To install fonts on a Mac, double-click the font file and click Install Font in the preview window that opens. Font Book, the app built into macOS, adds it to your library, and the font shows up in Pages, Keynote, Word, Photoshop, and most other apps once you reopen them. Below are the three ways to install fonts, where macOS stores them, and how to fix the usual problems.
Before you install
- Unzip the download. Double-click a ZIP file and macOS extracts it next to the original. You want the files ending in .ttf, .otf, or .ttc.
- Pick one format. If a folder contains both TTF and OTF versions of the same font, install one set, not both. Duplicates cause confusing menus.
- Check the license. Fonts from Google Fonts are released under open licenses that allow commercial use. For other fonts, read the license on the download page before using one in a logo or product.
Method 1: double-click and Install Font
- Open the extracted folder in Finder.
- Double-click a font file. Font Book opens a preview with sample text.
- Click Install Font.
Font Book checks the file as it installs it. If it finds a problem, a validation window lists warnings or errors, and you can choose to install anyway or cancel. A warning about something minor, such as a missing optional name, is usually safe to ignore. An error means the font may display wrongly or crash an app, so consider downloading it again.
Method 2: drag files into Font Book
Open Font Book from Applications (or search for it with Spotlight). Then drag the font files, or the whole folder, into the Font Book window. This is the quickest way to install a full family, since you can select every weight at once. Alternatively, choose File then Add Fonts to Library (the exact wording varies a little between macOS versions), find the files, and click Open.
You can also drop fonts onto the Font Book icon in the Dock. Each approach ends in the same place, so use whichever you find easier.
Method 3: put the files in the Fonts folder yourself
Advanced users can copy font files straight into one of the Fonts folders. This skips the validation step, so only do it with files you trust.
| Location | Who can use the font | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ~/Library/Fonts | Only your user account | The Library folder in your home folder is hidden by default. In Finder, hold Option and open the Go menu to see Library. |
| /Library/Fonts | Everyone who uses the Mac | Needs an administrator password. |
Choose where Font Book installs fonts
Open Font Book, then open its settings (the menu is called Settings on current macOS versions and Preferences on older ones). Use the Default Install Location menu to choose between User and Computer. Choose User if the Mac is shared or managed by an employer. Choose Computer if you want every account on the Mac to see the font. The Apple guide to installing and validating fonts explains the options in more detail.
See it in action
After installing, open an app that supports custom fonts and look in its font menu for the family name. Installed fonts appear in the list alongside the ones that came with macOS.
Check that the font installed
- Open Font Book and select User (or All Fonts) in the sidebar. A font you just installed for yourself shows up there.
- Click it to see a preview. You can switch between Sample, Repertoire, and Custom views, and drag the size slider.
- Quit and reopen the app where you want to use it, then search the font menu by the family name.
Using many fonts: collections
If you collect fonts, organize them in Font Book instead of letting thousands pile up in one list. Choose File then New Collection, name it (for example, “Wedding invitations”), and drag fonts into it. A collection is a label, not a copy, so the font file stays where it is. Collections also help you turn on a group of fonts for a single project and leave them off the rest of the time.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Font does not appear in an app | App was open during install | Quit the app completely (Command+Q) and reopen it |
| Validation errors in Font Book | Damaged or badly built file | Re-download, or choose File > Validate Font to see what is wrong |
| Font is dimmed in the list | The font is disabled | Select it and choose Edit > Enable |
| Duplicate fonts warning | Same font installed twice | Choose Edit > Look for Enabled Duplicates and let Font Book resolve them automatically |
| Cannot open the file | It is still zipped, or it is a WOFF/WOFF2 web font | Unzip it, and download the TTF or OTF version |
| Text looks different in a shared file | The other person does not have the font | Send them the font if the license allows, or export to PDF |
If a font still refuses to behave after you have tried these steps, restart the Mac and check Font Book once more. Persistent problems usually mean the font file itself is faulty.
Disable or remove fonts
In Font Book, select a font and choose Edit then Disable to hide it from apps without deleting it. To delete it, select it and choose File then Remove. The file goes to the Trash. Leave fonts that came with macOS alone, since the system and apps depend on them.
Sharing documents across Macs and PCs
An installed font only exists on your own computer. If you send a Pages or Word file to someone else, their computer substitutes a different font unless they also have yours. Either export a PDF, which embeds the fonts, or use fonts that everybody has. For tips on which fonts are safe for résumés and similar documents, see what font a résumé should be. If you want to match a font from a screenshot first, try finding a font from an image. Browse more styles in script fonts or minimalist fonts.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to restart my Mac after installing a font?
No restart is needed. Quit and reopen any app that was running during the install, since most apps only load the font list at launch. If a font still does not appear, restarting the Mac is a reasonable last step.
Where does macOS store installed fonts?
Fonts installed for your account go to the Library folder in your home folder, in a Fonts subfolder (~/Library/Fonts). Fonts installed for all users go to /Library/Fonts at the top level of the disk.
Which font formats work on a Mac?
Font Book installs TrueType (.ttf), OpenType (.otf), and TrueType Collection (.ttc) files, among others. Web formats such as WOFF and WOFF2 are meant for websites, so download the TTF or OTF version for desktop use.
Should I disable or remove a font I no longer use?
Disable it if you might want it again, because the file stays on your Mac and you can turn it back on. Remove it if you are sure, which moves the file to the Trash. Never remove the fonts that macOS itself relies on.
Why is a font grayed out or marked with a download icon in Font Book?
Some fonts supplied by Apple are downloaded only when you need them. Select the font and choose Download, or click the download button next to its name. A grayed-out font in your own list may simply be disabled, so check the Edit menu for Enable.
