How to Install TrueType or OpenType Fonts in Windows

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. 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.

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.

1. 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.

   

2. Open the Control Panel.

3. Double-click the Fonts folder.

   

4. 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.

   

5. Wait until the font is installed.

   

6. 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.

1. Navigate to the unzipped font file on your computer.

   

2. Right-click the file and choose Install.

   

3. 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.