How to Install, Configure, and Troubleshoot Fonts in Ubuntu (Complete Guide)

1. Introduction

When installing Ubuntu for the first time, have you ever felt that “the fonts are hard to read” or “the Japanese fonts look rough”? Users switching from Windows or macOS often feel uncomfortable with Ubuntu’s default fonts. This is because Ubuntu ships with a limited selection of fonts, and its font rendering differs from other operating systems.

You may also want to “install your favorite fonts” or “add monospaced fonts for programming.” Although Ubuntu allows you to freely add and configure fonts, users who don’t know the proper steps may run into issues.

This article provides a detailed guide on how to install fonts on Ubuntu. We will introduce three methods so you can choose the one that best fits your needs:

• Method 1: Install from Ubuntu’s official repositories (easy)
• Method 2: Manually add fonts (custom fonts)
• Method 3: Install specific fonts (Windows fonts, programming fonts)

We also explain how to configure fonts and how to troubleshoot common issues after installation. By reading this article to the end, you will be able to optimize your Ubuntu font environment for a more comfortable experience.

Let’s begin by looking at the default fonts installed on Ubuntu and the directories where fonts are stored.

2. Default Ubuntu Fonts and Storage Locations

Ubuntu comes with several preinstalled fonts. However, these default fonts are not always ideal, and many users—particularly Japanese users—find the default Japanese font readability lacking. In this section, we explain Ubuntu’s default fonts and the directories where fonts are stored.

2.1 What Are the Default Ubuntu Fonts?

By default, Ubuntu includes the following fonts:

These fonts are used throughout the system and applications. However, when it comes to Japanese text, many users find the default Noto Sans “thin and hard to read” or “not visually appealing,” leading them to prefer IPA fonts, Meiryo, or other high-quality Japanese fonts.

2.2 Font Storage Locations

Ubuntu allows you to decide whether fonts should apply to the entire system or a single user depending on where you install them.

📌 Key Points

• For system-wide installation: Copy fonts to /usr/share/fonts/
• For user-only installation: Place fonts in ~/.fonts/
• Font cache must be updated after installation (explained later)

On Ubuntu 20.04 and later, the ~/.fonts/ directory may not exist by default. Create it manually if needed:

mkdir -p ~/.fonts

2.3 How to Check Installed Fonts

To list all fonts currently installed on Ubuntu, run:

fc-list

To search for a specific font, combine with grep:

fc-list | grep "Noto"

This displays all fonts whose names include “Noto.”

Next Steps

Now that you understand Ubuntu’s default fonts and where fonts are stored, the next section will guide you through actually installing fonts. We begin with the easiest method: installing fonts using the apt command.

3. Font Installation Methods (3 Approaches)

Ubuntu provides several ways to install fonts. In this section, we introduce three approaches—from the easiest method for beginners to more advanced techniques for installing specific fonts.

• Method 1: Install fonts using official repositories (apt) — easy & recommended
• Method 2: Manually add fonts (for custom fonts)
• Method 3: Install specific fonts (Windows fonts, developer-friendly fonts)

3.1 Installing Fonts Using the Official Repository (apt)

The easiest way to install fonts is to use Ubuntu’s official repositories. Many Japanese and general-purpose fonts are available, making installation simple and reliable.

3.1.1 Installing IPA Fonts

IPA fonts offer excellent readability for Japanese text and are suitable for business use. Install them with the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y fonts-ipafont
fc-cache -fv

📌 Key Points

• fonts-ipafont contains the IPA Japanese fonts.
• fc-cache -fv updates the font cache — make sure to run it.

3.1.2 Installing Additional Useful Fonts

Ubuntu’s official repository includes many other fonts. Install commonly used options with:

sudo apt install -y fonts-noto fonts-ubuntu fonts-roboto

This method is recommended for beginners because it is simple and less prone to errors.

3.2 Adding Fonts Manually

If the font you want is not available in the official repository (e.g., Google Fonts or custom fonts), you can add it manually.

3.2.1 Downloading Fonts

First, download the font you want to install.
For example, to install the Japanese font “M+ FONTS,” run:

wget https://osdn.net/frs/redir.php?m=kent&f=mplus-fonts%2F62344%2Fmplus-TESTFLIGHT-063a.tar.xz
tar -xf mplus-TESTFLIGHT-063a.tar.xz

3.2.2 Placing the Font Files

Move the downloaded .ttf or .otf files into one of the following directories:

User-only installation (applies only to your account)

mkdir -p ~/.fonts
mv mplus-TESTFLIGHT-063a/* ~/.fonts/

System-wide installation (available to all users)

sudo mv mplus-TESTFLIGHT-063a/* /usr/share/fonts/

3.2.3 Updating the Font Cache

Finally, update the font cache:

fc-cache -fv

The manually installed fonts should now be available in the system.

