Office Compatibility Issues

How to Troubleshoot Simplified Arabic Font Issues in Office LTSC 2021

Khadija KhanKhadija Khan Oct 28, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs assistance resolving a display or compatibility issue with the Simplified Arabic font in Microsoft Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021.

How to Troubleshoot Simplified Arabic Font Issues in Office LTSC 2021
Product
Microsoft Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021
Device & OS
not provided
Scenario
Attempting to format, display, or type text using the Simplified Arabic font within Office applications.
Observed behavior
The font fails to display correctly, and troubleshooting is hindered by a lack of detailed symptoms or error messages beyond a basic screenshot.
Before you start

Ensure your Windows operating system is fully updated and that the Arabic language pack is properly installed on your device before adjusting application-specific font settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify Font Installation and Office Language Settings

Check that the Simplified Arabic font is physically installed on the system and that Arabic is configured as an editing language in Office.

Microsoft Office relies on the system's font library and its internal language configuration to render specific scripts. If the font file is missing or the language isn't added, Arabic text may render improperly or default to a standard system font.

1
Check system fonts

Open the Windows Control Panel, navigate to Appearance and Personalization, and click on Fonts. Search for 'Simplified Arabic' to verify the font family is installed.

2
Add the Arabic editing language

Open Word or Excel LTSC 2021. Click File > Options > Language. Under the 'Office authoring languages and proofing' section, click 'Add a Language', select Arabic, and click Add.

3
Apply the font manually

Highlight the affected text in your document, go to the Home tab, and explicitly select 'Simplified Arabic' from the Font drop-down menu to force the application.

Verify Font Installation and Office Language Settings
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If Microsoft Office LTSC 2021 continues to struggle with Arabic font rendering, consider switching to WPS Office. As a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative, WPS Office natively supports diverse fonts, Right-to-Left (RTL) text, and complex scripts without requiring tedious configuration.

  1. 1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS website, download the free installation package, and install it on your device.
  2. 2. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing Microsoft Office document to instantly view your Arabic text with perfect formatting.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the Simplified Arabic font show as squares or unreadable symbols?

This typically occurs when the 'Simplified Arabic' font file (.ttf) is missing from your system's Font folder, or if the document was created on a computer with a different font version. Installing the missing font usually resolves this.

Where can I safely download the Simplified Arabic font?

You can copy the font from another Windows PC by navigating to C:\Windows\Fonts, or download it from Microsoft's official typography resources and install it by right-clicking the file and selecting 'Install'.

Does WPS Office properly support Arabic text and fonts?

Yes, WPS Office fully supports Arabic text, including Right-to-Left (RTL) typing and complex font rendering. It accurately reads and displays documents formatted with Simplified Arabic from Microsoft Office.