How to Add Fonts to Word

This article explains how to install fonts in Windows, Word for macOS, Microsoft Word Online, Word for Android, and Word for iOS. Instructions in this article apply to all versions of Word going back to 2011 as well for Windows 10, 8, and 7, macOS, Android, and iOS.

How to Install a Font on Windows

Let’s learn how to install a font on Windows so we can then add it to Word. Installing a font on Windows is the same from Windows 10 all the way back to Windows 7. There are 2 ways to install.

Method 1

1. If you don't see a .ttf or .otf file, you may have to extract it from a zip file.

2. Once you have a .ttf or .otf file, right-click the file and select Install.

3. You will briefly see an installation progress window as it installs.

Method 2

1. Select Start > Control Panel > Fonts to open your system's font folder.

2. In another window, find the font you want to install. If you downloaded the font from a website, then the file is probably in your Downloads folder. The font file will likely have a .ttf or .otf extension.

3. Drag the desired font into your system's font folder. You can drop it into any white space between the other font icons in the font control panel.

   Font sets are often contained within .zip files, so you must extract them before dragging the actual font files into your system's Fonts folder. For guidance on how to extract, or unzip, a .zip file, see Zip Files: Unzip Them With the Right Software. If a .zip file contains multiple variations of a font, you must install each one individually.

4. Once the font is in the correct folder, it should install automatically. If it doesn’t, double-click the font file to open the Font Previewer, and click the Install button in the upper-left corner. The next time you open Word, the new font should appear as an option in the font list.

How to Add Fonts to Word for Mac

Before you can use new Microsoft Word fonts on Mac, you must add them to the app for managing fonts on macOS, the Font Book:

1. Locate your font file and double-click it to open the font preview window. You may need to unzip the file first.

2. Click Install Font near the bottom of the font preview window, which should open the Font Book.

3. If you're using the 2011 version of Office for Mac, then you must also drag and drop the font file into the Windows Office Compatible collection, which can be found in the left sidebar of the Font Book.

4. After restarting your Mac, the font should be available in Word and most other apps including PowerPoint and Excel.

How to Add Fonts to Word Online

If you're using the Microsoft Word Online app as part of Microsoft 365, you can make use of any font installed on your system. Just type the name of the font file minus the extension into the Font Options box.

When you save the document, the font name will appear in the font options box and display properly for any user who has that font installed on their device. Unfortunately, Word Online doesn't let you embed fonts.

If I Add Fonts in Word, Do They Transfer Over to Excel or PowerPoint?

Yes. Once you add a font to your operating system and ensure that it's compatible with Word, then you should be able to use it in any MS Office application including Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.

How to Add Fonts to Microsoft Word for Android

Unfortunately, adding fonts to the newest version of MS Word for Android is much more difficult than it used to be. Before you begin, you’ll need root access to your device. Lifewire has an in-depth guide explaining how to root any Android device.

1. With your rooted Android device, download FX File Explorer and install the root add-on.

2. Open FX File Explorer and locate your font file.

3. Select the font file by holding your finger on it for a few seconds, and then tap Copy in the upper right corner of the screen. If successful, you'll see a new icon in the upper right corner that says "1 copied."

4. Now, close out FX File Explorer, locate the MS Word app and hold your finger on the file icon to make a menu pop up. If your device has been rooted, you should see an Explore data option in addition to Open and Uninstall.

5. Tap Explore data and find the font directory by navigating to Files > Data > Fonts.

6. Paste the font file inside the font directory by tapping the "1 copied" icon in the upper right of your screen and selecting Paste from the menu that appears.

7. The font will now appear as an option in MS Word.

How to Add Fonts to Microsoft Word for iOS

To add a font to an iPhone or iPad, you'll need a font installer app such as AnyFont, which you can download from the App Store.

1. Move the desired font file into your iCloud.

2. From iCloud, tap the font file, and then tap Share > More (ellipsis) in the upper right corner of your screen.

3. From the Apps menu, tap AnyFont.

4. Once AnyFont opens, you should see your font file. Tap > next to the font on the right side.

5. Tap Install on the next screen that appears.

6. Tap Allow if prompted to allow a configuration profile download.

7. Go to Settings > General > Profiles,

8. Under Downloaded Profile, select the font.

9. Select Install on the top right corner.

10. Select Next.

11. Select Install on the Unsigned Profile window.

12. When asked for confirmation, select Install.

13. Select Done.

14. Open Word and select font under iOS Fonts.

Download Fonts for Microsoft Word

You can install any font file on any OS. You can find fonts online at Creative Market, Dafont, FontSpace, MyFonts, FontShop, and Awwwards. Some fonts are free while others must be purchased. When you download a font, it typically goes to your system's Downloads folder unless you specify otherwise.