Install fonts

How to install fonts on PC, Mac, Android, Windows Mobile

How to install a PC font

Your version of Windows may install the font automatically.

Windows Vista/7: extract the font file from the archive, and right-click on the filename. Select 'Install'. A pop-up will appear that Windows needs your permission to continue. Click 'Continue' to install the font. Some programs require a system reboot before they show new fonts in any drop down menu.

If that does not work:

1) Go to the Windows 95/98/2000/XP Desktop. Double click on the "My Computer" icon. Double click on the "Control Panel" icon. Double click the "Fonts" icon. You should now be able to view all the fonts installed on your PC.

2) Click on "File" or <Alt-F>and when the popdown appears select "Install New Fonts" or "Add fonts". The fonts are placed by default in the unzipped folder. If they're not, you should search until you find the folder into which you unzipped the fonts. For the final step Double click on the font you wish to install. Click on the OK button to install the font. You can also make multiple selections and click on any given checkbox you may want to set differently than the default.

If you try to install fonts already installed, you will be presented with a warning window telling you that you cannot install the font unless you first un-install it. Simply pres the <OK> button there.

Windows 95 and 98 have a limit how many fonts can be installed. Anything over 1000 fonts is likely to cause problems, so make sure not to install more than a 1000 fonts. Having more than about 300 fonts installed will eat up a lot of system resources and slow down the computer considerably, so don't overdo the number of fonts you're going to install.

If you don't get the "Install new font" option, do the following: go to MS-DOS mode, go to the C:\windows or c:\winnt directory and type attrib +s fonts. Press enter and once you arrive at the C:\ prompt again press CTRL-ALT-DEL to reboot the computer. This should enable the "Install New Fonts" option.

There may be some difference between the 95/98 and NT/2000 versions of Microsoft Windows. But the general idea should be about the same as explained above. Just try to find the above mentioned tasks and you'll get it working in no time.

Uninstalling a PC font

1) Open Fonts by clicking the Start button , click Control Panel, click Appearance and Personalization, click Fonts.

2) Click the font that you want to uninstall. To select more than one font at a time, press and hold down CTRL while you click each font.

3) On the File menu, click Delete. If you don’t see the File menu, press ALT.

How to install a MAC font

After downloading the font container, you'll need to Unstuff the .sit file, the PC Unzip equivalent. This contains either .ttf, .otf, .dfont, or .bin (Mac TrueType font for Mac OS Classic) files. Unstuff it and drag and drop the folder into the System folder. You'll be informed it should be saved into the fonts folder. Press the "Return" key then Restart to use the new font.

If you have a MAC and you wish to convert PC fonts for use on your MAC there are several converters.

If you are using System 7.1, 7.5.x, 7.6.x or 8.x you can drag the fonts you want to install on top of the closed System Folder and it automatically installs them. There is a folder in the System Folder named Fonts where it stores fonts. You can install fonts at any time without restarting your computer but they will not be available to running applications, including the Finder, until they are closed and opened again. If you are using System 7.0.x, fonts are stored in the System suitcase. Drag any fonts you want to install on top of the System suitcase file which is in the System Folder and they will automatically be installed. No applications can be running when you install the fonts so make sure you have closed them all. To be sure you can restart with extensions off by restarting and holding the Shift key down as your computer boots up. If your font files are in suitcases you must open the suitcase file (shaped like a suitcase with a handle on top) and drag the individual font files onto the System suitcase file. For System 6.0.8 and all earlier versions, you must use the Font/DA mover.

Installing on Mac OS X

Locate the font(s) that you want to install. TrueType and OpenType fonts consist of one file, while PostScript fonts will have a screen font and a printer font. Double click on the hard disk icon. Double click on the library folder icon. Double click on the fonts folder icon. Highlight and drag the .ttf, .otf, or .dfont (for Mac OS X) file(s) into the fonts folder. If you're installing PostScript fonts, highlight and drag the suitcase and PostScript font files (not the .AFM files) into the fonts folder.

