The fastest way to identify a font
Take a screenshot or photo of the text, upload it to WhatTheFont (whatthefont.com) or Google Lens, and the tool will show you matching fonts within seconds. Both are free. WhatTheFont works best when the text is clear and at least a few words long. Google Lens works on your phone camera in real time — point it at a sign, poster, or printed page and tap the lens icon.
If the font is installed on your computer already, you can identify it directly in the document. In Adobe programs like Photoshop or Illustrator, click on the text and the font name appears in the Character panel. In Microsoft Word, select the text and the font name shows in the toolbar dropdown. This method only works if you already have the font file; it does not search for unknown fonts.
For fonts you see on websites, right-click the text, choose "Inspect" (in Chrome, Firefox, or Edge), and look for the font-family line in the code. It will show the exact name the designer specified. Some websites use custom fonts that are not installed on your computer, so this method tells you what the designer chose rather than what you can read.
Key Takeaways
- WhatTheFont and Google Lens identify unknown fonts from images in seconds and work on any device with a camera or screenshot tool.
- If the font is already on your computer, Adobe and Microsoft programs show the font name when you select the text.
- Website fonts can be identified by right-clicking the text, choosing Inspect, and reading the font-family line in the code.
- The clearer and larger the text sample, the more accurate the identification tool will be.
- Some fonts have multiple names — the file name, the display name, and the designer's name — so search results may show variations.
Using WhatTheFont for printed or photographed text
Go to whatthefont.com and click "Upload Image" or "Try the Demo". Select a screenshot or photo that shows the font clearly. The tool works best when the text is at least 100 pixels tall and the letters are not blurry or heavily stylized. Avoid images where the text is at an angle or partially obscured.
WhatTheFont shows you a ranked list of matches. The top result is usually correct if the text was clear in your image. Click on any result to see the full font family, read options, and where to buy it. Many fonts are free; others cost between five and fifty dollars. The tool also shows you similar fonts in case the exact match is not available or is too expensive.
If none of the results match, try cropping your image to show only a few letters, or upload a clearer photo. Fonts with unusual letter shapes — like very thin serifs or thick geometric sans-serifs — identify faster than generic fonts that look like dozens of others.
Using Google Lens to identify fonts on the spot
On Android, open Google Lens from your camera app or Google Search. On iPhone, open Google Lens from the Google app. Point your phone at the text you want to identify and tap the screen. Google Lens will highlight the text and show you matching fonts below the image.
This method works well for signs, posters, book covers, and printed materials you encounter in the real world. You do not need to take a photo first — the tool works live as you point. Tap any result to see the font name, similar fonts, and where to read it. Google Lens also identifies other things in images, so you may see results for colors, objects, or text translation alongside the font matches.
Google Lens is less precise than WhatTheFont for very small or stylized text, but it is faster for quick identification when you are out and about. If the first result does not look right, scroll down to see alternatives.
Finding fonts in Adobe and Microsoft documents
In Adobe Photoshop, select the text layer and open the Character panel (Window > Character). The font name appears at the top of the panel. In Adobe Illustrator, select the text and look at the Character panel on the right side of the screen. In InDesign, the font name shows in the Control panel at the top when you select text.
In Microsoft Word, select the text and look at the Home tab in the ribbon. The font dropdown shows the current font name. In PowerPoint, select the text and the font name appears in the same Home tab dropdown. If the font is not installed on your computer, Word and PowerPoint will show the name but may display the text in a substitute font instead.
This method only identifies fonts that are already on your system. If you open a document created on another computer with a font you do not have, the program will either show you the original font name (but display it as a substitute) or ask you to find the missing font. You can then use WhatTheFont to search for that font by name.
Identifying fonts on websites using browser tools
Right-click on any text on a website and select "Inspect Element" (Chrome, Firefox, Edge) or "Inspect" (Safari). A code panel opens at the bottom or side of your screen. Look for a line that says font-family followed by the font name in quotes. That is the font the designer chose for that text.
The font-family line might show multiple fonts separated by commas, like this: font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif. The browser tries to use the first font; if it is not installed, it moves to the next one. The first font in the list is what the designer intended.
Some websites use custom fonts loaded from services like Google Fonts or Adobe Fonts. In the Inspect panel, look for a line that says @import or @font-face — these lines tell you the font is not a standard system font. Click the link next to the font name to see where it comes from. Google Fonts links will take you directly to the font page where you can read it free.
Understanding font names and variations
A single font often has multiple names. The file name is what appears in your computer's font folder (like "Helvetica-Bold.ttf"). The display name is what shows in design programs (like "Helvetica Neue Bold"). The family name is the broader category (like "Helvetica Neue"). When you search for a font, use the family name first.
Fonts also come in weights and styles. A font family like "Open Sans" includes Open Sans Regular, Open Sans Bold, Open Sans Italic, and Open Sans Bold Italic. When you identify a font, note which weight and style you see — the tool may show you the regular weight by default, but you might need the bold or italic version. Check the font page to see all available weights.
Some fonts have regional or designer variations. "Helvetica" is different from "Helvetica Neue," which is different from "Helvetica Now." If your identification tool shows a close match but not an exact one, check whether a newer or older version of the font exists. The designer's website or the font distributor (like Adobe Fonts, Google Fonts, or MyFonts) will list all versions.
When identification tools do not work
If WhatTheFont and Google Lens both fail, the font may be custom-made, very new, or heavily modified. Try these steps: search the font name if you can read any letters clearly, ask in design communities like r/identifythisfont on Reddit or the Font Identification Board on WhatTheFont itself, or look at the website's source code if it is a web font (right-click, View Page Source, then search for "font" in the code).
Custom fonts made by designers for specific projects often do not appear in public databases. If you are trying to match a brand or logo, contact the company directly — many will tell you what font they use. For very old or obscure fonts, specialized forums like Typophile or the WhatTheFont community can sometimes identify them through discussion.
If you have a font file but do not know its name, drag it into your font folder (on Windows: C:\Windows\Fonts; on Mac: Library > Fonts) and it will appear in your design programs with its proper name. You can then use that name to search for more information about the font online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I identify a font from a blurry or small image?
WhatTheFont and Google Lens work best with clear, large text at least 100 pixels tall. Blurry images produce less accurate results. If your image is small or unclear, try cropping it to show just a few letters in larger size, or take a new photo with better lighting and focus.
What if the identification tool shows multiple fonts that all look similar?
Scroll through the results and compare them to your original image. Look at specific letter shapes — the way the "a" or "g" is drawn, the thickness of the strokes, and the spacing between letters. The correct match will have the closest details. If you are still unsure, click on each result to see the full font and compare side by side.
Do I have to pay for every font the tool identifies?
No. Many fonts identified by WhatTheFont and Google Lens are free, especially those from Google Fonts. Others cost money, ranging from five to fifty dollars. The tool shows you the price and where to read before you commit. You can also look for free alternatives with similar styles if the exact font is too expensive.
If I find a font on a website, can I read and use it?
It depends on the font's license. Fonts from Google Fonts and Adobe Fonts are free to use. Other fonts may be licensed only for the website owner's use. Check the font's license page before downloading — most will tell you whether personal or commercial use is allowed. Using a font without permission can violate copyright.
Why does the font look different on my computer than in the original image?
Fonts render differently depending on the operating system, browser, and screen. The same font may look slightly thinner or thicker on Windows versus Mac, or on a phone versus a desktop. This is normal and not a sign you identified the wrong font. The letter shapes and spacing will match even if the rendering looks slightly different.