Formatting Issues

How to Fix Missing Hungarian Characters in Word and OpenOffice Fonts

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to properly display specific Hungarian characters when typing or formatting text with downloaded fonts in Microsoft Word or OpenOffice.

Product: Microsoft Word and OpenOffice
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Typing or formatting a document in Hungarian using newly downloaded or custom fonts.
Observed behavior: The selected fonts fail to display specific Hungarian characters (such as ő, ű, í, and ó), often resulting in blank spaces, replacement boxes, or default system fonts overriding the letters.

Before you start

Ensure that your keyboard layout is correctly set to Hungarian or Central European, and verify that the font files you are trying to use are properly installed on your operating system.

Solution 1Recommended

Switch to a Unicode-Supported Font

Since many custom downloaded fonts lack complete character sets, switching to a widely supported Unicode font ensures all Hungarian characters display correctly.

Fonts that do not contain the specific Unicode glyphs for Hungarian characters (like the double acute accents on ő and ű) will fail to display them. To resolve this formatting issue, you must use a font that explicitly includes Central European character support.

Select the text

Highlight the text containing the missing or broken Hungarian characters in your document.

Change the font family

Navigate to the Home tab and open the Font dropdown menu. Choose a reliable Unicode-compliant font such as Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman.

Verify the characters

Check your document to confirm that the previously missing characters (ő, ű, í, and ó) are now fully visible and match the rest of the text.

Testing Custom Fonts: You can quickly test if a custom font supports Hungarian by applying it in a basic text editor like Notepad and typing the special characters.

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Edit and Format Multilingual Documents Easily with WPS Office

If you frequently encounter formatting limitations or font compatibility issues in Microsoft Word or OpenOffice, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible environment that seamlessly supports Unicode fonts and Central European languages out of the box.

1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office for free from the official website and run the lightweight installer on your device.
2. Open your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing Word or OpenOffice document.
3. Apply Formatting Seamlessly: Select your text and choose any supported font from the Home tab to display your multilingual content flawlessly.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx) ensuring no formatting loss.Seamless support for Unicode fonts and multilingual typing, including full Hungarian character sets.Free, lightweight, and easy to use with a familiar, intuitive user interface.Cross-platform availability allowing you to edit documents on Windows, Mac, Linux, and mobile devices.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do some Hungarian characters display as blank squares in Word?

This happens when the currently selected font does not contain the specific Unicode glyphs for those characters. Word often substitutes a generic square box or blank space when the necessary character design is missing from the font file.

How can I check if a downloaded font supports Central European languages before using it?

Before installing, you can often preview the font on the download website by typing Hungarian characters like ő and ű into the preview box. Alternatively, install it, open a simple app like Notepad, apply the font, and try typing the characters to see if they render correctly.

Can I add missing Hungarian characters to an existing custom font?

Technically yes, but modifying a font file requires specialized font editing software (such as FontForge) and an understanding of typography and licensing. For most users, it is much easier and faster to find and switch to a similar font that already includes Central European character support.

Are there specific fonts recommended for typing in Hungarian?

Yes, standard system fonts include extensive Unicode support and are highly recommended. Fonts like Calibri, Arial, Times New Roman, Tahoma, and Verdana will accurately display all Hungarian accents without issue.

Document & File Issues