How to Add New Fonts with the Figma App

Adding new fonts to your Figma projects can greatly enhance your designs by allowing you to customize text elements and achieve the desired aesthetic. Whether you’re looking to use a specific brand font or simply want more variety in your typefaces, this guide will walk you through the process of adding new fonts to Figma.

 Understanding Figma and Font Integration

Before diving into the steps, it’s important to understand how Figma handles fonts. Figma is a powerful design tool that runs primarily in the cloud, which means fonts are usually integrated through web services or installed locally on your device. This article will guide you on how to add fonts depending on your setup.

 Step 1: Determine Your Device and Figma Environment

The first step in adding new fonts is to determine whether you’re using Figma on a Mac or Windows PC, and whether you are using the desktop app or the web version.

- Figma Desktop App: Allows you to use both web fonts and fonts installed directly on your computer.

- Figma Web App: Primarily relies on web fonts but can access local fonts through an additional installer.

 Step 2: Installing Fonts on Your Computer

If you’ve found a new font you want to use in Figma, the first thing you need to do is install it on your computer. This process is slightly different depending on whether you’re using Windows or Mac.

 For Windows Users:

1. Download the Font: Locate the font file you want to use. It’s typically in `.ttf` (TrueType Font) or `.otf` (OpenType Font) format. Ensure you download it from a reliable source.

2. Install the Font:

   - Option 1: Double-click on the downloaded font file, and in the window that opens, click "Install".

   - Option 2: Right-click on the font file and select "Install". If you want to install the font for all users, choose "Install for all users".

3. Verify the Installation: To ensure the font is properly installed, you can check it by opening any text-editing software (like Microsoft Word) and looking for the font in the font dropdown menu.

 For Mac Users:

1. Download the Font: Find the font file you want to use, ensuring it’s in a compatible format (`.ttf` or `.otf`).

2. Install the Font:

   - Double-click on the font file. This will open a preview window.

   - Click the “Install Font” button at the bottom of the preview window.

3. Font Book Application: The font should now appear in the Font Book application, which manages all the fonts on your Mac.

 Step 3: Enabling Local Fonts in Figma

Now that the font is installed on your computer, the next step is to ensure that Figma can access it. Here’s how you can make sure your local fonts are available in Figma:

 For the Figma Desktop App:

The Figma desktop app automatically detects and allows you to use any font installed on your computer. Once you’ve installed a font, it should immediately be available in the Figma app without any additional steps.

 For the Figma Web App:

If you’re using Figma in your browser, you’ll need to install the Figma Font Helper to access local fonts.

1. Install the Figma Font Helper:

   - Open Figma in your web browser.

   - Click on your profile avatar in the top right corner and select “Install Font Helper”.

   - Follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the Font Helper.

2. Restart Your Browser: After installation, restart your browser to ensure the Font Helper is running. Your local fonts should now be accessible in Figma.

 Step 4: Using the New Fonts in Your Figma Projects

Once your fonts are installed and available, you can start using them in your Figma projects.

1. Open Figma: Launch the Figma app or open it in your browser.

2. Select a Text Layer: Create a new text layer or select an existing one in your design.

3. Choose Your Font: In the properties panel on the right, click on the font dropdown menu. You should see your newly installed font listed here.

4. Apply the Font: Select the font, and it will be applied to the selected text layer.

 Troubleshooting Common Issues

If your new fonts aren’t showing up in Figma, here are a few things you can check:

- Restart Figma: Sometimes, a simple restart of the Figma app or browser can resolve font recognition issues.

- Reinstall the Font: Ensure that the font was installed correctly by uninstalling and reinstalling it.

- Check Figma Font Helper: If using the web app, make sure the Figma Font Helper is installed and running.

 Final Thoughts

Adding new fonts to Figma is a straightforward process that can greatly expand your design capabilities. Whether you’re using the desktop app or the web version, this guide has equipped you with the knowledge to seamlessly integrate new fonts into your projects.