Compatibility with Windows 10 and 11
Every font manager in our selection runs on Windows 11 and Windows 10. The details below are what trip people up.
Support matrix
| Font manager | Win 11 x64 | Win 10 x64 | 32-bit Windows | Windows on ARM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Fonts settings | Yes | Yes | Yes | Native |
| NexusFont | Yes | Yes | Yes | Via emulation |
| FontBase | Yes | Yes | No | Via emulation (Win 11) |
| MainType | Yes | Yes | Yes | Via emulation |
| FontExpert | Yes | Yes | Older releases | Via emulation (Win 11) |
| Suitcase Fusion | Yes | Yes | No | Check with Extensis |
"Via emulation" means the Intel/AMD build runs on ARM through Windows' built-in emulation. It usually works, but developers may not officially support it. Auto-activation plug-ins that load into other apps are the most likely to have problems.
Windows 10 end of support
Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025 (paid Extended Security Updates are available). The font managers listed here still run on Windows 10, but developers will gradually drop it from their official requirements, and new releases may stop installing on it. If you're staying on Windows 10:
- Keep a copy of the last installer that works for you, together with your license key.
- Turn off automatic updates in the font manager if an update would drop Windows 10 support.
- Use Windows 10 version 22H2, the final release, with the latest updates installed.
Per-user font installs (Windows 10 1809 and later, Windows 11)
Since Windows 10 version 1809, you don't need administrator rights to install a font. What happens depends on how you install:
| Method | Stored in | Visible to |
|---|---|---|
| Right-click > Install / drag to Settings > Fonts | %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Fonts | Your account only |
| Right-click > Install for all users | C:\Windows\Fonts | Everyone on the PC (needs admin) |
| Activated in a font manager | Your font folder (not copied) | Your session, while activated |
Some older apps and print drivers only look in C:\Windows\Fonts. If a font you installed "for you" doesn't show up in one program, install it for all users.
32-bit, 64-bit and ARM
Check your system in Settings > System > About > System type:
- 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor: everything on this site is supported.
- 32-bit operating system: only Windows 10 comes in 32-bit (Windows 11 is 64-bit only). Choose NexusFont or MainType, or an older release of FontExpert.
- ARM-based processor (e.g. Snapdragon laptops): Windows 11 on ARM runs x64 apps through emulation. Windows 10 on ARM only emulates 32-bit x86 apps, so 64-bit-only tools won't run there.
Windows in S mode
S mode only allows apps from the Microsoft Store. Standard installers for NexusFont, MainType, FontExpert and Suitcase Fusion won't run. You can still use Settings > Personalization > Fonts, or switch out of S mode for free (one-way) via Settings > System > Activation.
Where fonts live in Windows 10 and 11
- Settings > Personalization > Fonts: install, preview and uninstall fonts, and adjust variable-font axes.
- Control Panel > Fonts (
C:\Windows\Fonts): the classic folder view, still available. - Settings > Time & language > Language & region: optional font packs for other scripts are installed with language features.