How To Add Delete Font Davinci Resolve

Managing fonts in DaVinci Resolve is essential for any video editor looking to add unique style and branding to their projects. This guide will show you how to easily install new fonts onto your computer so they appear within DaVinci Resolve, and how to safely remove them when they are no longer needed. Whether you're a new user or an experienced editor, this step-by-step guide helps ensure your titles and graphics always look exactly right.

Fast Answer

Add Fonts: Install directly to your operating system (Windows or macOS).
Delete Fonts: Uninstall from your operating system's font settings.
Refresh Resolve: Restart DaVinci Resolve after adding or deleting fonts.

10-20 min Time needed

Easy Difficulty

System-wide changes Watch out for

Before You Start

DaVinci Resolve Software: Ensure you have DaVinci Resolve installed on your computer.
Font Files: Have the font files (usually .otf or .ttf format) ready on your computer.
Administrator Rights: You will need administrator permissions on your Windows PC or macOS computer to install and uninstall fonts system-wide.
Backup Plan: It's always wise to know where your original font files are stored in case you need to reinstall them later.
Internet Access: If you are downloading new fonts, you will need a stable internet connection.

Check first: Always verify the licensing of any font you download. Many fonts are free for personal use but require a paid license for commercial projects. Using fonts without proper permission can lead to legal issues. Also, confirm the font files are not corrupt or from untrusted sources, as bad files can cause system instability.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Understand How DaVinci Resolve Uses Fonts

Before diving into the steps, it's important to understand a key aspect of how DaVinci Resolve handles fonts. Unlike some other software that might have its own dedicated font folder, DaVinci Resolve uses the fonts that are installed directly on your computer's operating system (OS). This means if you want a font to appear in DaVinci Resolve, you must install it to your Windows or macOS system first.

This approach has a few advantages. It keeps your font library consistent across all applications on your computer, not just DaVinci Resolve. However, it also means that managing fonts for Resolve really means managing fonts for your entire computer. When you add a font, it becomes available in word processors, graphic design software, and, of course, your video editing suite.

Tip: Always download fonts from reputable sources to avoid malware or corrupted files. Popular sites include Google Fonts, Font Squirrel, and Adobe Fonts.

Add Fonts to Windows (Method 1: Quick Install)

This is the fastest method for adding one or a few fonts to a Windows computer. Make sure you have downloaded your desired font files, which will typically end with .otf (OpenType Font) or .ttf (TrueType Font).

Locate Your Font Files: Navigate to the folder where you have saved your downloaded font files. This might be your "Downloads" folder, or a dedicated "Fonts" folder you've created.
Select the Font: Find the specific font file you wish to install. If it's a zipped folder, you'll need to extract it first. Right-click on the .otf or .ttf file.
Choose "Install": From the right-click context menu, you will see an option that says "Install". Click this option. If you see "Install for all users," it's generally best to choose that, especially if multiple user accounts on your computer might use DaVinci Resolve or other applications that need the font.
Wait for Installation: A small window might briefly appear showing the installation progress. It's usually very quick. If the font is already installed, Windows will usually notify you and ask if you want to replace it.

Once installed, the font is now part of your Windows system. To make it available in DaVinci Resolve, you must close and reopen the DaVinci Resolve application. If it was already open during the installation, it won't see the new font until it restarts.

Add Fonts to Windows (Method 2: Settings App)

This method is useful if you want to install multiple fonts at once or manage your existing font library in Windows.

Open Windows Settings: Click on the Start menu and select the Settings cog icon, or press Windows Key + I.
Navigate to Personalisation: In the Settings window, click on Personalisation.
Go to Fonts: On the left-hand sidebar, select Fonts.
Drag and Drop Fonts: You will see an area that says "Drag and drop to install". Locate your font files (.otf or .ttf) in File Explorer and drag them into this designated area in the Fonts settings. Windows will then install them.
Verify Installation: After dropping, the fonts should appear in the list below. You can search for them by name to confirm they are there.

As with Method 1, after installing new fonts, you need to close and restart DaVinci Resolve for the new fonts to appear in your project's text tools.

