TL;DR
To download and install fonts on your Mac:
- Download the font from a website like DaFont.com.
- Open Finder and locate the downloaded font file, usually in the Downloads folder.
- Double-click the font file (.ttf, .ttc, or .otf).
- Font Book will open automatically, click the Install button.
Tried and Tested ✅: The methods and steps mentioned in this article have been tried and tested firsthand by Ojash Yadav on his MacBook Pro M3 and rechecked for errors on Hashir’s MacBook Air M2.
Fonts can make a huge difference, especially when you’re trying to make your work stand out. I used to feel limited by the default options, but once I learned how to add new fonts to my Mac, it unlocked a whole new level of creativity for me.
How to Download and Install Fonts on Your Mac
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Below, I’ve shared two ways to download and install fonts on your Mac:
1. Install Fonts With Font Book
Font Book is the simplest built-in tool on Mac for managing and installing fonts across various user accounts or the network.
a. Install Fonts Just For Your Account
To exclusively add new fonts to your individual Mac account, follow these steps:
Always download fonts from trusted websites like Google Fonts, DaFont.com, or Adobe Fonts. Avoid downloading from suspicious sites, as some fonts may come with malware.
- Download your desired font from any online source. I used DaFont.com to download the fonts.
- Launch Finder and go to the directory where your newly downloaded font is saved. It’s usually the Downloads folder.
- Within this directory, identify and double-click a file with extensions such as .ttf, .ttc, or .otf.
- This will launch Font Book automatically and you’ll get a dialog box. Click the Install button on it.
And there you have it! You’ve successfully added a new font to your personal Mac account.
b. Install Fonts For All Users
Here’s how to install fonts for all users on your Mac using Font Book:
- Open Font Book by searching for it in Spotlight search.
- Click Font Book in the menu bar and select Settings.
- A new window will open. Click Installation in the window’s top toolbar.
- Click the Default install locations dropdown button and select All Users.
- Navigate to and open the directory, usually the Downloads folder, containing the desired font.
- Within this directory, double-click a file with extensions like .ttf, .ttc, or .otf.
- In the Font Book dialogue that appears, click the Install button.
2. Install Fonts Manually
If you prefer, you can manually install fonts by accessing the Library folder on your Mac, bypassing Font Book.
a. Install Fonts For All Users
Follow these steps to install fonts on your Mac for all users:
- Download your desired font from any online source. I used DaFont.com to download the fonts.
- The font files are in .ttf, .ttc, or .otf format and are saved in your Downloads folder by default.
- Launch Finder and select your MacBook’s hard drive from the left panel.
- Navigate to the Library and open the Font folder.
- In a separate Finder window, locate the font file you saved earlier. Drag and drop it into the Font folder you just opened.
- Enter your username and password and click OK.
- You should see the font file in the Fonts folder and it should now be available across all applications.
- Test it by opening an app like Pages to see if it’s listed.
b. Install Fonts Just For Your Account
Here’s how to go about it:
- Download your desired font. It will be saved in the Downloads folder by default.
- Launch Finder and navigate to your home menu folder.
- Within the home menu folder, open Library followed by Fonts.
- Drag the font file from Downloads and drop it into the Fonts directory.
- Verify that the font is now available in your applications.
Installing too many fonts can slow down your Mac, especially if you’re using graphic design programs like Photoshop or Illustrator. Stick to the fonts you need and disable others to keep your system running smoothly.
How to Uninstall Fonts on Mac
Uninstalling fonts from your Mac can help declutter your font list and free up some space. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to remove fonts using the Font Book application:
- Open Font Book by searching for it in Spotlight search.
- In Font Book, browse through the list of fonts and click a font you want to uninstall.
- With the desired font selected, right-click and choose Remove from the context menu.
- Alternatively, you can click Edit in the menu bar and choose Delete.
- A prompt will appear, asking you to confirm the action. Click Remove Fonts in the prompt.
- After removing fonts, it’s a good practice to empty the Trash on your Mac to ensure they’re completely deleted from your system. Right-click the Bin icon in the Dock and select Empty Bin.
Be cautious when removing system fonts. Some fonts are essential for the proper functioning of macOS, and removing them might cause display issues or system instability.
Download and Install Cool New Fonts on Mac
Mac makes it easy to manage and add new fonts. With this guide, you now know how to download, install, and manage fonts on your Mac. You can change and personalize the fonts on your Mac in just a few clicks.
Here are some more tips for you:
- You can easily type special characters like Æ, €, #, @, © with a few simple steps on your Mac.
- To work faster and smarter, there are over 100+ Mac keyboard shortcuts at your fingertips that you can master.
- If your Mac keyboard isn’t working, try replacing the battery, cleaning it, restarting, updating macOS, resetting settings, or checking for damage.
