Office for Mac Issues

Fix Fonts Installed on Mac Not Showing in Microsoft Word

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user has installed new fonts on macOS that are accessible in other applications like Adobe Photoshop but remain unavailable in the Microsoft Word font menu.

Product: Microsoft Word for Mac
Device & OS: macOS Sequoia 15.2 (M4 iMac)
Scenario: Attempting to use custom or newly installed fonts in a Microsoft Word document.
Observed behavior: The installed fonts do not appear in the Microsoft Word dropdown list, even after a system restart, despite functioning perfectly in other software.

Before you start

Ensure you have completely quit Microsoft Word (Command + Q) before making font changes, as Word only loads its font list during application startup.

Solution 1Recommended

Validate and Reinstall Fonts Using Mac Font Book

Check if the fonts are installed correctly, eliminate duplicates, and ensure they are saved in a Word-compatible format.

Microsoft Word for Mac has strict requirements for font formats. While design apps like Photoshop support a broader range of file types, Word generally requires standard TrueType (.ttf) or OpenType (.otf) fonts to function properly.

Open Font Book

Launch the Font Book application from your Mac's Applications folder or by using Spotlight search (Command + Space).

Validate the missing fonts

Locate and select the problematic font. Right-click and choose 'Validate Font' to check for any damaged or duplicated files. Remove any flagged errors.

Reinstall compatible formats

If the font file format is incompatible, delete it from Font Book and reinstall a standard .otf or .ttf version of the font.

Restart Microsoft Word

Force quit Microsoft Word completely and reopen your document to refresh the application's font directory.

Font formatting: If multiple versions of the same font are installed, macOS may become confused. Always resolve duplicates when prompted by Font Book.

Solution 2

Move Fonts to the macOS System Library

Transfer fonts from the restrictive user-level folder to the global system library to ensure Microsoft Word has permission to access them.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office to Seamlessly Access Your Mac Fonts

If Microsoft Word for Mac continues to struggle with recognizing your custom macOS fonts, try switching to WPS Office. It natively integrates with the macOS Font Book, instantly recognizing your OTF and TTF fonts without needing manual directory configurations or cache resets.

1. Download and install WPS Office: Get the free WPS Office application for macOS from the official website and install it.
2. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing Word document.
3. Apply your custom fonts: Select your text, click the font dropdown, and easily apply your newly installed macOS fonts.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) documents and formatting.Natively reads both user and system-level fonts directly from macOS Font Book.Free, fast, and lightweight alternative to heavy Office suites.Perfectly renders creative typography across all operating systems.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do downloaded fonts work in Photoshop but not Word on my Mac?

Microsoft Word has stricter font format requirements and relies heavily on specific system APIs. While creative applications like Photoshop support various advanced or legacy font types, Word strictly prefers standard TrueType (.ttf) or OpenType (.otf) formats. Additionally, Word may struggle if there are font permission issues in the user library.

Where are custom fonts stored on macOS?

macOS stores fonts in two primary locations. The User library (~/Library/Fonts) holds fonts accessible only to the currently logged-in account, while the System library (/Library/Fonts) stores fonts available globally to all applications and system processes.

How do I force Word for Mac to rebuild its font cache?

If fonts are still missing, you can force macOS to clear its font caches by restarting your Mac in Safe Mode (holding the Shift key during startup for Intel Macs, or holding the power button for Apple Silicon). Once booted in Safe Mode, restart the computer normally and launch Word.

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