Introduction
Want to customize the appearance of your Linux system with new fonts? The default options don't always please everyone. Whether you're a designer, developer, or just someone who values good aesthetics, installing new fonts can make your Linux experience more enjoyable and personalized.
Download
Most free and commercial fonts are available in TTF and OTF formats, which are widely compatible and easy to install, ensuring good rendering quality.
To install a font, first download it from your favorite website. In this example, we will use the Roboto font, available on Google Fonts. To download it, visit the site, locate the font, and click on and then . If you prefer, use this direct link to the font.
Extracting
Unzip the downloaded file and view the extracted files:
$ bash
# Unzip the zip file unzip Roboto.zip # List the extracted files ls -lh -rw-r--r-- 1 rudi users 4.4K Feb 14 09:55 OFL.txt -rw-r--r-- 1 rudi users 4.1K Feb 14 09:55 README.txt -rw-r--r-- 1 rudi users 486K Jan 8 19:51 Roboto-Italic-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf -rw-r--r-- 1 rudi users 458K Jan 8 19:51 Roboto-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf -rw-r--r-- 1 rudi users 8.7M Feb 14 09:55 Roboto.zip drwxr-xr-x 2 rudi users 4.0K Feb 14 10:27 static
Before Installing
The compressed file you downloaded includes both variable and static versions of the font.
Variable Fonts
The files Roboto-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf and Roboto-Italic-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf are variable fonts, a modern format that allows dynamic adjustment of attributes such as weight (wght) and width (wdth), without the need for multiple files for each weight or style.
A single file contains all variations, providing greater typographic flexibility without requiring separate variants. Additionally, the use of variable fonts can reduce loading times on websites and programs.
Static Fonts
In the static/ folder, you will find files like Roboto-Regular.ttf, Roboto-Bold.ttf, among others. These are the traditional versions of the font, where each variant has a separate file.
The use of static fonts is recommended if a program does not support variable fonts or if you need to use a specific version without dynamic adjustments. Additionally, a single static font file generally takes up less space and loads faster than a variable font.
Local Installation
To install a font locally, so that it is available only for the current user, follow the steps below:
$ bash
# Create the directory for fonts if it doesn't exist mkdir -p ~/.local/share/fonts # Copy the fonts cp Roboto-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf ~/.local/share/fonts/ cp Roboto-Italic-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf ~/.local/share/fonts/ # Update the font cache fc-cache -fv Font directories: /home/rudi/.local/share/fonts /home/rudi/.local/share/fonts: caching, new cache contents: 38 fonts, 0 dirs fc-cache: succeeded
The command fc-cache -fv is used to update the font cache in Linux. It checks all configured font directories in the system (such as ~/.fonts/, ~/.local/share/fonts/, /usr/share/fonts/) and updates the cache, ensuring that newly installed fonts are recognized by the system.
Explanation of the parameters:
- -f (force) → Forces the cache update, even if it is already up to date.
- -v (verbose) → Displays details of the process in the terminal output.
To confirm that the font has been installed successfully, use the following command:
# bash
fc-list | grep "Roboto"
Replace "Roboto" with the name of your font. This command will display the path of the font if it is installed correctly. Open an application that supports font selection and look for the new font in the list. If the application is already in use, close it and reopen it to ensure the new font is loaded.
Global Installation
To install a font globally, so that it is available for all users on the system, you need to use the root user or add sudo before each command.
System fonts are organized in folders within the /usr/share/fonts/ directory. The configuration file /etc/fonts/fonts.conf is responsible for defining which system directories will be scanned to load fonts into the cache. You can edit this file to include custom locations. Fonts in subdirectories of the listed locations will also be loaded automatically.
Since we are working with TrueType fonts, let's create a directory called custom/ inside the TTF folder, located at /usr/share/fonts/TTF/. This helps organize and separate manually installed fonts from the system's default fonts. This approach can also be useful if you want to back up these fonts and copy them to another system.
Follow the steps below:
# bash
# Create the directory for fonts mkdir -p /usr/share/fonts/TTF/custom # Copy the fonts to the created folder cp Roboto-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf /usr/share/fonts/TTF/custom/ cp Roboto-Italic-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf /usr/share/fonts/TTF/custom/ # Update the font cache fc-cache -fv
After running these commands, the new font will be installed and available for all users on the system.
Removing an Installed Font
To remove an installed font, locate the font file in the directory where it was copied. For example, if the font was installed globally in /usr/share/fonts/TTF/custom/, navigate to that directory:
# bash
Enter the folder where the font was installed cd /usr/share/fonts/TTF/custom/ Delete the font files (e.g., Roboto) rm Roboto-Italic-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf rm Roboto-VariableFont_wdth,wght.ttf Update the font cache sudo fc-cache -fv
This will ensure that the font is removed from the cache and is no longer available for use. To confirm that the font has been successfully removed, you can use the command:
# bash
fc-list | grep "Roboto"
If the font does not appear in the list, it has been removed correctly.
Where to Find Free Fonts?
Some of the most reputable repositories for free fonts are:
- Google Fonts
- One of the largest repositories of free and open-source fonts. Offers a wide variety of modern fonts well-optimized for web and graphic projects.
- Font Squirrel
- A curated repository of free fonts for commercial use. All fonts are tested and approved to ensure high quality.
- DaFont
- One of the most popular repositories, with a wide variety of free fonts. Includes thematic categories such as decorative, handwritten, and modern fonts.
- 1001 Fonts
- Offers thousands of free fonts, organized by categories and styles. Also includes useful tools like text generators with custom fonts.
- Adobe Fonts (Free Fonts)
- Although Adobe Fonts is known for premium fonts, it also offers a selection of high-quality free fonts, especially for creative users.
- FontSpace
- A repository with over 90,000 free fonts, including options for personal and commercial use. Also allows designers to share their own creations.
- League of Moveable Type
- An open-source project that offers free, high-quality fonts created by professional designers.
- Open Foundry
- A repository of free and open-source fonts, focusing on modern and minimalist designs. Also offers tools for font customization.
These repositories are excellent sources of inspiration and resources for any project involving typography.
Conclusion
Adding new fonts to Linux is a simple and highly customizable process, whether for individual use or for all users on the system. By following the steps described in this article, you can easily install, manage, and remove fonts, ensuring your system meets your design and typography needs.
Whether for professional projects, personal use, or simply to customize the appearance of your system, mastering font management in Linux opens up a range of creative possibilities.
References
This article was created using personal knowledge and Linux manuals.