Setup and configuration
A font manager works best with a tidy folder structure and a clear rule for which fonts stay installed. Set it up once and it stays fast.
1. Create a central font folder
Keep every font you own in one place outside C:\Windows\Fonts. The font manager reads from this folder and activates fonts on demand.
If you use more than one PC, put this folder inside a synced location such as OneDrive, but read the sync caveats first.
2. Import fonts into the manager
- NexusFont: right-click Library > add a library and point it at your folder.
- FontBase: the root folder you chose on first launch is watched automatically. Add sub-folders to it, or use Add folder to watch another location.
- MainType, FontExpert, Suitcase Fusion: use Add fonts / Add folder (or drag and drop the folder in). Choose to reference fonts in place rather than copy them, unless you want the manager to own the files.
3. Trim fonts installed in Windows
Once your fonts are in the manager, uninstall the extra fonts you rarely use from Windows. Keep them in your font folder so you can still activate them when needed.
Keep Segoe UI (including Segoe UI Variable), Segoe UI Symbol and Emoji, Segoe MDL2 Assets and Segoe Fluent Icons, Arial, Calibri, Cambria, Consolas, Courier New, Times New Roman, Tahoma, Microsoft Sans Serif, and any fonts for languages you use. Removing them breaks menus, icons and apps.
4. Collections and tags
Group fonts by project (for example "Acme rebrand") and use (for example "UI sans", "Body serif"). Tags describe the fonts themselves, such as geometric, condensed, variable or free for commercial use. Collections and sets should hold only references, so a font can sit in many of them without being copied.
5. Activation settings
| Setting | Recommended | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Start with Windows | On if you use temporary activation | Temporarily activated fonts vanish when the manager is closed. |
| Remember activated fonts | On | Restores your active set after a restart. |
| Auto-activation plug-ins | Only for apps you use | Each plug-in adds work when that app starts. |
| Install for all users | Off unless needed | Per-user installs don't need admin rights and are easier to undo. |
6. Preview settings
Set custom preview text (your brand name, a headline, or a pangram), a comfortable size, and dark or light backgrounds. For variable fonts, use the axis sliders (weight, width, slant) in FontBase or MainType, or in Windows Settings > Fonts.
7. Backup and sync
- Back up your font folder and the manager's database or settings, which hold your collections and tags. The location is usually in
%APPDATA%or%LOCALAPPDATA%. Check the app's settings or help for the exact path. - Many managers can export collections. Do this before you reinstall Windows or move to a new PC.
- Keep a note of license files and invoices for commercial fonts alongside the fonts themselves.
Next: Common installation errors →