Installing Windows Fonts on Ubuntu Linux

There are three (3) ways to install Windows fonts on Ubuntu Linux. I have tested the following procedure under Ubuntu 10.10 Linux distribution but my guess is it should also work on other Linux distributions as well.

Way No. 1

(1) Access the Linux terminal by accessing the menu, Applications->Accessories->Terminal
(2) On the terminal, you have to be user "root" to install the package. To become "root", issue the command:

$ sudo su

This will prompt you for your password. Type in your password. If you are "root", the prompt should change from $ to #.

(3) To download and install the Windows fonts, type the command:

# apt-get install ttf-mscorefonts-installer

(4) To load the fonts, type the command:

# fc-cache -f -v


I am assuming that your computer is connected to the Internet and therefore by issuing the above-mentioned commands, installation of the fonts becomes trivial. As far as I know, you can also use the "Ubuntu Software Center" (click Applications->Ubuntu Software Center) and look for the MS True Type Fonts package.

If you are curious as to where the fonts are located, Ubuntu Linux copies the fonts to the directory "/usr/share/fonts". This directory is only accessible to the "root" user.


Way No. 2

In way 2, we will be installing fonts by manually copying the Windows fonts files and pasting it in the Ubuntu Linux directory.

(1) Copy the Windows fonts in your computer and place it in a transferable media such as a USB stick or CD.
(2) On the Ubuntu Linux computer, access the default home directory by going to "Places->Home Folder". On the home folder, check the "Show Hidden Files" on the "View" menu.
(3) Create the folder ".fonts". Yes, the folder got a dot before the word fonts. On Linux, folders with beginning dots means hidden folders.
(4) Copy the Windows fonts to the ".fonts" folder.
(5) Load the fonts by issuing the command:

$ fc-cache -f -v

As you can see, you don't need to be a "root" user to do this procedure. The fonts however will only be applied to the current user but not system wide unlike Way 1 procedure.


Way No. 3

In way 3, the procedure involves making the fonts available system-wide.

(1) On the terminal, become "root" by issuing the command:

$ sudo su

(2) Access the file manager in root mode by issuing the command:

# nautilus&

The file manager is called nautilus. The & makes the program independent of the terminal where it is run.

(3) Since you are already on the graphical file manager as "root", copy the Windows fonts to the Ubuntu Linux directory "/usr/share/fonts". I suggest creating a separate folder under this like "msttcorefonts".

(4) Load the fonts by issuing the command in the terminal:

# fc-cache -f -v


Other fonts can also be installed on Linux by following way 2 and 3 procedure above.

By the way, if you are concerned about licensing, the Microsoft Core fonts I have mentioned above can be redistributed freely as depicted in its license terms.