1. Home
  2. Computing & Technology
  3. Desktop Publishing

How To Delete TrueType or OpenType Fonts in Windows

By Jacci Howard Bear, About.com

If you like to tryout the different typefaces, chances are you'll find that your Windows font folder is filling up fast. To make it easier to find the fonts you really want you sometimes need to delete some fonts. Here's how to delete TrueType or OpenType fonts.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: A Minute or Two

Here's How:

  1. Go to Control Panel.
    Click on your Start button and select Settings > Control Panel (or Open My Computer then Control Panel).

  2. Go to the Fonts folder.
    Open (Doubleclick) the Fonts folder.

  3. Choose font(s) to delete.
    Select (highlight) the font or fonts you want to delete.

  4. Delete the font(s).
    Select File | Delete.

  5. Confirm, if asked.
    You may be asked to confirm that you want to delete the fonts.

Tips:

  1. Deleting shortcuts vs. actual font.
    If you checked the 'Copy fonts to folder' box when you installed the fonts you are only removing the shortcut. The actual font file remains in whatever directory you stored it.

  2. Keep the font.
    If you only want to uninstall the font but keep it for future use, copy it to another disk or directory before deleting from the Windows Fonts folder.

  3. Be careful what you delete.
    Certain fonts should not be deleted. See the list below of Windows fonts that should not be deleted.

What You Need:

  • Microsoft Windows Operating System
  • TrueType Fonts
  • OpenType Fonts
More Desktop Publishing How To's

Explore Desktop Publishing

More from About.com

  1. Home
  2. Computing & Technology
  3. Desktop Publishing
  4. Do Page Layout & DTP
  5. Typography
  6. Technical / Troubleshooting
  7. Install / Solve Problems
  8. Delete TrueType or OpenType Fonts in Windows

©2008 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.