Installing Fonts | How to Install Fonts

Installing Fonts on Windows XP

To install fonts you will simply drag and drop your new fonts into the Windows Fonts folder in the windows control panel.

Make sure you have uncompressed the fonts if you downloaded them as compressed files. Example "Fonts.zip".

Most likely the font files shoud look like one of these before installing them as below: fontname.ttf or  fontname.otf

  1. In Windows XP, from the Start menu select Control Panel.
  2. In Windows XP, select Appearances and Themes, then select Fonts (under "See Also" ).
  3. Open the folder containing the font files you have downloaded. (Make sure you unzip them first)
  4. Select your new font files, then drag them to the Fonts folder.
  5. You have now copied your fonts into the Windows system and they are installed.
  6. You may have to restart the program you are trying to use the fonts in.

Installing Fonts on Vista and Windows 7, 8, 9 and 10

Installing fonts on Windows Vista and Windows 7 - 10 is much easier than XP.

Make sure you have uncompressed the fonts if you downloaded them as compressed files. Example "Fonts.zip". Most likely the font files shoud look like one of these before installing them as below: fontname.ttf or  fontname.otf  or fontname.otf

Right-Click on the font, select Install.

This will open the Windows Font Installer and automatically copy the font into the Windows font folder.

Note: if you do not see the "Install" option when you right-click on the font it could be that the font file was not uncompressed.

To uncompress the font drag the font file out of the existing folder onto the desktop. Then try again to right-click on the font and select "Install".

Installing Fonts on Mac OS

Make sure you have uncompressed the fonts if you downloaded them as compressed files. Example "Fonts.zip".

Most likely the font files shoud look like one of these before installing them as below: fontname.ttf or  fontname.otf  or fontname.otf  or  fontname.suit 1.

  1. Before installing fonts, you should close any open applications. For some applications, new fonts do not appear in the font menu if you install them while the application is open.
  2. In the Finder, open the folder or disk that contains the fonts you want to install.
  3. Select the font suitcases for the fonts you want to install. For PostScript Type 1 fonts, also select the printer outline files.
  4. Drag and drop the fonts into the Fonts folder in the Library folder.

Note: If you want fonts to be availabe to applications running in Classic mode, you must install fonts in Macintosh TrueType or Macintosh PostScript format into the Fonts folder inside the Classic System Folder.