Software & Apps > Windows How to Install TrueType or OpenType Fonts in Windows Add fonts to your Windows computer in the right way to avoid problems By Jacci Howard Bear Jacci Howard Bear Twitter Writer A graphic designer, writer, and artist who writes about and teaches print and web design. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on May 16, 2022 Reviewed by Kayla Dube Reviewed by Kayla Dube J. Everette Light Career Center Kayla Dube has 4+ years' experience in videography and filmmaking. She frequently works in production with indie film companies. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Windows The Ultimate Laptop Buying Guide What to Know To install a font from a folder, open the folder containing the font, but do not open the font file.Next, open Control Panel, double-click Fonts, then drag the font file into the Fonts folder.To install a font directly from the font file, right-click or double-click the font file and select Install. This article explains how to install TrueType and OpenType fonts in Windows 10, 8, and 7 from the font's folder or directly from the font file. You may have downloaded fonts from a website or have a CD full of typefaces, but you can't use the fonts until you install them on your Windows PC. How to Install Fonts in the Fonts folder If you downloaded a font as a ZIP file, extract it before you access the Fonts folder. In Windows, open the folder containing the font you want to install, but do not open the file. TrueType fonts have the TTF extension and an icon of a dog-eared page with two overlapping Ts. OpenType fonts have the TTF or OTF extension and a small O icon. TrueType and OpenType fonts require only these TTF and OTF files to install and use the fonts. Open the Control Panel. Double-click the Fonts folder. Return to the folder containing the font you want to install. Select the font file and drag it to the Fonts folder. Drop the font file anywhere in the main area of the folder window. Wait until the font is installed. Close the folders. The font is now available to use on your computer. How to Install a Font From the Font File Another way to install a font in Windows is to do so directly from the unzipped font file. Navigate to the unzipped font file on your computer. Right-click the file and choose Install. When the font finishes installing, you can begin using it. In Windows 10, you can also double-click the font file to open it and select Install to install it automatically. If you have programs running while installing fonts in Windows, you may be required to exit the programs and restart the PC to make the new fonts available in the font menu. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit