5 December 2022

Set your own Shape default settings in Microsoft Office

Peter Deegan Microsoft 365, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Powerpoint, Microsoft Word, Office 2007, Office 2010, Office 2013, Office 2016, Office 2019, Office 2021 / Office LTSC, Office 365

You’re not stuck with the Microsoft automatic settings when inserting a new shape. Change the defaults to whatever you like for faster shape formatting in Office; Word, Excel, PowerPoint or Outlook.

When you Insert | Shape, something like this probably appears. Blue fill, 1pt black single line outline, no effects and Text Wrapping in front of text.

That’s the Microsoft default which may not suit you. Personally, we prefer no fill because the shape will be filled with text or other objects. Text Wrapping Square or Tight is easier to manage at first.

There are two ways to change the shape defaults. Once set, any new shape will start with your choices, not Microsoft’s.

Shape Gallery

Any Shape Gallery option can become your new shape default. Go to Shape Format | Shape Styles | Shape Gallery right-click on a style then choose Set as Default Shape.