Are you looking to change the default font in your Windows 10 but seem to be stuck at how you can actually do it? That’s okay. We know how that feels. But we’ve also got a way out for you! Windows 10 has definitely made life easier by enhancing user experience but while doing this it has also limited the customizability of the OS. Where in earlier versions of Windows 10, you could change the default font using the Control Panel or Personalization settings, now you have to do it manually through the Windows registry. You can indeed use your favorite font in OS features like message boxes icons, title bars, etc. instead of using the default font Segoe UI, with a simple trick! Follow the guide to modify the registry to change the system font and spice up your dull and average looking interface.
Steps to change the default font in Windows 10
So before you jump in and learn the art of spicing things up for your PC, just be cautious about messing things up when you’re modifying the registry. We suggest you create a system restore point that you can revert back to in case something goes wrong. Once you’ve done that, get started by following the steps below:
Step 1: Launch the Control Panel from the Start Menu.
Step 2: Click on the “Appearance and Personalization” option from the side menu.
Step 3: Click on “Fonts” to open fonts and select the name of the one you want to use as default.
Step 4: Now open the Notepad application and paste the following code into the empty text file:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Fonts] "Segoe UI (TrueType)"="" "Segoe UI Bold (TrueType)"="" "Segoe UI Bold Italic (TrueType)"="" "Segoe UI Italic (TrueType)"="" "Segoe UI Light (TrueType)"="" "Segoe UI Semibold (TrueType)"="" "Segoe UI Symbol (TrueType)"="" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\FontSubstitutes] "Segoe UI"="NewFont"
Step 5: Be sure to replace the font name you want to change Segoe UI within the last line of the registry code
Step 6: Click on File on the top menu options and then save your file as a .reg file by using the extension option “All files”
Step 7: From wherever your file is saved, double-click on it to merge it with the registry by clicking Yes and OK
Step 8: Simply restart your computer to let the changes take effect
Wrapping it up
That was pretty simple, wasn’t it? Even though the chances were slim, if you faced any issues while making changes in the font registry in Windows 10, you can revert back to the system restore point you created in the start. But if you were able to successfully change the default font you’ll now be loving the new look your system just got. We really hope you were able to make the most out of this article. Let us know how it went for you in the comment box.
This did not work for me, but now I need to undo this change, how can I undo it?
You can only revert it if you had created a System Restore Point beforehand. If so, then go to the system restore section of your PC and click Restore.
what if you didn’t have a system restore point do I have to reset my computer to get thing back to normal?
Use this Registry Editor file to reset to default settings:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Fonts]
“Segoe UI (TrueType)”=”segoeui.ttf”
“Segoe UI Black (TrueType)”=”seguibl.ttf”
“Segoe UI Black Italic (TrueType)”=”seguibli.ttf”
“Segoe UI Bold (TrueType)”=”segoeuib.ttf”
“Segoe UI Bold Italic (TrueType)”=”segoeuiz.ttf”
“Segoe UI Emoji (TrueType)”=”seguiemj.ttf”
“Segoe UI Historic (TrueType)”=”seguihis.ttf”
“Segoe UI Italic (TrueType)”=”segoeuii.ttf”
“Segoe UI Light (TrueType)”=”segoeuil.ttf”
“Segoe UI Light Italic (TrueType)”=”seguili.ttf”
“Segoe UI Semibold (TrueType)”=”seguisb.ttf”
“Segoe UI Semibold Italic (TrueType)”=”seguisbi.ttf”
“Segoe UI Semilight (TrueType)”=”segoeuisl.ttf”
“Segoe UI Semilight Italic (TrueType)”=”seguisli.ttf”
“Segoe UI Symbol (TrueType)”=”seguisym.ttf”
“Segoe MDL2 Assets (TrueType)”=”segmdl2.ttf”
“Segoe Print (TrueType)”=”segoepr.ttf”
“Segoe Print Bold (TrueType)”=”segoeprb.ttf”
“Segoe Script (TrueType)”=”segoesc.ttf”
“Segoe Script Bold (TrueType)”=”segoescb.ttf”
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\FontSubstitutes]
“Segoe UI”=-
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Fonts]
“Segoe UI (TrueType)”=””
“Segoe UI Bold (TrueType)”=””
“Segoe UI Bold Italic (TrueType)”=””
“Segoe UI Italic (TrueType)”=””
“Segoe UI Light (TrueType)”=””
“Segoe UI Semibold (TrueType)”=””
“Segoe UI Symbol (TrueType)”=””
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\FontSubstitutes]
“Segoe UI”=”ENTER-NEW-FONT-NAME”
In registry code above, make sure to replace ENTER-NEW-FONT-NAME with the name of the font you want to use like Courier New.
