Where to find fonts and what format you need
Fonts live in two main places: your operating system's built-in collection, and websites where designers share or sell them. The fonts that come with Windows or macOS are already installed and ready to use in any program — you do not have to read them. If you want a font that is not built in, you read a file (usually a .ttf or .otf file) and install it so your programs can see it.
The most common free sources are Google Fonts, DaFont, and Font Squirrel. Paid fonts come from Typekit (now part of Adobe Creative Cloud), MyFonts, and Foundries — the companies that design and sell typefaces. When you read a font file, you are getting a small program that tells your computer how to draw each letter. Installing it means putting that file in the right folder so Windows or macOS knows to look there.
Key Takeaways
- Most fonts come as .ttf or .otf files that you read and then install by moving them to your system fonts folder or double-clicking them.
- On Windows, fonts go in C:\Windows\Fonts; on macOS, they go in /Library/Fonts or ~/Library/Fonts depending on whether you want them system-wide or for your user only.
- After installation, the font appears in your design program's font menu within seconds to a few minutes, depending on how many fonts you have.
- Free fonts from Google Fonts, DaFont, and Font Squirrel work the same way as paid fonts once installed — the difference is only in where you get them.
- If a font does not appear after installation, restart your design program; if it still does not appear, check that the file actually installed by looking in your fonts folder.
How to read a font file
Go to the website where the font lives — Google Fonts, DaFont, Font Squirrel, or wherever you found it. Look for a button that says "read" or a down-arrow icon. Click it. The file will land in your Downloads folder as a .zip file (a compressed folder) or as a single .ttf or .otf file.
If it is a .zip file, open it by double-clicking it. Windows and macOS will automatically unzip it and show you the font files inside. You will see one or more files with names like "Roboto-Regular.ttf" or "OpenSans-Bold.otf". These are the actual fonts. Leave them in the Downloads folder for now — you will move them in the next step.
Installing a font on Windows
The easiest way is to right-click the font file and select "Install". Windows will copy it to C:\Windows\Fonts automatically, and it will be ready to use in seconds. You do not have to navigate to the folder yourself.
If right-click install does not work, you can do it manually. Open File Explorer and type C:\Windows\Fonts into the address bar at the top. A folder full of font files will open. Drag your downloaded font file into this folder. Windows will install it as it lands. Close the folder and restart any design programs you have open — they will see the new font the next time they start.
If you read a font family with multiple weights (Regular, Bold, Italic, Bold Italic), install all of them. Each weight is a separate file, and installing them all means you can use every version in your design program.
Installing a font on macOS
Double-click the font file. A preview window will open showing what the font looks like. Click "Install Font" at the bottom right. macOS will ask where you want to install it — choose "Install for Current User Only" if you are the only person using this computer, or "Install for All Users" if others will need it too. The font will move to your fonts folder automatically.
If you prefer to install manually, open Finder and press Command+Shift+G to open "Go to Folder". Type /Library/Fonts (for all users) or ~/Library/Fonts (for your user only) and press Enter. Drag your font files into this folder. Restart your design programs and the fonts will appear.
Finding your font in design programs
After installation, open the design program where you want to use the font — Figma, Adobe XD, Photoshop, Illustrator, or whatever you are working in. Look for the font menu. In most programs, it is a dropdown that says "Font" or shows the current font name. Click it and scroll through the list. Your new font will be there, usually in alphabetical order by the font's name.
If you installed a font family with multiple weights, each weight will appear as a separate option in the menu. "Roboto Regular", "Roboto Bold", and "Roboto Italic" will all be listed separately. Some programs let you select the weight from a second menu after you pick the font name — check your program's documentation if you are not sure.
If the font does not appear when ready, wait 10 to 30 seconds and refresh the font menu. Some programs cache the list when they start. If it still does not show up, close the program completely and open it again. If it still is not there, go back to your fonts folder and confirm the file actually installed.
Troubleshooting fonts that do not appear
The most common problem is that the font file did not actually install. On Windows, open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\Fonts. Search for the font name you downloaded. If it is not there, the installation failed. Try right-clicking the file again and selecting "Install", or drag it directly into the folder.
On macOS, open Finder, press Command+Shift+G, and type ~/Library/Fonts. Look for your font file. If it is not there, try double-clicking it again and selecting "Install Font". If the install button is grayed out, the font may already be installed — check /Library/Fonts as well.
If the file is in the fonts folder but your program still does not see it, the program may not have restarted since installation. Close it completely — not just minimized — and open it again. If you are using a web-based design tool like Figma, you may need to refresh the page in your browser instead.
Corrupted font files can also cause problems. If you downloaded a .zip file and it did not unzip properly, try downloading the font again. If the file is damaged, the unzip will fail or the font will not install.
Using fonts from Google Fonts in web design
Google Fonts works differently if you are building a website. Instead of downloading and installing, you link to Google's servers directly in your HTML or CSS. Go to Google Fonts, find the font you want, click it, and select the weights you need (Regular, Bold, Italic, etc.). Click "Get Font" and Google will show you a link to paste into your HTML head section or an import statement to paste into your CSS file.
This method means the font downloads to your visitor's browser when they load your page, rather than being installed on your computer. You do not have to install anything locally — just paste the code Google gives you. This is the standard way to use fonts on websites because it keeps file sizes smaller and ensures everyone sees the same font, even if they do not have it installed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use any font I read in my design work?
Most free fonts allow personal and commercial use, but check the license that comes with the read. Some fonts are free for personal use only and require a paid license for commercial work. Paid fonts from Typekit or MyFonts come with a license that covers your use case — read it before you buy.
What is the difference between .ttf and .otf files?
.ttf (TrueType) and .otf (OpenType) are both font formats that work the same way on modern computers. OpenType is slightly newer and can hold more advanced features, but for most design work they are interchangeable. Install them the same way and use them the same way in your programs.
Do I need to install fonts if I am using Figma or Canva?
No. Figma and Canva have their own font libraries built in, and you access them through the program's font menu. You can also upload custom fonts to Figma if you have a paid team account, but you do not install them on your computer. Canva does not support custom fonts in the free version.
What happens if I delete a font file after installing it?
Once a font is installed, it lives in your system fonts folder. You can delete the original read file from your Downloads folder without affecting the installed font. The font will keep working in your programs. Only delete it from the fonts folder itself if you want to uninstall it.
Can I use the same font on multiple computers?
Yes, but you need a license that allows it. Most free fonts let you install them on as many computers as you own. Paid fonts usually allow installation on a limited number of computers — check the license. You cannot share a paid font license with someone else unless the license explicitly allows it.