Guides 3 min read

How to Install a Font on Mac, Windows, iPhone and Canva (and Fix the Usual Problems)

Endalsie – A Casual Sans Serif Typeface font preview

Every week someone writes to us with the same message: “I bought the font, but I can’t find it in my app.” It’s never their fault — installing fonts is one of those things nobody teaches you. So here is the guide we wish everyone had, in plain steps.

First, a quick taste of what you’re about to install. Tap the text and type anything:

Try it — tap the text and type
It works!
Medhivas A Casual Signature Typeface Free for personal use

Medhivas is free for personal use — a nice one to practise installing with.

Step 0: Unzip the download

Your font arrives as a .zip file. Double-click it (Mac) or right-click → Extract All (Windows). Inside you’ll find files ending in .otf, .ttf and sometimes .woff.

OTF, TTF or WOFF — which one?

  • OTF (OpenType) — install this one if you can. It usually includes extra features like alternate letters and ligatures.
  • TTF (TrueType) — works everywhere; a fine choice if an app doesn’t like OTF.
  • WOFF / WOFF2 — for websites only. Don’t install these on your computer.

Install either OTF or TTF, not both — two copies of the same font can confuse your apps.

On a Mac

  1. Double-click the .otf file.
  2. Font Book opens with a preview. Click Install.
  3. Restart the app you want to use (Photoshop, Word, Keynote) so it sees the new font.

On Windows

  1. Right-click the .otf or .ttf file.
  2. Choose Install for all users (recommended) or Install.
  3. Close and reopen your design app.

On iPhone and iPad

iOS doesn’t install fonts from Files directly — you need a font installer app from the App Store (there are several free ones). Open the app, import the .otf from Files, and follow its prompts to install a profile. Afterwards the font shows up in apps that support custom fonts, like Procreate, Pages and Keynote. Procreate can also import fonts directly: Actions → Add → Add text → Edit style → Import font.

In Canva

  1. Uploading fonts needs a Canva plan that includes Brand Kit (Canva Pro, Teams or similar).
  2. Go to Brand → your Brand Kit → Fonts → Upload a font.
  3. Choose the .otf or .ttf file and confirm you have the license to use it.
  4. The font now appears at the top of your font list in every design.

When something goes wrong

  • The font doesn’t appear. Restart the app — most apps only read fonts when they open.
  • Letters look like boxes. The text uses characters the font doesn’t include (some display fonts are capitals only, or have no accented letters). Check the Glyphs tab on the font page.
  • Two versions show up. You installed both OTF and TTF. Remove one.
  • The fancy swashes are missing. Alternates live in the OpenType features; in Photoshop or Illustrator open the Glyphs panel to pick them.
  • “Can I use it in my logo?” That depends on your license, not your installation — see our license helper.

Lost the download? Every font you’ve bought or downloaded is kept in your account under My fonts, ready to download again any time.

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