You downloaded a nice font for an invitation, presentation or design, and you want to use it in Pages, Word or Keynote. Installing a font on a Mac is simple with the built-in Font Book app. This article explains how to install a font, where fonts are stored, how to remove them and what to do when a font does not appear.
Blue Apple repairs MacBooks in Amsterdam. With practical guides like this you get more out of your Mac.
Downloading a font
Fonts come as files with the extension .ttf (TrueType), .otf (OpenType) or sometimes .ttc. Download them from a trustworthy source, such as the designer's website or a well-known free font collection. Often the font is in a zip file; extract it first. See zipping and unzipping.
Installing with Font Book
- Double-click the font file (.ttf or .otf).
- Font Book opens with a preview.
- Click Install.
- Reopen your app; the font is now in the list.
If a font has several styles (bold, italic), install all the files. You can also drag them all at once into the Font Book window.
Where are fonts stored?
- Fonts you install yourself are in the Fonts folder of your own Library. Only you can use them.
- If you want a font for all users, choose the default location Computer in Font Book's settings.
- macOS's own fonts are in a system folder; you cannot remove those.
Fonts macOS can download
macOS has many extra fonts that are not installed by default. In Font Book they appear greyed out; click Download to use them. You do not need internet for them once downloaded.
Removing or disabling a font
Select the font in Font Book. Choose Remove to delete it, or Deactivate to hide it temporarily. Deactivating is handy if your font menu gets too full.
The font does not appear
- Quit the app completely (Command + Q) and open it again.
- Check in Font Book that the font is activated.
- Choose File, Validate Font; a damaged file gives a warning.
- Some apps, such as Office, show fonts under a different name. Search for part of the name.
Duplicate fonts
If there are two versions of the same font, an app may use the wrong one. Font Book warns with a yellow symbol. Choose Edit, Look for Enabled Duplicates and resolve them.
Fonts in Word and other Office apps
Microsoft Office uses the fonts of macOS. A new font only appears after you completely quit and reopen Word or PowerPoint. If you work with a shared document in Office online, your colleague only sees the font if it is also on their computer, or if it is a standard Office font.
Licence
Not every free font may be used for everything. For a logo or advertising you sometimes need a commercial licence. Read the maker's terms.
Sharing a document with a font
If you send a document to someone who does not have the font, they see a substitute font. If you want it to look exactly the same, export it as a PDF. See editing PDFs on your Mac.
What we do at Blue Apple in Amsterdam
If apps freeze or your Mac behaves oddly, we test your MacBook and tell you what is needed. More on our page about MacBook repair in Amsterdam.
Frequently asked questions
Do Windows fonts work on a Mac?
Yes, .ttf and .otf files work on both.
Why can I not remove a system font?
They are needed by macOS and are protected.
Can too many fonts slow down my Mac?
Thousands of fonts can make apps open a little slower. Deactivate fonts you do not use.
