How to Preview a Font Before Installing It

Tap a platform to see how to preview a font.

Windows

Double-clicking a downloaded font file opens a window that shows what it looks like before you install it.

Mac

Double-clicking a font file opens the Font Book app, where you can preview the font's appearance before installing it.

Compare several fonts

You can open several downloaded fonts one by one before installing any of them, comparing their look to find the one that fits your document.

Why this is useful

Previewing first prevents the frustration of installing a font only to discover it's not the look you wanted, and lets you install only the fonts you actually end up using.

Check before you install

If you've downloaded several fonts but aren't sure which one you like, previewing each one before installing saves you from cluttering your system with fonts you'll never use.

Once you've found the one

After previewing and narrowing down your options, installing the font you actually like is quick, and the preview step means you'll be more confident in the result once it's applied to your document.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I type custom text into the preview window?

Some preview windows let you type in your own sample text so you can see exactly how a specific word or phrase looks in that font.

If I just preview a font without installing it, does the file stay on my computer?

Yes β€” closing the preview window doesn't delete the downloaded font file. It stays right where you saved it, ready to open and install whenever you need it.