Sometimes the default fonts supplied in the latest version of Windows 10 just don’t cut it. Times New Roman and Arial fonts are timeless, but maybe you want something with a little more pizzazz. You do not have to be limited to the default options for Windows 10.
You can always download a font that better suits your needs, especially if you are looking for a font that puts a bit of your personality into your project. You can even remove fonts that you know you will never use. It all starts with a virtual trip to the Microsoft store.
For a look at how to install fonts specifically for Adobe Photoshop, we have a guide for that too.
How to install fonts through the Microsoft Store
The easiest method of installing fonts is to go through the Microsoft Store. All it takes is a few simple clicks.
Step 1: You can do so by opening Windows 10 Settings, clicking on Personalization, and then clicking on the Fonts tab.
You’ll then see a link to Get more fonts in the Microsoft Store. Click that, and then download your font, just as you would an app, to have it automatically install and appear in the settings.
As an alternative, you can also manually download a font from a website of your choosing, and install it. Steps 2 and 3 will discuss more on how to install fonts from outside the Microsoft Store.
Step 2: Once downloaded, the font may or may not be packed into a zip file. If it’s zipped, right-click on the file, select Extract All, and then follow the instructions to put the font into a folder of your choosing.
Step 3: After extraction (or accessing the file at its downloaded destination), right-click on the file and select Install. That’s it!
How to install fonts using drag and drop
If you’d rather do things manually, you can use the old-school drag-and-drop method that requires two open windows.
Step 1: Download your font as in the instructions above and extract it from its zip file if required.
Step 2: Navigate to the search box on the taskbar, type Control Panel, and click the corresponding result.
Step 3: With the Control Panel open, navigate to Appearance and Personalization, and click on Fonts in the main window.
Step 4: Once your font library loads, simply drag your new font from the destination location in File Explorer into the font window. A small progress bar will show up as it’s installed. Once complete, the font is ready to use.
Note: Windows 10 also lets you drag and drop your new font files to install them via the Settings menu. Just open the Settings menu, navigate to Fonts section of the Personalization menu and then drag your font files over to the dotted rectangle underneath Add fonts.
How to delete fonts
If you end up installing more fonts than you need or just don’t want some to be available anymore, here’s how to delete them.
Step 1: Search for Control Panel in the Windows 10 search bar and click the corresponding result.
Step 2: Click Appearance and Personalization and then Fonts.
Step 3: Either scroll through the list or use your keyboard to search for a specific font. When found, click it and select Delete from the top-bar menu. Alternatively, right-click and select Delete from the pop-up menu.
Step 4: When asked to confirm, click Yes. The font will then be deleted from your system.
How to reset to default fonts
If fonts are causing problems or you deleted an important one, you can always reset your fonts to the Windows 10 defaults. This is far less impactful than resetting or reinstalling Windows 10, and it gets your fonts back to the way they were when the OS was freshly installed.
Step 1: Search for the Control Panel in the Windows 10 search bar and click the corresponding result.
Step 2: Click Appearance and Personalization and then Fonts.
Step 3: Click Font settings from the left-hand menu.
Step 4: Click on the Restore default font settings button. Windows 10 will then restore your font selection to the default
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