Tip: If you are installing a font family with many styles (e.g., Bold, Italic, Light), ensure you install all the individual font files for each style. Sometimes a single font download contains multiple files.

Add Fonts to macOS (Using Font Book)

macOS has a dedicated application called "Font Book" for managing all system fonts. This is the recommended way to add fonts on a Mac.

Locate Your Font Files: Find the .otf or .ttf font files you've downloaded. If they are in a zipped folder, double-click to expand it.
Open Font Book: Double-click on any .otf or .ttf font file. This will automatically open the Font Book application and display a preview of the font. Alternatively, you can open Font Book directly from your Applications folder.
Install the Font: In the Font Book window, after previewing the font, click the "Install Font" button, usually located at the bottom right or within the preview window itself.
Resolve Duplicates (if any): If you already have a version of the font installed, Font Book might ask you to resolve duplicates. You can choose to replace the existing font, keep both, or skip the installation.
Verify Installation: Once installed, the font will appear in your Font Book library under "All Fonts" or "User" collections.

Just like with Windows, for the newly installed font to show up in DaVinci Resolve, you must quit DaVinci Resolve completely and then relaunch it. Your project will then have access to the new typeface for titles and text elements.

Use Your New Fonts in DaVinci Resolve

Once you've installed your fonts onto your operating system and restarted DaVinci Resolve, they will be available within the software for your projects.

Open or Create a Project: Launch DaVinci Resolve and open the project where you want to use the new font.
Navigate to the Edit Page: Go to the Edit page.
Add a Text Element:
- In the Effects Library (usually top-left), expand Titles.
- Drag a Text or Text+ generator onto your timeline. Text+ offers more advanced controls.
Open Inspector: Select the text clip on your timeline and go to the Inspector panel (usually top-right).
Select Your Font: Under the "Video" tab in the Inspector, find the Font dropdown menu. Click on it and scroll through the list or type the name of your newly installed font.
Apply and Adjust: Select your font, and you will see it applied to your text. Adjust size, colour, spacing, and other properties as needed.

Your new fonts are now fully integrated into your DaVinci Resolve workflow, allowing for custom typography in your videos.

Delete Fonts from Windows

Removing fonts from your system is just as straightforward as adding them. This is useful for decluttering your font list or getting rid of fonts you no longer use.

Open Windows Settings: Click on the Start menu and select the Settings cog icon, or press Windows Key + I.
Navigate to Personalisation: In the Settings window, click on Personalisation.
Go to Fonts: On the left-hand sidebar, select Fonts.
Find the Font to Delete: Scroll through the list of installed fonts or use the search bar at the top to find the font you want to remove.
Select and Uninstall: Click on the font name to expand its details. You will see an "Uninstall" button. Click it. Windows will ask for confirmation; confirm to proceed.

If you have installed multiple styles of a single font family (e.g., "MyFont Bold," "MyFont Italic"), you might need to uninstall each style individually. After deletion, remember to close and restart DaVinci Resolve to ensure the font is no longer listed or used in your projects.

Watch out: Do not uninstall default system fonts (like Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri, Segoe UI on Windows). Removing these can cause operating system instability and make some applications look incorrect or even crash. Stick to uninstalling fonts you personally added.

Delete Fonts from macOS (Using Font Book)

Using Font Book is the safest and most efficient way to remove fonts from your macOS system.

Open Font Book: You can find Font Book in your Applications folder or search for it using Spotlight (Cmd + Spacebar).
Select the Font: In the Font Book application, navigate to the "All Fonts" or "User" section in the sidebar. Find the specific font you wish to delete from the list.
Remove the Font:
- Right-click on the selected font.
- Choose "Remove 'Font Name' Family" from the context menu.
- Alternatively, you can select the font and go to the Edit menu at the top of your screen, then choose "Remove".
Confirm Deletion: Font Book will ask you to confirm if you want to remove the selected font(s). Click "Remove".

Once removed, the font will no longer be available to any applications on your Mac, including DaVinci Resolve. You should quit DaVinci Resolve and relaunch it to clear its memory of the deleted font.