3.3 Installing Specific Fonts

This section introduces popular fonts that are not included in Ubuntu by default but are widely used for specific purposes.

3.3.1 Installing Meiryo (Windows Font)

Meiryo is a commonly used Japanese font on Windows. Install Microsoft’s core fonts with:

sudo apt install -y ttf-mscorefonts-installer

💡 Note:
During installation, you must agree to Microsoft’s EULA. Use Tab → Enter to select “Agree.”

3.3.2 Installing HackGen (Programmer-Friendly Font)

HackGen is a popular monospaced font designed for coding. Install it with the following commands:

mkdir -p ~/.fonts
wget https://github.com/yuru7/HackGen/releases/download/v2.6.1/HackGen_NF_v2.6.1.zip
unzip HackGen_NF_v2.6.1.zip -d ~/.fonts/
fc-cache -fv

HackGen provides excellent readability for code and is highly recommended for developers.

3.4 Summary

There are three main methods for installing fonts on Ubuntu:

The best method depends on your goals. If you simply want better Japanese fonts, install via apt. If you want to customize the appearance or improve your coding environment, manual installation is ideal.

4. Font Configuration and Management

Once font installation is complete, the next step is configuring and managing your fonts. Ubuntu allows system-wide font settings as well as per-application font customization. This section explains how to check installed fonts, configure desktop environment fonts, and adjust font settings for various applications.

4.1 Checking Installed Fonts

To verify that newly installed fonts are recognized by Ubuntu, use the following commands.

4.1.1 List All Installed Fonts

fc-list

This command displays all registered fonts in the system.

4.1.2 Search for a Specific Font

For example, to search for fonts containing the name “Noto”:

fc-list | grep "Noto"

If the font name appears in the list, it has been correctly installed.

4.2 Changing System-Wide Fonts

Ubuntu’s desktop environments (GNOME, KDE, etc.) allow you to modify system-wide font settings.

4.2.1 GNOME (default Ubuntu desktop environment)

In GNOME, you can use GNOME Tweaks (GNOME Tweak Tool) to change system fonts. If it’s not installed, run:

sudo apt install gnome-tweaks

After installation, open Tweaks and modify settings in the Fonts section:

• Interface font
• Document font
• Monospace font (for terminals and editors)
• Title bar font

For example, changing the UI font to “Noto Sans JP” greatly improves Japanese readability.

4.2.2 KDE Plasma (Kubuntu, etc.)

In KDE environments, configure fonts through “System Settings”:

1. Open System Settings
2. Select Fonts
3. Modify “General”, “Fixed-width”, and other font categories
4. Apply and restart if necessary

4.3 Per-Application Font Configuration

Some applications have separate font settings independent of system settings.

4.3.1 Terminal (GNOME Terminal, Konsole)

Changing the Font in GNOME Terminal

1. Open GNOME Terminal
2. Go to Preferences → Profile
3. Enable “Use custom font”
4. Select your preferred font (e.g., “HackGen”)

Changing the Font in Konsole (KDE Terminal)

1. Open Settings → Edit Profile
2. Select the Appearance tab
3. Change the font (e.g., HackGen, Noto Sans Mono)

4.3.2 VS Code (Visual Studio Code)

Font configuration is especially important for development. In VS Code, configure fonts through settings.json:

1. Open Settings → Text Editor → Font Family
2. To use HackGen, configure as follows:

"editor.fontFamily": "'HackGen Console', 'Fira Code', monospace"

3. Save and restart VS Code to apply the changes

4.3.3 LibreOffice (Document Editing)

LibreOffice also allows changing its default fonts.

1. Open Tools → Options
2. Select LibreOffice → Fonts
3. Set default fonts such as “Noto Sans JP”
4. Save and restart

4.4 Updating the Font Cache

If newly installed fonts are not applied, update the font cache manually:

fc-cache -fv

This ensures the system recognizes the new font information correctly.

4.5 Summary

Here is a summary of how to configure and manage fonts on Ubuntu:

• Check installed fonts → fc-list
• Modify system-wide fonts → GNOME Tweaks or KDE settings
• Configure per-application fonts → Terminal, VS Code, LibreOffice
• Update font cache if changes are not applied → fc-cache -fv

5. Troubleshooting (Fixing Font Issues)

After installing and configuring fonts in Ubuntu, you may encounter issues such as fonts not appearing correctly or not being available in specific applications. This section explains common font problems and their solutions.

