Office Compatibility Issues

How to Fix Kannada Nudi Characters Not Working in Word 2016

Maira Mehtab Sep 27, 2026 882 views

Question details

Users are experiencing issues where older Kannada Nudi characters fail to display or function correctly in Microsoft Word 2016.

Product: Microsoft Word 2016
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Typing, editing, or viewing documents containing Kannada text using Kannada Nudi 6.0 and its related fonts.
Observed behavior: The Kannada Nudi characters display incorrectly, render as gibberish, or fail to function as expected within the Word 2016 document interface.

Before you start

Ensure you have administrative privileges on your computer, as you may need to install new font updates or modify third-party software settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Update Nudi Software and Contact Technical Support

Since Kannada Nudi is a third-party software, resolving compatibility issues with Word 2016 requires ensuring you have the latest compatible version installed.

Microsoft Word 2016 utilizes modern font rendering engines that may occasionally conflict with older regional font software like Kannada Nudi 6.0. Resolving this primarily relies on updates provided by the software developer.

Verify your current Nudi version

Open your Kannada Nudi software interface to check if you are currently running version 6.0 or an older release.

Check for Word 2016 compatible updates

Visit the official Kannada Nudi website or developer portal to see if a newer patch or version specifically compatible with Microsoft Word 2016 is available for download.

Install the latest version

If an update is available, download the installer, run it as an administrator, and follow the on-screen prompts to update your fonts and software.

Contact Nudi technical support

If you are already on the latest version and the issue persists, reach out directly to the Nudi technical support team. As a third-party font provider, they can supply specific patches or registry fixes for Office 2016 compatibility.

Alternative Input Methods: While waiting for a fix from Nudi support, you might consider using the built-in Windows Indic Input tools or other Unicode-based Kannada typing software, which often have better native compatibility with Word 2016.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Better Font Compatibility

If Microsoft Word 2016 continues to struggle with third-party regional fonts like Kannada Nudi, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a highly compatible, free, and lightweight alternative to Microsoft Office that offers excellent support for diverse fonts and languages.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free WPS Office suite for your operating system.
2. Install the software: Run the downloaded installer and follow the quick on-screen instructions to set up WPS Office.
3. Open your Kannada document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing Word document to experience smoother font rendering and seamless editing.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formatsLightweight architecture ensures smoother rendering of complex regional fontsFree alternative to MS Office with a familiar, easy-to-learn interfaceSeamless migration of your existing documents without losing critical formatting

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my Kannada characters appear as square boxes in Word?

This usually happens when the specific Kannada font used to create the document is not installed on your current system, or the word processor is failing to render the legacy font format correctly. Installing the missing Nudi font or converting the text to a standard Unicode Kannada font usually resolves this.

Are there other Kannada typing tools compatible with modern Office software?

Yes. Tools like Windows Indic Input, Baraha, and Google Input Tools use standard Unicode formatting, which provides much broader compatibility with modern versions of Microsoft Word and WPS Office compared to older legacy fonts.

How do I properly install a new Nudi font on my computer?

Download the Nudi font file (usually ending in .ttf). Right-click on the downloaded file and select 'Install' or 'Install for all users'. Restart your word processor, and the new font should appear in your font dropdown list.

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