Paint.net uses the fonts installed on your computer, so adding fonts means installing them to Windows or Mac first
Paint.net does not have its own font library. When you open the text tool and click the font dropdown, you see every font your operating system has installed. To use a new font in Paint.net, you install it at the system level — the same way you would for Word, Photoshop, or any other program.
The process takes about five minutes and works the same whether you download fonts for free or buy them. Once installed, the font appears in Paint.net's font list automatically, and you can use it in any other program too.
Key Takeaways
- Paint.net reads fonts from your operating system, so you install new fonts through Windows Settings or Mac System Preferences, not through Paint.net itself.
- Download font files (usually .ttf or .otf files) from a font website, then right-click the file and select "Install" on Windows or double-click and click "Install Font" on Mac.
- After installation, restart Paint.net or close and reopen it to see the new font in the text tool's font dropdown menu.
- Free font sites like Google Fonts, DaFont, and Font Squirrel are safe sources; avoid sites that ask you to download an installer or create an account to get a single font file.
Installing fonts on Windows
On Windows, you can install a font by right-clicking its file. Download the font file (it will be a .ttf, .otf, or .fon file) to your computer — usually to your Downloads folder. Right-click the font file, and you will see an "Install" option at the top of the menu. Click it, and Windows installs the font to your system immediately.
You do not need to restart your computer, but you do need to close Paint.net completely and reopen it. When you open the text tool again, the new font will appear in the font list.
If you have multiple fonts to install, you can select them all at once (hold Ctrl and click each file), then right-click and choose "Install". Windows will install them all in one go.
Installing fonts on Mac
On Mac, download the font file to your computer. Double-click the .ttf or .otf file, and Font Book (Mac's built-in font manager) opens automatically. Click the "Install Font" button in the bottom right corner of the window.
Mac installs the font immediately. Close Paint.net completely, then reopen it. The new font will appear in the text tool's font dropdown.
If Font Book does not open when you double-click, you can also drag the font file directly into the Fonts folder. Open Finder, go to Applications, then Utilities, then double-click Font Book. Go to File menu and select "Add Fonts", then navigate to your downloaded font file and select it.
Where to download fonts safely
Google Fonts is the safest place to start. Every font is free, open-source, and tested. You download a single .ttf or .otf file with no account required, no installer, and no ads. Go to fonts.google.com, browse or search for a font, click the download button (usually a down arrow), and you get the file immediately.
DaFont and Font Squirrel are also reliable. Both host thousands of free fonts, and both let you download individual font files without creating an account. On DaFont, click the download button next to any font. On Font Squirrel, click "Download" and you get a .zip file containing the font file — unzip it first, then install the .ttf or .otf file inside.
Avoid sites that ask you to download an installer program, create an account, or complete a survey before downloading a font file. Those are usually ad networks or malware vectors. A legitimate font site lets you download the .ttf or .otf file directly.
What to do if a font does not appear after installation
If you installed a font but it does not show up in Paint.net, the most common reason is that Paint.net is still running the old font list. Close Paint.net completely — not just minimize it, but close the window. Then reopen it. The new font should appear.
On Windows, if the font still does not appear, check that the file you downloaded was actually a font file (.ttf, .otf, or .fon). Some websites package fonts inside .zip files or folders. If you see a folder instead of a single file, open the folder and look for the actual font file inside. Install that file instead.
On Mac, if a font does not appear, open Font Book (Applications > Utilities > Font Book), go to File menu, and click "Restore Standard Fonts". This resets Mac's font system. Then try installing the font again.
Font file formats Paint.net supports
Paint.net works with TrueType (.ttf) and OpenType (.otf) fonts, which are the two most common formats. Almost every font you download will be one of these two. Both work identically in Paint.net — there is no practical difference between them for everyday use.
Some older fonts use the .fon format (Windows only). Paint.net can use these too, though they are rare now. If you download a font and it has a different extension — like .woff or .woff2 — it is a web font format and will not work on your computer. Look for a .ttf or .otf version instead.
Uninstalling a font you no longer use
On Windows, go to Settings > Fonts. Scroll to find the font you want to remove, click it, and click "Uninstall". Windows removes it immediately. Close and reopen Paint.net, and the font will no longer appear in the list.
On Mac, open Font Book, find the font in the list, click it, and press Delete. A dialog asks you to confirm. Click "Remove" and the font is uninstalled. Close and reopen Paint.net.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use fonts from Adobe or Microsoft Office?
Yes. Fonts installed by Adobe Creative Cloud or Microsoft Office are already in your system fonts folder. Paint.net can use them without any extra steps. If you have Adobe or Microsoft software installed, open Paint.net and those fonts will already be in the dropdown.
What if a font looks blurry or pixelated in Paint.net?
This usually happens with very small font sizes or with bitmap fonts (fonts made of pixels rather than outlines). Try increasing the font size. If the font is still blurry, it may be a bitmap font designed for a specific size. Switch to a TrueType or OpenType font instead — they scale smoothly to any size.
Do I need to restart my computer after installing a font?
No. You only need to close Paint.net and reopen it. Windows and Mac both register new fonts immediately without a restart.
Can I install fonts from a .zip file?
Yes, but you have to unzip the file first. Right-click the .zip file and select "Extract All" (Windows) or double-click it (Mac). Then open the folder that appears and install the .ttf or .otf file inside using the normal method.
Will fonts I install in Paint.net work in other programs?
Yes. When you install a font to your system, every program on your computer can use it — Word, Photoshop, Illustrator, web browsers, everything. Paint.net just reads from the same system font list that all other programs use.