Install the font which you replaced
Hello, in general, before any change to registry, select computer or server when you execute regedit, then file and export, with this you will perform a registry backup, no needed to create a restore point but restore point are a good practice so any of both methods are great even restore point will prevent more risk stuffs so better restore point that will backup more things thahn backup only registry.
It worked like a charm for me. It gave me a memory failure because I did not write right font name but I right clicked font and see details where it comes the true name font, different name than windows font list.
Can I change the font settings to Times New Roman Italic using this method? I’ve been able to do that in previous Windows versions.
This technique does not work for consensus-based fonts. If you have a font that requires consensus, and you try to load it as your windows default font, it will just lock up your entire system and there is no way to restore it. Such as with the NewSuperman.ttf font.
This did not work as my computer simply came up with an error on stage 7.
Mine too, it said ‘the specified was not a valid registry script. You can only import binary registry files from within the registry editor.’
I think you didn’t copy the “Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00” line…
In Step 6 there is no All Files choice nor any .reg choice. My only choices are:
.rtf
.docx
.odt
.txt (this extension for 3 different file types)
You need to generate valid .reg files, which are plain text files. When saving, choose unformatted file types like .txt, but then, opt for including “.reg” at the end, when naming it. If in doubt about the encoding, try UTF-8 with BOM, but there’s more than one supported option on this.
The extra line “Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00” is necessary at the beginning, as far as I know. (From the text, this is not clear.)
Jan, 18, 2020
cool, UTF-8 with Bom worked.
or because first time trying the script i added a space, “Halo Regular”
…didnt do anything
second time around i removed the space, “HaloRegular”
saved the registry with, UTF-8 with Bom
and now it works. just semicolon for time display is a square box… i’m fine with that
It worked for me. But I want it in bold. What can I do please
I’m using Windows 10 1903, and a reversal script for the article’s file would look like this. Use at your own risk, but probably works with Windows 8 and 10 versions. For the next time, take time to read about registry key backup.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Fonts]
;”Segoe MDL2 Assets (TrueType)”=”segmdl2.ttf”
;”Segoe Print (TrueType)”=”segoepr.ttf”
;”Segoe Print Bold (TrueType)”=”segoeprb.ttf”
;”Segoe Script (TrueType)”=”segoesc.ttf”
;”Segoe Script Bold (TrueType)”=”segoescb.ttf”
“Segoe UI (TrueType)”=”segoeui.ttf”
;”Segoe UI Black (TrueType)”=”seguibl.ttf”
;”Segoe UI Black Italic (TrueType)”=”seguibli.ttf”
“Segoe UI Bold (TrueType)”=”segoeuib.ttf”
“Segoe UI Bold Italic (TrueType)”=”segoeuiz.ttf”
;”Segoe UI Emoji (TrueType)”=”seguiemj.ttf”
;”Segoe UI Historic (TrueType)”=”seguihis.ttf”
“Segoe UI Italic (TrueType)”=”segoeuii.ttf”
“Segoe UI Light (TrueType)”=”segoeuil.ttf”
;”Segoe UI Light Italic (TrueType)”=”seguili.ttf”
“Segoe UI Semibold (TrueType)”=”seguisb.ttf”
;”Segoe UI Semibold Italic (TrueType)”=”seguisbi.ttf”
;”Segoe UI Semilight (TrueType)”=”segoeuisl.ttf”
;”Segoe UI Semilight Italic (TrueType)”=”seguisli.ttf”
“Segoe UI Symbol (TrueType)”=”seguisym.ttf”
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\FontSubstitutes]
“Segoe UI”=-
Huge thank you for this brother! Note that it looks like your script has semicolons and different quotation characters than a true .reg script. You can compare the two files (the one provided in the article) and this one and see the syntactical differences you’ll have to make.
Will this work with a formula one font?
looks like the only person who says his method works, is he himself alone.
works fine, just have to mess around and make sure its under ALL FILES & a .REG file to save. thanks, it didn’t work until I kept trying to figure out how to make that note, do it in your file explorer not note pad
This method worked, I changed my font to Ink Free with no issue.
I changed my font to “Audiowide” with this method but it reverts back to “Segoe UI” automatically after 2-3 minutes…I’m trying to figure out the cause of this…
what if I want to change it back to default?
