Have you ever paid attention to how many different fonts you look at throughout your day? Fonts are all over the internet, in documents you read, in every app you use, and of course – on your smartphone. Sometimes a certain font can even be a determining factor in whether you choose to read the content or use a certain app or not.
Android phones come with a built-in default font. If you don’t like it, that’s no reason to stop using your phone. Especially since on Android you can easily change it and install another font that you like. Learn about all the methods you can use to install new fonts on your Android smartphone.
How to Change the Default Font on Your Android Device
The easiest way to change fonts on your Android device is by using the built-in option to do it. Unfortunately, if you’re using a clean or “vanilla” Android like a Pixel phone, this option won’t be available and you’ll have to rely on other methods to change your font. However, many devices like Samsung, LG, HTC will allow you to change the font through the smartphone’s settings.
The exact path to changing the default font on your Android will differ depending on your smartphone’s brand. To begin with, open the Settings app on your phone. On some phones, you’ll find the option to change your font under Display > Font Style, while other models allow you to download and install new fonts by following the path Display > Fonts > Download.
Have a look around your smartphone’s settings and see if any of these options are available for you.
Install New Fonts on Android Using iFont
If you tried the built-in method and it didn’t work for you, the next thing to try is installing a third-party app called iFont that allows you to change install fonts on your Android. iFont is an app that will let you change your default Android font and use a custom one of your choice. Once you install the font, iFont will change it everywhere within your smartphone’s OS (operating system).
iFont works differently depending on whether your smartphone’s rooted or not. Rooting your phone is a procedure that gives you more control over your Android device and allows you to perform such configurations like removing pre-installed bloatware from your phone to free up your memory, or installing and running apps that require special privileges.
How to Use iFont on a Non-Rooted Smartphone
Even if your phone isn’t rooted, you can still give iFont a try and see if you can use it to install fonts on your Android.
- Before using the app, make sure you enable Unknown source installations on your phone. To do that, follow the path Settings > Security > App Installation > Unknown source installations, then choose iFont > Allow to enable it.
- The next step is to open the app and choose a font that you like. You can either use the Recommended or Find tab to do it.
- Select the font that you like. Then select Download.
- You’ll see a pop-up message on your phone when the download’s complete. Select Set.
- When using iFont for the first time, the app will prompt you to go through the instructions before changing the font on your smartphone. You can choose to read or skip it.
Some smartphones will change the font straight away. If that didn’t happen, follow the path Settings > Display > Font to manually switch to the font you just downloaded.
How to Use iFont on a Rooted Smartphone
For some smartphones, iFont needs special permission to install and change your factory font. That’s no problem for users who have previously rooted their smartphones. If you’re using a rooted Android and have Unknown source installations enabled, here’s how to use the app to install custom fonts on your Android.
- Download and open the iFont app. Then select the font you’d like to use.
- On the desired font’s page, select Download at the bottom of the screen.
- After the download’s complete, select Set.
You’ll see a pop-up message informing you that iFont is requesting SuperUser permissions. After you accept the request, your font should change. If that didn’t happen, follow the path Settings > Display > Font to manually switch to the font you just downloaded.
Install New Fonts on Android Using Action Launcher
If all the methods described above failed, you can try using a third-party launcher to change your factory font on Android. Its main function is to give you more control over the User Interface and layout of your smartphone’s homescreen.
A launcher will also allow you to use a custom font instead of the default one. The only downside is that the changed font will only affect the main UI, meaning that it won’t change the font within the apps you’re using.
There are a few different third-party launchers that you can try, including the Action Launcher. It’s a free app that supports various custom fonts. Here’s how to use it to install a new font on your Android.
- Download and install Action Launcher from the Google Play store.
- Action Launcher will prompt you to go through all of the customization options first and give it permission to change your default Launcher. Select Done after you’re finished.
- You’ll now see an Action Launcher Settings icon on your home screen. Select Action Settings.
- Select Appearance.
- Select Font to change the default font on your smartphone. Choose a font that you like from the list.
Action Launcher will then automatically apply the font you selected to your main UI.
Time to Customize Your Android
The main advantage of an Android smartphone is how customizable it is. You can tweak and change your phone to your liking, down to the smallest detail such as font. Even though different manufacturers have different paths that you’ll have to follow, you’re bound to find a way to install custom fonts on your Android device after trying the various methods that we described in this article.
Have you ever tried to change the factory font on your Android device? Which method (or methods) did you choose to do it? Share your experience with customizing your smartphone in the comments section below.