Microsoft has announced a new default font for Microsoft 365, marking the end of Calibri’s 15-year reign. The new default font, Aptos, has been selected based on user feedback and aims to provide a sharp and uniform appearance on high-resolution displays.
In 2021, Microsoft introduced five new fonts: Bierstadt, Grandview, Seaford, Skeena, and Tenorite. After considering user feedback, Microsoft chose Bierstadt as the default font for Microsoft 365, which has now been renamed Aptos.
Aptos will be the new default font across Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel. The rollout of Aptos has already begun and will be completed in the coming months, reaching millions of users worldwide.
Designed by Steve Matteson, Aptos draws inspiration from mid-20th-century Swiss typography. It falls under the category of sans serif fonts, also known as Grotesque or Gothic, characterized by their simple letterforms, even strokes, and high readability.
Si Daniels from Microsoft describes Aptos as “bold, well-defined, directive, and constrained.” The font incorporates varying geometric shapes, ensuring legibility, especially at smaller sizes. Notable features of Aptos include a distinctive tail for the lowercase “l,” circular dots for the heads of “i” and “j,” a single-stroked “6,” and two piled ellipticals for “8.”
Alongside Aptos, the other four default font contenders—Grandview, Seaford, Skeena, and Tenorite—will also be available. Aptos can be found in the font drop-down picker under both its new name and its previous name, Bierstadt.
Despite the introduction of Aptos as the default font, users will still have the option to choose their preferred default font from the settings menu. Additionally, Microsoft is rolling out an updated font picker experience, as well as new themes, colors, and backgrounds to enhance the overall user interface.
In other Microsoft-related news, the company is releasing the ‘Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25905’ to Insiders in the Canary Channel. This update includes an AI Hub for the app store, among other features. The AI Hub aims to educate customers on how to utilize artificial intelligence to boost productivity, spark creativity, and enhance everyday experiences.
As Microsoft continues to evolve its products and services, the introduction of Aptos as the default font and the AI Hub demonstrates the company’s commitment to innovation and improving user experiences across its platforms.
