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How to download Google fonts to your computer

Google's Web Fonts hosts hundreds of fonts that you probably don't have, and lets you download them for free.

Nicole Cozma
Nicole Cozma has an affinity for Android apps and devices, but loves technology in general. Based out of the Tampa Bay Area, she enjoys being a spectator to both sunsets and lightning storms.
Nicole Cozma
2 min read

If you're looking to expand your font selections, Google's Web Fonts collection has you covered.

A lot of sites say they offer free fonts, but there's either a catch, or it's just a gathering of all the fonts that came standard on your computer. Google's Web Fonts hosts hundreds of fonts that you probably don't have, and lets you download them for free. Here's how to grab your favorites:

Screenshot by Nicole Cozma

Step 1: Head to http://www.google.com/webfonts in your Web browser.

Screenshot by Nicole Cozma

Step 2: Adjust the filters on the left side to your liking by clicking on All categories in the drop-down menu.

This will let you filter fonts by things like serif (with handles), sans serif (no handles), or handwriting styles, and you can pick which script you'd like the fonts to support (i.e., Latin or Greek).

Step 3: Browse through the fonts on the right-hand side by scrolling down the page.

Screenshot by Nicole Cozma

You can adjust the example sizes you'll see for fonts from one word, a sentence, or even an entire paragraph by clicking on their respective tabs at the top of the page. Additionally, fonts can be previewed with different sentences, sizes, and even sorted by things like popularity or the date they were added to the site.

Screenshot by Nicole Cozma

Step 4: On the fonts that you fancy, click the blue Add to Collection button in the lower right-hand corner of its display area. This will pop up a blue bar at the bottom of the page with the font name, showing that you've added it to your list (which Google calls a "Collection").

Screenshot by Nicole Cozma

Step 5: Click the Download your Collection link in the top-right hand corner. In the pop-up that follows, click on Download the font families in your Collection as a ZIP file.

(Optional) Step 6: Locate the ZIP file on your computer and extract it somewhere convenient.

Screenshot by Nicole Cozma

(Optional) Step 7: Install the font by adding it to your system's Fonts folder, or by opening the font file itself and clicking the Install button (depending on OS).

Now you'll have more choices for word documents, slideshows, or design projects...for free! And if you're looking for the Ice Cream Sandwich font, check out Jason Cipriani's How to get Android's Roboto font on your computer.