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How Do I Open a Downloaded Font in InDesign?

Published in Fonts 3 mins read

To use a downloaded font in Adobe InDesign, you need to install it on your operating system first. InDesign will then automatically recognize and make the font available. Here's how to do it, depending on your operating system:

Installing Fonts on Windows

  1. Locate the Font File(s): Navigate to the folder where you downloaded the font files. They usually come in .ttf, .otf, or .woff formats, often within a zipped folder which you'll need to extract.

  2. Install the Font:

    • Double-Click: Double-click on the font file (e.g., .ttf or .otf). This will open a font preview window. In that window, click the "Install" button.
    • Right-Click: Alternatively, right-click on the font file and select "Install" from the context menu. You may also see an "Install for all users" option, which is recommended if multiple users access the computer.

  3. Font Availability: Windows will install the font, making it accessible in InDesign and other applications.

Installing Fonts on macOS

  1. Locate the Font File(s): Find the downloaded font files (e.g., .ttf, .otf, .woff).

  2. Open with Font Book: Double-click the font file. This will open the Font Book application.

  3. Install the Font: In Font Book, click the "Install Font" button.

  4. Font Availability: macOS will install the font, making it available system-wide, including in InDesign.

Using the Font in InDesign

  1. Restart InDesign (If Necessary): If InDesign was already running during the font installation, restart it to ensure it recognizes the newly installed font. This is not always necessary, but it's good practice.

  2. Select Text: Open your InDesign document and select the text you want to apply the new font to.

  3. Choose the Font: In the Character panel (Window > Type & Tables > Character), select the newly installed font from the font list. You can start typing the font name in the font selection box to quickly find it.

Troubleshooting:

  • Font Doesn't Appear: If the font doesn't appear in InDesign after installation and restarting, try clearing InDesign's font cache. You can usually do this by quitting InDesign and then deleting the "CT Font Cache" files. The location of these files varies depending on the InDesign version and OS, but you can typically find instructions online by searching for "clear InDesign font cache."
  • Corrupted Font File: Ensure the font file is not corrupted. Try downloading the font again from a reputable source.
  • Font Format Compatibility: While most fonts are compatible, ensure the font format (e.g., .ttf, .otf) is supported by your operating system and InDesign version.

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