Paragraph spacing changes not applying to entire document in Word.

Since you have updated a paragraph style, you can just select all the text paragraphs that use the style and revert to the new style defaults with Ctrl+Q.

In fact, you can select all text paragraphs, assuming that they are all formatted in the appropriate paragraph styles, and press Ctrl+Q.

Check the style definition to make sure that "Don't add space between paragraphs of the same style" is not enabled.

First, do you really want to apply it to the entire document?

Paragraph spacing is paragraph-level formatting, best set and changed in paragraph styles rather than directly.

Stefan has told you how to apply it to the entire document.

If you want this often, you should set up a custom template with this spacing in all of the paragraph styles that you use.

You also mention level 4. Do you want your entire document to be outline level 4? That sort of defeats the purpose of outline levels.

Resources:

• The Importance of Styles in Microsoft Word
• Outlining in Microsoft Word
• Basic Formatting in Microsoft Word
• Basic Concepts of Microsoft Word - from Shauna Kelly
• Templates in Microsoft Word

You can select multiple paragraphs at the same time and press Ctrl+Q. You can select all (Ctrl+A) and reset the paragraph formatting for all the text.

Note that Ctrl+Q may not work properly if the selection is "non-continuous," though.

For a specific example, see the screen shot below. I have applied Spacing Before to the third paragraph and a Left indent to the first paragraph. Selecting those two paragraphs (but not the second para in between them) and pressing Ctrl+Q will fail to remove direct paragraph formatting from the first paragraph.

Select the whole document and then change the spacing in the Paragraph dialog box.

Or update the relevant paragraph style(s) you are using in the document.