How to Install a font in Mac OS X?

Mac OS X has multiple Fonts folders. Where you install a font determines when and who can use it. (Mac OS X has four or more Fonts folders, depending on software installation and number of users.)

Install a new font in Mac OS X

Mac OS X supports PostScript Type 1, OpenType, and TrueType font formats. Click here to download free fonts for Mac.

1. Locate the fonts you want to install. TrueType fonts will have one file while PostScript (Type 1) fonts for the Mac will have both a printer and screen font.

2. Drag the fonts to the System Folder. Click OK when prompted.

Note: You may install fonts by copying or dragging font files to any of the standard Fonts folders in Mac OS X. The various Fonts folders fit into the overall Mac OS X security design such that files for use on an individual computer are segregated from those for use on a network; and, on the individual computer, system software files are segregated from those under the control of a user or Admin user. The folder in which a font is located determines who can access and use the font. For example: If a user installs a new font at ~/Library/Fonts/, the font is available only to that user. If a root or Admin user installs the same font at /Network/Library/Fonts/, all network users can use the fonts (assuming that the network administrator has set up computers for this type of sharing).

Changes to Fonts take effect when an application is opened or a user logs in to the account or computer on which the changes occurred. Duplicate fonts are resolved based on the order of precedence defined for the standard Fonts folders and are described from highest to lowest priority in Table 1.

Table 1: Font Location and Use

Font Use	Font Folder	Font Description
"User"	~/Library/Fonts/ Note: The tilde character (~) represents a user's Home, which may be local or remote.	Each user has complete control over the fonts installed in her Home. These fonts are available to that user when she is logged in to the computer. Fonts installed here are not available to all users of the computer.
"Local"	/Library/Fonts/	Any local user of the computer can use fonts installed in this folder. Mac OS X does not require these additional fonts for system operation. An Admin user can modify the contents of this folder. This is the recommended location for fonts that are shared among applications.
"Network"	/Network/Library/Fonts/	The Network folder is for fonts shared among all users of a local area network. This feature is normally used on network file servers, under the control of a network administrator.
"System"	/System/Library/Fonts/	Mac OS X requires fonts in this folder for system use and displays. They should not be altered or removed.
"Classic"	/System Folder/Fonts/ Note: Do not confuse the Mac OS 9.1 "System Folder" with the Mac OS X "System" folder.	This folder contains fonts used by the Classic environment. If more than one Mac OS 9.1 System Folder is present, only fonts in the System Folder selected in the Classic pane of System Preferences are used. Classic applications can access only these fonts, not those stored elsewhere. Conversely, Mac OS X applications can use these fonts, even when the Classic environment is not active.