Use a site-wide font setting when you want consistent text across the site. Changing individual Paragraph blocks leaves other pages untouched and can make later changes harder.
Change fonts in a block theme
- Open Appearance → Editor → Styles.
- Open Typography. Select the element you want to change, such as Text, Headings, Links or Buttons.
- Choose an available font family. Set a readable size and line height; the exact controls depend on the element and theme.
- Repeat for headings if they need a separate typeface. Preview long titles, navigation labels and buttons, not just short sample text.
- Select Save, review the changes and open a public page to confirm them.
Choosing a font for Text and another for Headings is a reasonable starting point. A single family can also work. More families mean more design decisions and potentially more font files.
If a block keeps its old font
A block's local typography choice can override a global setting. Select that block and inspect its Typography controls. Reset the local font choice when you want it to inherit the site-wide value.
You can also use Styles → Blocks to change defaults for a specific block type across the site. This is useful for consistent quotes or buttons. Check existing local overrides before assuming the global setting failed.
When the font you want is missing
Start with fonts supplied by the theme. Where the Font Library is available, manage fonts through the typography interface. Availability and installation depend on permissions and your WordPress setup. Check the font's licence before uploading it; a font being downloadable does not establish permission to use it on a website.
Use the weights you need. A regular body weight and a heading weight are often enough. Review whether a font plugin loads files locally or requests them from a third party before adding it, especially when privacy requirements matter.
If you use a classic theme
Open Appearance → Customize and look for Typography or related theme settings. Some classic themes supply a font control; others do not. Consult the active theme's documentation rather than installing several font plugins to discover which one works.
Custom CSS can change fonts, but declaring a font family does not itself load the font file. File-based work belongs on a staging site and should follow the theme's asset-loading approach. Do not edit the parent theme just to try a typeface.
Check readability before finishing
Open a long article on a phone. Check that body text is comfortable, lines do not feel cramped, and headings wrap without covering nearby content. Test accented characters and symbols used by your content.
If the new font causes a visible jump while loading, include fonts in your performance diagnosis. Preserve a usable system-font fallback so text remains readable while the custom font loads.
Sources & verification
Sources checked September 23, 2026. Documented behavior is distinct from hands-on testing.