How to install fonts on Android the easy way
It’s not the fad it once was, but some folks still like installing custom fonts. It’s still very doable, although the process is a little more obscure than most. You can also create your own fonts and install those. The whole thing only requires a couple of apps, some time, and some patience. Please note that this may not work on all phones, but it should work on most. It should also work up through Android 12, and it shouldn’t require root.
Please note that your phone needs to be able to change its own font in the Settings for this to work without root. You’ll need to root and use a custom Magisk module (creatable in zFont) to change your font otherwise.
Read more: The best Android themes, theme apps, and customizations
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To install a custom font on Android, obtain the TTF file of the font you wish to use and also download the zFont app. Use the zFont app to install the TTF. It may require some prerequisites and the app will help you do it.
Getting started
Joe Hindy / Android Authority
You’ll need three things before we get started. They include:- A TTF file — TTF files are the generally accepted format for font files. You can download them for free from a variety of sources. Some fonts do require payment. Not all TTF files will work with Android, but the vast majority should.
- A file browser — We used Solid Explorer for this tutorial, but any file browser should get the job done without much hassle.
- zFont – zFont is an app that lets you install fonts with or without root. There may be some other apps that can do it, but none of them are as reliable as zFont. The ad-free zFont add-on costs $4.99.
Don’t proceed to the next part until you have the previous steps done.
How to install fonts on Android
Joe Hindy / Android Authority
Before getting started, check and see if your phone has a native method to do this. Samsung phones, for example, let you download and install fonts from the Samsung Theme Store. That method is infinitely easier than the one we have below. Check there first and come back to this if you don’t like or want any of those fonts.The process may be different from phone to phone, but here is a general guide:
- Let’s start by opening your file browser. Create a folder in the main directory called Fonts. The main directory should be the one where your Download folder is.
- Use your file browser again to find your downloaded TTF file. Copy and paste it into the Fonts folder.
- Open zFont and tap the Local option in the bottom right corner. Tap the green plus button and select the Add file option. Navigate to your Fonts folder and select the TTF file.
- The font should appear in the Local section of zFont. Tap the font and then tap the Apply button. When prompted, tap the Auto (Recommended) option and hit Done.
- Here is where things get a little shaky. Depending on your phone OEM, you may have to perform some prerequisite tasks. For example, on my Galaxy S22 Ultra, I had to install SamsungSans, apply it, sign in to my Samsung account, back up my Settings data, and then uninstall SamsungSans.
- Luckily, zFont lets you tap each prerequisite to take you to the proper screen to get all of that done. Take your time, follow the directions exactly and in order.
Once done, your font should be applied. Follow any additional steps from zFont if needed if there are any extra steps.
How to change the font back
Joe Hindy / Android Authority
This should be relatively easy on most phones. Open your phone settings and tap the search icon once you get there. Type font, and your phone should show you the appropriate option. We recommend this method because fonts can be in different places on different phones.From there, you should be able to easily change your phone’s font back to its default. As we noted in the opening paragraph, not all phones are capable of changing their own font. If you don’t see an option to change fonts, you own such a device.
Where to find good fonts
Joe Hindy / Android Authority
The two easiest methods are Google searches and the zFont app. Google Search is a self-explanatory option. You can search for fonts all day, find one you like, and then Google search again to find where to download it. You will have done it correctly as long as you wind up with a TTF file at the end of it. Since there are so many sites and so many fonts, we can’t recommend a specific site to check out because most sites don’t have most fonts.The other solution, zFont, is much easier. There are lots of fonts right from within the app. You can search for them, download them, and install them all from the same place. Any font you download will show up in the Local section of the app. We tested this with the once-legendary Roboto font and it worked like a charm.
As a bonus, some OEMs let you download fonts from the OEM’s theme store. Samsung is a notable example. You can see the download font option two photos up. It’s actually quite easy, and the fonts are usually free.
Read more: The best Android widgets for your home screen
That should do it. It’s not a very complicated process. Unfortunately, there are only a few other methods, and they are quite problematic and difficult to deal with. Root access is the easiest solution for folks whose phones don’t work with this method.
FAQs
How do I change the font color on Android?
On most devices, the font color is tied into the font itself or controlled by the device’s theme engine (if it has one). We recommend trying those two solutions on your device if they are available.
Why doesn’t my new font show up everywhere?
Many apps have their own fonts independent of the system font. For example, Twitter’s official app uses Roboto on Android, Helvetica Neue on Mac, Arial on Windows, and San Francisco on iOS. Simply put, many apps don’t use the system font.
How do I change the font size?
Most Android phones should be able to increase the font size as it is an accessibility feature. Open your phone’s settings menu, tap the search bar, and type in font size. Your phone should show you the relevant section in the settings to change your font size.
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