Skip to main content
  1. Posts/

Fonts on Linux: Installation, Management, and Configuration

·285 words·2 mins·
Fonts Linux
Nofal Briansah
Author
Nofal Briansah
Holaaa :)
Table of Contents

TL;DR
#

You can install fonts on Linux using GNOME Fonts for a simple graphical interface or via the terminal with package managers.


Fonts on Linux
#

Fonts are essential for text rendering and user interface aesthetics in Linux systems.

Managing Fonts
#

Fonts can be installed via GNOME Fonts, or with package managers.

Installing Fonts with GNOME Fonts
#

Ensure GNOME Fonts is installed. If not, install it using:

Debian based (Debian, Ubuntu, … etc)

sudo apt install gnome-font-viewer

RHEL based (RedHat, Fedora, … etc)

sudo dnf install gnome-font-viewer

gnome fonts

  • Download the desired font files (.ttf, .otf, etc.).
  • Extract the ZIP file if necessary.
    extract fonts
  • Open the font file and click “Install.”
    install fonts
  • The font is now installed. If GNOME Fonts freezes, simply close the application and reopen it
  • Verify the font installation in the system settings.
    extract fonts

Installing via Terminal
#

For some commonly used fonts, package managers provide an easier installation method. Note that package names and repository settings, may vary between distributions.

  • Install font, Example Microsoft Core Fonts:

Debian based (Debian, Ubuntu, … etc)

# Add Multiverse repository: 
sudo add-apt-repository multiverse

# Install Microsoft Core Fonts
sudo apt install ttf-mscorefonts-installer 

RHEL based (RedHat, Fedora, … etc)

# Install Dependency
sudo dnf install curl cabextract xorg-x11-font-utils fontconfig

# Install Microsoft Core Fonts
sudo rpm -i https://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/mscorefonts2/rpms/msttcore-fonts-installer-2.6-1.noarch.rpm
  • You may need to accept the font license by pressing Tab to highlight the “OK” button and pressing Enter to accept.

install fonts

  • Verify the font installation in the system settings.
    verify fonts
    verify fonts

Updating Font Cache
#

After adding fonts to the system, run the following command to update the font cache:

fc-cache -fv

This ensures that newly added fonts are recognized by applications.

References
#

Gnome Fonts
Archlinux Wiki | Debian Wiki