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How to install a font?

Can not figure out how to download or install a font? Do not know where to start? This page contains the answers to all questions about fonts on GetFonts.net.

📋 Contents

How to download a font

Downloading a font from GetFonts.net takes only a few seconds:

1
Find the font you need using the search bar or browse by category.
2
Open the font page and click the Download button.
3
A ZIP archive will be saved to your computer — usually to the Downloads folder.
4
Unzip the archive (right-click → Extract All on Windows, or double-click on macOS/Linux).
5
Install the font file (see the platform-specific sections below).
💡 Tip: Some archives contain multiple font weights (Regular, Bold, Italic…). You can install all of them at once by selecting all font files and choosing Install.

Font file formats explained

You will encounter several font file types in downloaded archives:

.ttf .otf .woff .woff2 .eot .fon
  • .ttf (TrueType Font) — the most universal format. Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Best choice for desktop installation.
  • .otf (OpenType Font) — modern format with advanced typography features (ligatures, alternate glyphs). Also works on all major platforms.
  • .woff / .woff2 — compressed web font formats for use in websites via CSS @font-face. Not installed at the OS level.
  • .eot — legacy Internet Explorer web format. Rarely needed today.
  • .fon — old Windows bitmap font. Not supported on macOS/Linux.
✅ Recommendation: Prefer .otf when available; otherwise use .ttf. Skip .woff/.woff2 unless you are building a website.

Installing fonts on Windows

Windows 10 & Windows 11 (quickest way)

Unzip the font archive, then select all .ttf / .otf files. Right-click the selection and choose "Install" (for the current user only) or "Install for all users" (requires administrator rights).

Windows Vista, 7 & 8

Unzip the font archive, right-click a single font file and choose "Install" from the context menu. Repeat for each font weight you need.

Installing fonts via Control Panel

Unzip fonts and copy the files into the system font folder. It is usually located at C:\Windows\Fonts or C:\WinNT\Fonts. You can also open the font folder via: Start > Control Panel > Fonts.

💡 Tip: After installing a font, restart any open applications (Word, Photoshop, etc.) to see the new font appear in the font list.

Installing fonts on MacOS X

MacOS X recognizes TrueType (.ttf) and OpenType (.otf) fonts, but does not recognize the PC bitmap fonts (.fon).

Method 1 — Double-click (easiest)

To install a font, you can double-click on it in the Finder, and then click on Install, which is below the preview.

Method 2 — Font Book

Open Font Book (Applications → Font Book). Drag and drop the font file(s) into the Font Book window, or use File → Add Fonts.

Method 3 — Manual (system-wide)

Copy the font file(s) to /Library/Fonts/ to make them available to all users, or to ~/Library/Fonts/ for the current user only.

Installing fonts on Linux

You must copy .ttf or .otf fonts to the way fonts:// in the file manager, or to the folder /home/.fonts (this folder is hidden).

Alternatively, copy font files to one of these locations:

  • Current user only: ~/.local/share/fonts/
  • All users (requires root): /usr/local/share/fonts/

After copying, refresh the font cache by running:

fc-cache -fv
💡 Tip: On Ubuntu/Debian you can also install fonts via apt. For example: sudo apt install fonts-open-sans.

Installing fonts on Android & iOS

Android

Android does not natively allow installing custom fonts system-wide without root access. However, many apps (such as Microsoft Word, Google Slides, or Canva) let you use custom fonts within the app itself. You can also use third-party apps like FontFix or iFont to manage fonts on rooted devices.

iOS / iPadOS

iOS 13 and later support custom fonts via configuration profiles. Use apps like AnyFont or Fontcase from the App Store to install font files directly on your device. Once installed, the fonts appear in apps that support custom fonts, such as Pages, Word, and Keynote.

Using fonts in Office & Google Docs

Microsoft Word / PowerPoint / Excel

Install the font on your operating system (see sections above) and restart Office. The new font will appear in the font dropdown list automatically.

Google Docs / Slides

Google Docs uses its own library of web fonts. To add a font: open the font picker → click "More fonts" → search and select the fonts you want. Note: local custom fonts are not supported in Google Docs.

Adobe Photoshop / Illustrator / InDesign

Install the font at the OS level, then restart the Adobe application. Alternatively, use Adobe Fonts (formerly Typekit) if you have a Creative Cloud subscription.

Frequently asked questions

❓ The font I installed does not appear in my app. What should I do?
Close and reopen the application after installing. Some programs (e.g. Photoshop) must be fully restarted to detect new fonts. On Windows, a log-off / log-on can also help.
❓ The ZIP contains many font files. Which one should I install?
Install all variants you need: Regular is the base weight, Bold/Italic are the styled versions. To install all at once, select all files, right-click, and choose Install.
❓ Is it legal to use downloaded fonts commercially?
It depends on the font license. Always check the license file (usually a .txt or LICENSE file inside the archive). Fonts marked as "Free for commercial use" or under the SIL Open Font License (OFL) can typically be used in commercial projects.
❓ How do I uninstall a font?
On Windows: Settings → Personalization → Fonts, find the font and click Uninstall. On macOS: Font Book → select the font → press Delete. On Linux: delete the font file and run fc-cache -fv.
❓ Can I use fonts from this site on a website?
Yes, if the font license permits web use. Use the @font-face CSS rule with the .woff2 format for best performance.
❓ I can't download the font. What's wrong?
Try disabling your browser's ad blocker for this site, or switch to a different browser. If the problem persists, please contact us.