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How to install a font on a Mac (macOS)

On macOS fonts are managed by the Font Book app. Installing a font takes a double-click, and afterwards it is available in all your apps.

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Steps

  1. Download the font and unzip the archive by double-clicking the ZIP file.
  2. Double-click a .ttf or .otf file: the preview window of the Font Book app opens.
  3. Click Install Font.The font is installed for your user and stored in ~/Library/Fonts.
  4. To install several files, select them all in Finder and open them together, or drag them into the Font Book window.
  5. To make a font available to all accounts, open Font Book, choose Settings (Preferences), set the default install location to Computer and then install the font.An administrator password is required.
  6. Quit and reopen the apps that were open, so that they pick up the new font.

Tips

  • If a font looks broken, select it in Font Book and choose File, Validate Font to check it.
  • Do not install the .otf and .ttf versions of the same font together.
  • To remove a font, right-click it in Font Book and choose Remove.

Questions

Where are installed fonts stored?

A font installed the usual way is stored in ~/Library/Fonts and is visible only to your account. To share it with every account, change the install location in the Font Book settings.

Why does the font not appear in an app?

Apps that were open during the installation may not see the new font. Quit them completely and open them again.

Can I use the font in commercial projects?

That depends on the font license: read the license on the font page in the catalogue before you use it.

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