How to install a font on Windows Mobile

1. Connect the Windows mobile device to your computer. Use a USB sync cable designed for your device or connect using Bluetooth.
2. Click Start, Computer and find your device. Double click on the name of the device then click Windows and Font.
3. Right click the font file on your computer and select Copy. Then right click in the Fonts folder in the Computer window and select Paste.
4. Or copy any font file(s) installed on your computer by clicking Start, C:, Windows, Fonts. Then copy the files to your mobile device to use them on your mobile device.
5. Last but not least, disconnect the mobile device from your computer.

How to install a font on an Android Mobile

1. To install custom fonts on an Android phone you need to root your device first to have su on the device. Rooting your Android device will help you to enhance your mobile features such as adding new fonts, new themes, new actions and so forth. Use the application z4root.1.3.0.apk (955.5Kb). Then copy the file to your SDcard and install it. Your device is now rooted.
2. You can change the default font in Android by replacing it with any compatible TrueType font (.ttf). Make a backup copy of the original font files first by coping them to another folder, or rename the original font files first, f.e. DroidSansBackup.ttf. Also create a Nandroid back-up first! You may have to restore the original fonts if the font you selected does not work well.
3. Find the font you like and rename it to DroidSans.ttf and DroidSans-Bold.ttf (if a bold style is included) and copy it or them into /system/fonts in place of the default file(s) located there. Or copy the TTF font(s) you like from your PC to your SDcard (On your PC, go to Settings > Control Panel > Fonts). Then locate it on your SDcard and rename the original font file to DroidSansBackup.ttf.
4. If you do not have the ADB shell or Terminal Emulator, you will have to get one of them and install it first.
5. Using Terminal Emulator enter the code below:
   
   
   [shell]
   su
   mount -o remount /dev/block/mtdblock4 /system
   cat /system/fonts/DroidSans.ttf &gt; /sdcard/o_android_font/DroidSans.ttf
   cat /system/fonts/DroidSans-Bold.ttf &gt; /sdcard/o_android_font /DroidSans-Bold.ttf
   cat /sdcard/n_android_font/DroidSans.ttf &gt; /system/fonts/DroidSans.ttf
   cat /sdcard/n_android_font/DroidSans-Bold.ttf &gt; /system/fonts/DroidSans-Bold.ttf
   mount -o ro,remount /dev/block/mtdblock4 /system
   sync
   reboot
   [/shell]

    

   Or using ADB enter the code below:

   [shell]
   su
   mount -o remount /dev/mtdblock4 /system
   mount -o remount /dev/mmcblk0 /sdcard
   cat /system/fonts/DroidSans.ttf &gt; /sdcard/o_android_font/DroidSans.ttf
   cat /system/fonts/DroidSans-Bold.ttf &gt; /sdcard/ o_android_font/DroidSans-Bold.ttf
   cat /sdcard/n_android_font/DroidSans.ttf &gt; /system/fonts/DroidSans.ttf
   cat /sdcard/ n_android_font/DroidSans-Bold.ttf &gt; /system/fonts/DroidSans-Bold.ttf
   mount -o ro,remount /dev/mtdblock4 /system
   sync
   reboot
   [/shell]

After the reboot the font you installed should be supported by your Android device. You can repeat these steps for other fonts. Please note that mobile things change all the time, so we cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information at any given time. Do any of this at your own risk!

Font Formats

How to smoothen fonts

Use the smoothing (anti-aliasing) feature present in most operating systems to make text look better on your machine.

Windows 9x/NT/ME/2000/XP

You can find the main setting in the Control Panel under Display.

1. Open Start menu > Settings > Control panel > Display 
   (or right-click on your desktop, and select Properties)
2. Select the Effects tab
3. Check the “Smooth edges of screen fonts” box
4. Click “OK” to set, or "Apply" then OK to apply immediately

MAC OS 8/9

You can find the main setting in the Control Panel under Appearance.

1. Open Apple menu > Control panels > Appearance
   (or Control-click on your desktop and select Change Desktop Background
2. Select the Fonts tab
3. Check the “Smooth all fonts on screen” box
4. Choose a size for the smallest font size to apply smoothing to (12 pt is the smallest size allowed)
5. Close the window to apply the settings