Windows · Personalization
Manage Installed Fonts
Fonts settings let you preview every typeface installed on your PC, download additional fonts from the Microsoft Store, and install new ones by dragging a font file directly onto the page. Every font installed here becomes available system-wide, appearing in the font list of every app that lets you choose one, from word processors to design software.
How to open Fonts
- Open Settings → Personalization → Fonts.
- Drag a font file onto the page, or click 'Get more fonts in Microsoft Store'.
- Click any installed font to preview its character set and available weights.
- Click 'Uninstall' on a font's preview page if you want to remove it.
What you should know
- Scroll or search the installed font list, and click any font to preview its full character set and available weights.
- Drag and drop a .ttf or .otf font file onto the Fonts page, or double-click it in File Explorer, to install it.
- Click 'Get more fonts in Microsoft Store' to browse and install additional free typefaces.
- Uninstall a font directly from its preview page if you no longer need it.
Fonts installed only for your user account won't be visible to other accounts on a shared PC or in apps running with elevated administrator permissions — install 'for all users' if you need broader availability.
Why it matters
Fonts settings are the one place that affects typography across literally every app on your PC, so installing a font once here makes it available everywhere instead of configuring it app by app. This matters most for anyone doing design work, branded document creation, or presentations that require a specific corporate or licensed typeface not included with Windows by default. Being able to preview a font's full character set before committing also helps confirm it actually includes the symbols, accents, or weights a specific project needs.
Best practices
- Preview a new font's full character set before relying on it for a document that needs special characters or multiple weights.
- Install fonts 'for all users' on a shared or work PC so every account can access them, rather than defaulting to just your own profile.
- Remove fonts you installed for a one-off project once you're done, to keep the font picker in your apps easier to scan.
- Check font licensing terms before installing a downloaded font for commercial or business documents, since not all free fonts permit commercial use.
Common problems and fixes
- A newly installed font doesn't appear in an already-open app's font list.
- Close and reopen the app, since most software only refreshes its available font list when it starts, not while it's already running.
- A font installed by one user account isn't visible when a different user signs in.
- Reinstall it using 'Install for all users' (right-click the font file and choose that option) instead of the default per-user install.
- An installed font displays incorrectly or is missing certain characters.
- The font file itself may be an incomplete or corrupted download; uninstall it and get a fresh copy from the original source or the Microsoft Store.
Tips and tricks
- Type a specific font name directly into the search box at the top of the Fonts page instead of scrolling through the full alphabetical list.
- Use the font preview page's sample text field to type your own text and check exactly how a font renders your specific project's wording.
Frequently asked questions
Do fonts installed from the Microsoft Store cost anything?
Most fonts available through 'Get more fonts in Microsoft Store' are free, though the store occasionally lists paid premium font families as well.
Can I install a font without opening the Fonts settings page at all?
Yes, double-clicking a .ttf or .otf file in File Explorer opens a small preview window with an Install button, which achieves the same result without visiting Settings.
Will uninstalling a font break documents that already use it?
The document will typically substitute a default font for any text using the removed typeface, so it's worth reinstalling the original font if you need the document to display exactly as originally formatted.
Related settings
- PersonalizationPersonalization is the hub for changing how Windows looks and feels — desktop background, accent colors, themes, lock screen, Start menu layout, and taskbar behavior all live under this one settings category. It's the starting point for making a shared or new PC feel like your own.
- Language & RegionLanguage & Region settings let you configure your display language, keyboard layouts, regional date/time formats, and add additional languages for typing and speech.
- Default AppsDefault Apps settings let you choose which application opens specific file types and links by default, such as your browser, email client, photo viewer, or music player.
More Personalization guides for Windows
- ThemesThemes bundle a desktop background, color scheme, sound scheme, and mouse cursor set into a single saved combination you can switch between instantly. Windows includes several built-in themes, and you can download more or save your own custom combination.
- Lock ScreenLock Screen settings control the image, slideshow, or Windows Spotlight photo shown before you sign in, plus which apps can show quick status glances like unread email count or your next calendar event. It's the first thing you and anyone walking by sees on a locked PC.
- TaskbarTaskbar settings control which icons appear, how they're aligned, and which system tray items show by default. This is where you manage pinned apps, the search box, widgets, and corner icons like clock, network, and volume.
- Start MenuStart menu settings let you control which folders appear next to the power button, how many pinned app rows and recommended file rows show, and whether recently added or most-used apps surface automatically. It's where you shape the layout you see every time you click Start.
- Colors & Accent ColorControls the accent color used across Start, taskbar, title bars, and other UI elements, and lets you choose whether Windows should surface a color automatically from your background.
- Background & Windows SpotlightControls your desktop background, including static pictures, slideshows, solid colors, and Windows Spotlight, which automatically rotates curated images and can show fun facts on your desktop.