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How to Remove Cloud Fonts from the Excel Font List
Question details
The user wants to remove uninstalled fonts with cloud icons (such as Aptos) that continue to appear in the Microsoft Excel font drop-down list.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Managing available fonts and cleaning up the application's font drop-down interface.
- Observed behavior
- Fonts with cloud icons remain visible in the Excel font list even after they have been uninstalled from the Windows Fonts control panel.
Ensure you have saved all your active workbooks and completely closed Microsoft Excel before attempting to clear the system font cache.
Disable Connected Experiences and Clear Cloud Fonts Cache
This method stops Excel from fetching cloud fonts from Microsoft servers and removes the locally cached font files from your Windows system.
Because cloud fonts are downloaded on demand rather than installed directly into the Windows OS, they bypass the standard Windows Fonts control panel. To completely remove them from Excel, you must disable the Microsoft Office feature that fetches them and delete the existing font cache folder on your hard drive.
Open Excel and go to File > Account. Click on 'Account Privacy' and select 'Manage Settings'. Scroll down and uncheck the option for 'Turn on all connected experiences', then click OK.
Completely exit Excel and any other running Microsoft Office applications to release the font cache files so they can be deleted.
Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog. Type C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\FontCache\4\CloudFonts (replace <user> with your actual Windows username) and delete all contents inside this folder.
Reopen Excel. The cloud fonts, such as Aptos, should no longer appear in your font drop-down list.
Try WPS Office for a Clean, Easy-to-Manage Font Experience
If you are frustrated by persistent cloud fonts and complex privacy settings in Microsoft Excel, consider switching to WPS Office. It relies directly on your local system fonts, ensuring you have complete control over your font list without unwanted cloud downloads.
- 1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS website and download the free WPS Office suite to your Windows PC.
- 2. Open WPS Spreadsheets: Launch the Spreadsheets application, which features a familiar interface and reads only the fonts you have intentionally installed.
- 3. Edit Your Excel Files: Open your existing .xlsx files directly in WPS Office to edit them normally without navigating through complex cloud settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do uninstalled fonts still show up in Excel?
Excel often lists 'Cloud Fonts' (indicated by a cloud icon) that are available for download directly from Microsoft servers. These are not stored in your standard Windows Fonts folder, so uninstalling them via the Windows control panel does not remove them from Excel's drop-down list.
Can I remove just one specific cloud font like Aptos?
No, Microsoft Office does not currently offer a way to hide or remove individual cloud fonts from the drop-down menu. You must disable connected experiences entirely and clear the font cache to remove the cloud font list.
Will disabling connected experiences affect other Office features?
Yes, turning off connected experiences in Microsoft Office will also disable other cloud-dependent features, such as automatic translation, smart lookup, and potentially some online templates.
