Compatibility and troubleshooting
Most font manager problems fall into three groups: the app doesn't suit your version of Windows, fonts don't reach your apps, or two things are fighting over the same font.
Compatibility with Windows 10 and 11
A support matrix, 64-bit and ARM, S mode, and per-user font installs.
Open →Installation issues
A font is installed or activated but missing, greyed out, or gone after a restart.
Jump below ↓Conflicts and configuration problems
Duplicates, font cache corruption, and running two managers at once.
Open →Quick diagnosis
| What you see | Go to |
|---|---|
| The installer shows an error, or won't start | Common installation errors |
| "This app can't run on your PC", or you're on an ARM laptop or in S mode | Windows 10 and 11 compatibility |
| A font is activated but doesn't appear in an app | Installation issues (below) |
| The wrong weight, an old version, or text in the wrong typeface | Duplicate and conflicting fonts |
| Font lists are wrong everywhere, or text renders strangely | Rebuild the font cache |
| Apps are slow to start, or font menus are huge | Too many active fonts |
Installation issues
The font manager installed fine, but the fonts aren't behaving. Open each problem for the fix.
An activated font doesn't appear in my app
- Restart the app. Many programs, including Office and most Adobe apps, read the font list only when they start.
- Check the font really is active in the manager (not just listed) and that the manager is still running.
- If you installed the font for your user only, some older programs won't see it. Reinstall it with Install for all users. See per-user fonts.
- Check that the app supports the format. Very old apps may not list OpenType CFF (.otf) or variable fonts.
Fonts disappear after restarting Windows
Temporary activation lasts only while the font manager is running. Turn on Start with Windows and Remember activated fonts in the manager's settings, or permanently install the fonts you need every day. See Activation settings.
Fonts on a network drive or cloud folder won't activate
The font files must be reachable when the manager starts. For OneDrive, right-click the font folder and choose Always keep on this device. For network shares, map the drive so it reconnects at sign-in, or keep a local copy.
"Install" is greyed out, or font installation fails with a policy message
On work or school PCs, IT policies can block font installation, or block fonts that are outside C:\Windows\Fonts. Ask your IT department. On home PCs, check you're signed in to a normal (non-guest) account.
Font shows but looks wrong: squares, missing characters, or the wrong language
The font may not include the characters (glyphs) you're typing. Check its character set in the manager's glyph view. Squares or tofu mean the glyph doesn't exist in that font.
The font manager itself won't start after an update
Restart Windows first. If it still fails, do a clean reinstall, keeping a copy of your settings folder. A damaged font in your library can also crash some managers during scanning. Temporarily move newly added fonts out of the watched folder.
Want a better-behaved font setup?
Choose a font manager that suits your Windows version.