5.1 Fonts Are Not Displaying

If fonts do not appear in the system or applications even after installation, try the following solutions.

5.1.1 Update the Font Cache

If fonts were added manually, the system may not yet recognize them. Update the font cache:

fc-cache -fv

Restarting the system after running this command may help.

5.1.2 Check Font File Placement

Ensure that installed fonts are placed in the correct directory.

Check with the following commands:

ls ~/.fonts/
ls /usr/share/fonts/

If the expected file (e.g., HackGen.ttf) does not appear, it may be misplaced. Move the font to the correct directory and run fc-cache -fv again.

5.1.3 Check Font File Permissions

Incorrect file permissions may prevent fonts from being displayed. Fix permissions with:

sudo chmod -R 755 /usr/share/fonts
sudo chmod -R 755 ~/.fonts

After adjusting permissions, update the font cache and reboot if necessary.

5.2 Fonts Not Working in Specific Applications

Some applications manage fonts independently from the system settings. This may prevent newly added fonts from being used.

5.2.1 Fonts Not Available in Terminal (GNOME Terminal, Konsole)

Set the font manually in the terminal application settings.

1. GNOME Terminal:

• Preferences → Edit Profile → Enable “Use custom font”

1. Konsole (KDE):

• Settings → Edit Profile → Appearance tab → Change font

5.2.2 Fonts Not Applied in VS Code

If font changes do not appear in Visual Studio Code, edit the settings.json file directly.

"editor.fontFamily": "'HackGen Console', 'Fira Code', monospace"

Ensure that the font name is spelled correctly, then restart VS Code.

5.2.3 Fonts Not Applied in LibreOffice

LibreOffice may use its own default font settings.

1. Tools → Options → LibreOffice → Fonts
2. Change the default font to “Noto Sans JP” or IPA fonts
3. Save and restart LibreOffice

5.3 Font Size Too Small or Too Large

If fonts are displayed correctly but the size is inappropriate, use the following adjustment methods.

5.3.1 Adjust Font Scaling in GNOME

Use GNOME Tweaks to adjust overall font scale.

1. Install GNOME Tweaks if not already installed:

sudo apt install gnome-tweaks

2. Open Tweaks
3. Adjust the Scaling Factor under the “Fonts” section

For example, changing the default value 1.0 to 1.2 slightly increases font size.

5.3.2 Change Font Size Using Xresources (Advanced)

For Xorg environments (Xfce, i3wm, Openbox, etc.), you can adjust font DPI via ~/.Xresources.

1. Edit the file:

nano ~/.Xresources

2. Add the following setting:

Xft.dpi: 120

3. Apply the configuration:

xrdb -merge ~/.Xresources

5.4 Removing Fonts

If you want to remove unnecessary fonts, use the following methods.

5.4.1 Removing Fonts Installed via apt

To remove fonts installed from the official repository:

sudo apt remove fonts-ipafont

5.4.2 Removing Manually Installed Fonts

To remove fonts added manually to ~/.fonts/:

rm -rf ~/.fonts/HackGen*
fc-cache -fv

To remove system-wide fonts:

sudo rm -rf /usr/share/fonts/HackGen*
sudo fc-cache -fv

5.5 Summary

This section summarized common font-related issues and how to resolve them.

6. FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

This section covers common questions about installing and managing fonts in Ubuntu.

6.1 How Can I Check if a Font Was Installed Correctly?

Q: I installed a font, but I’m not sure if it was recognized by the system. How can I verify it?

A: Use the following command to list all fonts recognized by Ubuntu:

fc-list

To search for a specific font, combine with grep:

fc-list | grep "font-name"

For example, to search for the Noto font family:

fc-list | grep "Noto"

6.2 Can I Use Windows Fonts (Meiryo, Yu Gothic) on Ubuntu?

Q: Is it possible to install and use Windows fonts like Meiryo or Yu Gothic on Ubuntu?

A: Yes, there are two ways to install Windows fonts on Ubuntu.

Method 1: Install Microsoft Core Fonts from Ubuntu’s Repository

To install Microsoft’s basic fonts (Arial, Times New Roman, etc.):

sudo apt install -y ttf-mscorefonts-installer

During installation, a license agreement will appear. Press Tab → Enter to accept.

Method 2: Copy Fonts Manually from Windows

Copy the .ttf files from Windows:

C:\Windows\Fonts

Then place them into Ubuntu’s font directory:

mkdir -p ~/.fonts
cp /path/to/WindowsFonts/*.ttf ~/.fonts/
fc-cache -fv

This method works for Meiryo, Yu Gothic, and most other Windows fonts.

