Fix OTF and TTF Fonts Sorted into Different Languages in Office for Mac
Question details
The user needs to understand why Microsoft Office on macOS places the OpenType (OTF) and TrueType (TTF) formats of the identical font into separate language sections (such as Korean and Latin) and how to resolve this sorting discrepancy.
- Product
- Microsoft Office for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Using custom third-party fonts in different formats (OTF/TTF) for multilingual document editing in Microsoft Office applications.
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft Office fails to recognize the correct language metadata for the TTF font, placing it in the Latin section, despite macOS Font Book correctly showing its native language support.
Ensure that your macOS Font Book application is updated and completely close all active Microsoft Office applications before troubleshooting font metadata.
Verify Font Language Support in macOS Font Book
Use the native macOS Font Book tool to check if the TTF font's internal language metadata is correctly registered by the operating system.
Microsoft Office relies on its internal engine to read font metadata, which can sometimes conflict with how macOS interprets the same file. By verifying the font properties natively first, you can isolate whether the issue lies with the font file or the Office application.
Launch the 'Font Book' application on your Mac from the Launchpad or Applications folder.
Locate and select the problematic TTF font from your font list, then click the 'Information' icon (an 'i' in a circle) in the toolbar.
Scroll down in the Information panel and check the 'Language Support' section to ensure the correct language (e.g., Korean) is explicitly listed.
Close Font Book and restart your Microsoft Office application to force it to rebuild the font cache and read the installed font again.
Update the Font File or Contact the Foundry
Replace the TTF file with an updated version or request a metadata fix from the original font creator.
Try WPS Office for Superior Font Compatibility
If Microsoft Office continues to misinterpret your custom font metadata, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides robust text rendering capabilities and accurate cross-platform font recognition, ensuring your multilingual documents display perfectly without complex troubleshooting.
- 1. Download the Mac App: Visit the official WPS Office website to download the free, lightweight installer optimized for macOS.
- 2. Install and Launch: Run the installer, drag WPS Office to your Applications folder, and launch the program.
- 3. Open Your Document: Open your existing Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files directly to experience flawless font rendering.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between OTF and TTF font files?
TrueType Fonts (TTF) are an older standard providing excellent scalability and basic rendering. OpenType Fonts (OTF) are built on TTF technology but support advanced typographic features and larger character sets, which often include more comprehensive metadata.
Why does Font Book recognize the font language but Microsoft Office does not?
macOS Font Book reads standard system-level font metadata, while Microsoft Office uses its own proprietary rendering and metadata engine. If a font file contains unconventional or legacy language tags, Office may default to classifying it as Latin.
Can I manually drag a font into a different language category in Office?
No. Microsoft Office applications automatically sort fonts based exclusively on how the software reads the internal file metadata. The only way to change its category is to modify the actual font file or use a differently encoded version.
