Formatting Issues

Fix Custom Fonts Not Embedded in Word or PowerPoint PDFs on Mac

Maira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 868 views

Question details

Custom fonts are not preserved when exporting documents or presentations to PDF after updating macOS.

Product: Microsoft Word and PowerPoint
Device & OS: macOS Sonoma and Sequoia
Scenario: Exporting documents containing custom fonts into PDF format on a Mac.
Observed behavior: Fonts fail to embed in the generated PDF despite enabling the font-embedding option in PowerPoint and testing multiple fonts after restarting the Mac.

Before you start

Verify that your custom fonts are properly installed, activated, and validated within the macOS Font Book application before attempting to export your documents again.

Solution 1Recommended

Use an Alternative PDF Generation Software

Bypass the native macOS or printer-driver PDF engine which might be causing the font loss during the export process.

PDF creation in Microsoft Office on Mac often relies on native macOS or printer-driver technologies rather than the built-in Office font-embedding settings. Upgrades to macOS Sonoma or Sequoia may introduce conflicts with these native engines.

Using third-party tools that rely on their own independent PDF-generation methods can often bypass this system-level issue.

Open document in alternative software

Launch Adobe Acrobat or LibreOffice and open your existing Word document or PowerPoint presentation.

Export using native engine

Navigate to the file menu and select the application's built-in 'Export to PDF' or 'Save as PDF' feature.

Verify font embedding

Open the newly created PDF file to confirm that your custom fonts have been successfully preserved.

Solution 2

Check Font Embedding Restrictions in Font Book

Determine if the specific font license inherently restricts embedding into exported documents like PDFs.

WPS Office PDF Export

Export Documents to PDF with Embedded Fonts Seamlessly

If Microsoft Word or PowerPoint fails to retain your custom fonts on macOS, you can open your files in WPS Office and use its powerful built-in PDF export engine to preserve your original document formatting and fonts.

1. Install WPS Office for Mac: Download and install WPS Office on your macOS device from the official website.
2. Open your file: Launch WPS Office and open your existing .docx or .pptx file containing the custom fonts.
3. Select Export to PDF: Click on the 'Menu' button in the top left corner and select 'Export to PDF' from the dropdown list.
4. Save the PDF file: Choose your desired save location and click 'Export' to generate a high-quality PDF with all custom fonts successfully embedded.

Independent PDF conversion engine that reliably embeds custom fontsFlawless compatibility with Microsoft Office formats (.docx, .pptx)Free, lightweight, and fast document processing on macOSFamiliar user interface ensuring seamless transition

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do fonts change when I save a Word document as a PDF on a Mac?

This usually happens because the native macOS PDF creation engine or printer driver substitutes custom fonts that have embedding restrictions or encounters system-level compatibility bugs following a major OS update like Sonoma or Sequoia.

How can I tell if a custom font allows embedding on a Mac?

You can verify this by opening the macOS Font Book application, selecting your specific font, and checking the information pane on the right. Look for licensing or usage rights to confirm if embedding is permitted.

Does embedding custom fonts increase the PDF file size?

Yes, embedding fonts will increase the final size of your PDF document. The font's data must be bundled directly into the file so that the text renders correctly on devices that do not have that specific font installed.

Document & File Issues