Since a November update, many Microsoft Word users have noticed that the original bold text shortcut key, Ctrl+B, no longer works as expected. Instead, this combination now leads to the creation of a new document, a feature normally activated by Ctrl+N.
Although rumors are circulating that Microsoft made this change intentionally, this does not appear to be the case. According to Microsoft's support page, the hot key for bold text has changed since version 2410. Microsoft recommends that users adjust the key combination manually. This can be easily done through the following steps:
- Go to File > Options.
- Select Customize ribbon.
- Click on Customize shortcut keys.
- Go to the Start tab and select Fat.
- Press Ctrl+B and closes with Assign.
Users can, of course, choose other key combinations that work best for them. It is possible that a future update to Word will reverse this unintended change, making Ctrl+B the default keyboard shortcut for bold text again.
As for the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+N, it now works differently than before. Without any user modification, this combination is now assigned to bold text. This means that the original function to open a new document no longer has a default shortcut key until Microsoft fixes the bug. Users can also manually adjust the hotkey in this case to regain the ability without clicking the new document icon.
By following these steps, users can restore desired keyboard shortcuts. Hopefully, Microsoft will release an update in the near future that fixes these problems. Otherwise, we will help you out! Super logical after all!