6.3 How Do I Change the Terminal Font?

Q: I want to change the font used in the Ubuntu terminal. How can I do that?

A: The steps vary depending on the terminal application.

GNOME Terminal (default Ubuntu terminal)

1. Open Terminal
2. Go to Preferences → Profiles
3. Enable “Use custom font”
4. Select a font such as “HackGen”

Konsole (KDE Terminal)

1. Open Settings → Edit Profile
2. Go to the Appearance tab
3. Select a font such as “HackGen” or “Noto Sans Mono”

6.4 The Font Size Is Too Small. Can I Adjust It?

Q: The system font size is too small and hard to read. How do I increase it?

A: Several methods exist depending on your environment.

Method 1: Use GNOME Tweaks

sudo apt install gnome-tweaks

After installing, open Tweaks → Fonts and adjust the font scale.

Method 2: Modify Xresources (for Xorg environments)

nano ~/.Xresources

Add or modify the following line:

Xft.dpi: 120

Apply the changes:

xrdb -merge ~/.Xresources

Method 3: Adjust DPI for 4K or HiDPI Displays

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface text-scaling-factor 1.2

Adjust between 1.0 (default) and values like 1.2 or 1.5.

6.5 How Can I Remove Unnecessary Fonts?

Q: I installed several fonts and want to delete some of them. What is the correct way?

A: The removal method depends on how the font was installed.

Remove fonts installed via apt:

sudo apt remove fonts-ipafont

Remove manually installed fonts:

rm -rf ~/.fonts/font-name
fc-cache -fv

For system-wide manual installations:

sudo rm -rf /usr/share/fonts/font-name
sudo fc-cache -fv

6.6 Summary

This FAQ section covered the most common questions related to Ubuntu font management.

• How to use Windows fonts
• How to adjust font size
• How to remove fonts
• How to improve boldness and font rendering

7. Summary

This article provided a detailed explanation of how to install, configure, manage, and troubleshoot fonts in Ubuntu. Let’s review the key points covered throughout the guide.

7.1 Key Takeaways

🔹 Ubuntu’s Default Fonts and Storage Locations

• Ubuntu includes several default fonts such as Noto Sans, DejaVu Sans, and the Ubuntu font family.
• Fonts are stored in directories such as ~/.fonts/ (user-specific) and /usr/share/fonts/ (system-wide).

🔹 Font Installation Methods

• Install fonts using apt (e.g., IPA Fonts → sudo apt install fonts-ipafont)
• Manually add fonts (download from Google Fonts, custom .ttf files, etc.)
• Install specific fonts (Windows fonts, developer-friendly fonts like HackGen)

🔹 Font Configuration and Management

• Use GNOME Tweaks or KDE settings to change system fonts
• Configure application-specific fonts (Terminal, VS Code, LibreOffice)
• Always update the font cache after installation → fc-cache -fv

🔹 Troubleshooting

• Fonts not displaying → update font cache
• Incorrect font placement → store fonts in the correct directories
• Permission issues → fix with sudo chmod -R 755
• App-specific font issues → adjust per-application settings

🔹 Topics Covered in the FAQ

• How to use Windows fonts (Meiryo, Yu Gothic)
• How to adjust font size
• How to make fonts appear bolder
• How to fix blurry or poorly rendered fonts
• How to delete unwanted fonts

7.2 What to Do Next

Your Ubuntu font environment is now ready for customization! Here are some recommended next steps:

✅ Try installing fonts right away

• Install IPA fonts: sudo apt install fonts-ipafont
• Download your favorite Google Fonts and add them to ~/.fonts/

✅ Improve readability with font configuration

• Use GNOME Tweaks to set the UI font to Noto Sans JP
• Set your terminal font to HackGen for better coding readability

✅ Organize and clean up installed fonts

• List installed fonts with fc-list
• Remove unnecessary fonts to keep the system clean

✅ Fine-tune font rendering with system settings

gsettings set org.gnome.settings-daemon.plugins.xsettings hinting 'full'
gsettings set org.gnome.settings-daemon.plugins.xsettings antialiasing 'rgba'

7.3 Related Articles & References

For more information on font configuration and customization in Ubuntu, consider the following resources:

• Ubuntu Official Guide (Official Documentation)
• Google Fonts (Official Website)
• Font Rendering Configuration (from Arch Wiki)

7.4 Final Summary

Optimizing your font setup in Ubuntu greatly enhances readability, aesthetics, and productivity. Use this guide to choose the right fonts and configure them to fit your workflow.

🎯 Simply changing your fonts can make Ubuntu significantly more comfortable to use!
Take advantage of this guide to build your ideal font environment today.