Aptos Font?
Aptos is a sans serif typeface designed by Steve Matteson for Microsoft. Microsoft announced it in 2023 as the new default font for Microsoft 365 apps: Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and Excel. Before the final choice, Microsoft tested a few new fonts with users, and Aptos was tested under the working name Bierstadt.
So, is Aptos a sans serif font? Yes. It has no small feet (serifs) at the ends of strokes. Its shapes are clean and a little more upright and open than Calibri, which makes it easy to read on screens and in print.
The microsoft aptos default font office official change rolled out to Microsoft 365 users step by step, so some people saw it earlier than others. Older standalone versions of Office may still use Calibri.
The Aptos Font Family: Display, Narrow and More
Aptos is not one single style. The family includes several versions for different jobs:
- Aptos: the main text style for documents, emails and sheets.
- Aptos Display font: drawn for big sizes such as headings, titles and slide headlines. It is the default heading font in many new Office themes.
- Aptos Narrow font: a condensed version that fits more text in less width, useful in Excel columns and tables.
- Aptos Serif and Aptos Mono: a serif partner and a monospaced version for code or aligned numbers.
Each comes in several weights, from light to bold and black, with italics. This wide range is part of the aptos font style: one family that can handle a full report, from title to tiny table text.
Aptos Font vs Calibri
| Point | Aptos | Calibri |
|---|---|---|
| Role in Office | Current default in Microsoft 365 | Previous default for many years |
| Feel | Crisp, neutral, slightly more formal | Soft, rounded ends, friendly |
| Width | A little wider | Compact, fits more words per line |
| Best for | Reports, slides, modern documents | Older templates, files shared with older Office |
Because Aptos is a bit wider, a document that fitted on one page in Calibri may run onto a second page in Aptos. If page count matters, for a CV or a form, check the layout after switching. Read more on our Calibri font page.
Aptos Font Download: How to Get It Legally
Many people search for an "aptos font free download" or an "aptos bold font free download". Aptos is licensed by Microsoft. It is not an open-source font, so you should not pick it up from random font sites, which may share it without permission or bundle unsafe files.
The legal way to download Aptos font is simple: Aptos comes with Microsoft 365. It is a cloud font, so when you choose Aptos in Word, PowerPoint, Excel or Outlook, Office downloads it to your computer on first use. If you have Microsoft 365 and do not see it, update Office and sign in with your account. See Microsoft Support for help with cloud fonts.
This also answers "aptos font family download": you get the extra styles, like Display and Narrow, the same way, by selecting them in an Office app. Using Aptos in a printed or PDF document you make in Office is normal use. Copying the font files to share with others is not allowed.
How to Change the Default Font Back to Calibri
If you prefer Calibri, you can switch the default back in each app:
- Word: on the Home tab, open the small arrow in the Font group, choose Calibri and your size, then click Set As Default and pick "All documents based on the Normal template".
- Excel: go to File, Options, General, and change the default font for new workbooks. Restart Excel.
- Outlook: go to File, Options, Mail, then Stationery and Fonts, and set Calibri for new messages and replies.
- PowerPoint: fonts come from the theme. On the Design tab, open Variants, then Fonts, and pick a font set that uses Calibri.
Menu names can change a little between Office versions, but these steps work in most current builds.
Free Fonts Similar to Aptos
Need the Aptos look outside Office, for a website, Canva or a phone app? These free fonts on Google Fonts have a similar clean, neutral feel. They are not copies, just good matches in spirit:
- Inter: neutral and very readable on screens.
- Open Sans: open, friendly and works for long text.
- Roboto: crisp and modern, with many weights.
For websites, a safe CSS stack is font-family: Aptos, Inter, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;. Visitors who have Aptos see it; others get a close match. Browse more choices in our popular fonts list.
Common questions
Why did Microsoft change the default font to Aptos?
Microsoft wanted a fresh default that reads well on today's high-resolution screens and in print. After testing several new fonts with users, it chose Aptos to replace Calibri in Microsoft 365.
Is Aptos font free?
Aptos is free to use if you have Microsoft 365, because it comes with the apps. It is not a free open-source font, so you cannot legally share the font files or install them from unofficial sites.
Can I use Aptos in Canva or Google Docs?
Not as a built-in choice in most cases, because Aptos is a Microsoft font. Use a similar free font like Inter or Open Sans there. If someone opens your Aptos document in Google Docs, it may swap in a different font.
What is the difference between Aptos and Aptos Display?
Aptos is tuned for body text at normal sizes. Aptos Display is tuned for large sizes, so headings and slide titles look sharp and well spaced.
Will my old Calibri documents change to Aptos?
No. Existing files keep their fonts. Only new blank documents and new emails use Aptos by default, unless you change the default back.
Can I get Aptos style text for Instagram?
Instagram cannot use installed fonts. For a clean sans serif look in a bio, try the bold sans styles in our font generator, which use Unicode characters you can copy and paste.