Copy and paste this into notes and save it as a .reg just like the first one
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Fonts]
“Segoe MDL2 Assets (TrueType)”=”segmdl2.ttf”
“Segoe Print (TrueType)”=”segoepr.ttf”
“Segoe Print Bold (TrueType)”=”segoeprb.ttf”
“Segoe Script (TrueType”=”segoesc.ttf”
“Segoe Script Bold (TrueType)”=”segoescb.ttf”
“Segoe UI (TrueType)”=”segoeui.ttf”
“Segoe UI Black (TrueType)”=”seguibl.ttf”
“Segoe UI Black Italic (TrueType)”=”seguibli.ttf”
“Segoe UI Bold (TrueType)”=”segoeuib.ttf”
“Segoe UI Bold Italic (TrueType)”=”segoeuiz.ttf”
“Segoe UI Emoji (TrueType)”=”seguiemj.ttf”
“Segoe UI Historic (TrueType)”=”seguihis.ttf”
“Segoe UI Italic (TrueType)”=”segoeuii.ttf”
“Segoe UI Light (TrueType)”=”segoeuil.ttf”
“Segoe UI Light Italic (TrueType)”=”seguili.ttf”
“Segoe UI Semibold (TrueType)”=”seguisb.ttf”
“Segoe UI Semibold Italic (TrueType)”=”seguisbi.ttf”
“Segoe UI Semilight (TrueType)”=”segoeuisl.ttf”
“Segoe UI Semilight Italic (TrueType)”=”seguisli.ttf”
“Segoe UI Symbol (TrueType)”=”seguisym.ttf”
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\FontSubstitutes]
“Segoe UI”=-
worked for me, desktop icons, context menu, windows explorer have the new font, startup menu doesnt.
Didn’t work for me. I keep getting “Cannot import H:\Cambria.reg: Error opening the File. There may be a disk or file system error.” What am I doing wrong?
My system is refusing to boot again!
Missed the system restore point and only realised I made a mistake right after I pressed “restart” but it was too late, laptop goes black after I login. Is there any possible way I can fix this?
If you have more than one profile on your PC, will all of the profiles’ fonts change.
It didn’t work for me. It said “files have been added to registry” and I started my computer, but nothing changed. I tried to use Segoe Script and it wouldn’t work.
It worked like a charm, thanks a lot!!
I have changed my default font with the registry editor and restart the computer to apply the font but it wouldn’t applied how can i fix this
This has always worked for me, but on this latest attempt on a new laptop, it’s not working in File Explorer. Everything else is displaying the proper font, Start, menus, etc. Any suggestions?
Why does it have to be so complicated? Why can’t you simply pick the font you want from a menu and click ‘OK’?
Has someone a tip to increase system font size?! These retards from Microsoft removed an option and now I can’t read any information in system windows! Look!:
https://imgur.com/a/zIPTFXm?fbclid=IwAR0gSTb4S9aFqNJKeDwADSV6Vp_0T2D5XKM9FrUOD-ZybNuJr5Gui8VEZ04
No, I don’t want to rescale everything, because then everything will be big as hell! No, increase text size only doesn’t affect this system font! No, any program, which I’ve downloaded (Font Changer, Advanced System Changer, WinAero) helps not! Please!
Point to note: If you use Kaspersky Internet Security, your registry backup cannot be restored because kaspersky blocks the entire registry from being backed up. Seriously. I couldn’t restore my backup so I opened the backup and found only one Key from kaspersky.
So, I was able to change the font using this method. Though there are some caveats.
Step 5 is worded in a way that is a bit confusing. Why not say to replace the text that says “NewFont” with your desired font? The way step 5 is worded might cause some to think they need to replace the text that says “Segoe UI” instead.
After changing the font, the : in my system clock was no longer there. It was replaced by a square. Like something out of wingdings. I tried editing the entry to use “Segoe UI” as the new font, but that didn’t work. I tried using the “default” registry entry provided in the comments section, but the : would not return with that either. I ended up doing a system restore to fix it.
Also, restarting the PC isn’t necessary for the font to change. You can sign out and then back in for the same result.
After looking further into the matter, I found a workaround to the missing “:” in the system clock provided by user threevolve at:
https://www.tenforums.com/installation-upgrade/82691-win-10-pro-creators-update-taskbar-clock-anomaly-any-suggestions.html#post1027583
Apparently it happens when you use a custom font.
After applying a new font, do the following if your system clock is missing the “:”.
– Open up Reg Edit and go to: HKCU\ControlPanel\International
– Double click on “sShortTime”
– Next open up Character Map, tick advanced view and make sure character set is set to “unicode”.
– Search for “colon” and select the last one (U+A789: Modifier Letter Colon).
– Copy it and replace the colon in the sShortTime string.
– Hit “OK” and wait for the clock to change to the next minute.
I tried the your original solution, but did not see any change!
I used the font IMPACT, because I need a font that is very very black and bold-type-like, since I am a visually-retarded person.
It did not work, is this because I am using Chinese Windows 10, so the font simply did not match?
I was thinking, ok, may be the IMPACT font can at least replace the ENGLISH characters in the computer.
Thank you for your kind help.
Jay , 17/10/2020
Works, but only for the desktop not the settings menu and start menu