Watch out: Similar to Windows, avoid deleting essential system fonts on macOS (e.g., Helvetica, San Francisco, Apple system fonts). Removing these can cause serious issues with your Mac's interface and application functionality. Font Book typically prevents you from deleting truly essential system fonts, but exercise caution with any font listed under "Computer" or "System."

Quick Reference

Situation	Use this	Why
Add Font (Windows)	Right-click .otf/.ttf file > "Install"	Fastest for single or few fonts; administrator privilege needed.
Add Font (Windows, multiple)	Settings > Personalisation > Fonts > Drag & Drop	Efficient for bulk installation and managing font library.
Add Font (macOS)	Double-click .otf/.ttf file > "Install Font" in Font Book	Integrates seamlessly with macOS font management; administrator privilege needed.
Use New Font in Resolve	Restart DaVinci Resolve, then go to Inspector > Font dropdown	Resolve reloads its font list upon startup.
Delete Font (Windows)	Settings > Personalisation > Fonts > Select font > "Uninstall"	Removes font from the entire Windows system.
Delete Font (macOS)	Open Font Book > Select font > Right-click > "Remove 'Font Name' Family"	Removes font from the entire macOS system and cleans Font Book.

Common Problems When You Add or Delete Fonts in DaVinci Resolve

Even with clear instructions, you might encounter a few hurdles. Here are some common issues and their practical solutions:

Font Not Appearing in DaVinci Resolve

Forgot to Restart Resolve: This is by far the most common reason. DaVinci Resolve needs to be completely closed and relaunched after you install new fonts for them to appear in the program's font list.
Incorrect Installation: Double-check that you successfully installed the font to your operating system. For Windows, check the Fonts section in Settings. For macOS, check Font Book.
Corrupt Font File: The font file itself might be damaged or incomplete. Try downloading the font again from a different, reputable source.
Unsupported Format: While rare, ensure the font is in .otf or .ttf format. DaVinci Resolve generally doesn't support less common formats like PostScript Type 1 fonts (.pfb, .pfm) without conversion.
Font Name Confusion: Sometimes a font's display name in DaVinci Resolve might differ slightly from its file name. For instance, "MyFont-Bold.ttf" might simply appear as "MyFont Bold" or even "MyFont" with "Bold" as a style option. Try searching for variations of the name.

Font Looks Incorrect or Has Missing Characters

Incomplete Font Family: You might have installed only a single weight (e.g., Regular) but are trying to apply a style (e.g., Bold, Italic) that isn't included in the installed files. Ensure you install all necessary files for the font family.
Character Support: Some fonts, especially free or novelty ones, may not include support for all characters (e.g., special symbols, accented letters, specific language characters). If you're seeing blank boxes or default characters, the font might lack support for those specific glyphs.
Font Conflicts: Very rarely, two fonts with similar internal names can cause conflicts. Uninstall one if you suspect this is the case.

Cannot Uninstall a Font

Font in Use: The operating system might prevent deletion if the font is currently in use by an open application. Close all running applications, especially DaVinci Resolve and any word processors or design software, then try again.
System Font: As mentioned, critical system fonts cannot be uninstalled. If you downloaded a font that happens to share a name or style with a protected system font, you might face issues.
Permissions Issue: Ensure you have administrator rights to your computer.

Performance Issues or Slowdowns After Installing Many Fonts

Too Many Fonts: While modern operating systems handle large font libraries better than older ones, having thousands of installed fonts can still impact system performance, especially on older machines or with applications that load all fonts at startup (like DaVinci Resolve).
Corrupt Files: A single corrupt font file can sometimes cause system instability or slowdowns. If you recently installed a batch of fonts and noticed performance drops, try uninstalling them one by one to identify the culprit.
Solution: Only keep fonts installed that you frequently use. For occasional fonts, consider using a font management tool (see Advanced Tips) to activate/deactivate them as needed.

Advanced Tips for How To Add Delete Font Davinci Resolve

Beyond the basics, these tips can help you manage your fonts more effectively and avoid potential issues in the long run.

Use a Dedicated Font Management Application

If you regularly work with many fonts for client projects or personal creative work, a font manager can be invaluable. These tools (like Adobe Fonts, FontBase, RightFont, Suitcase Fusion) allow you to:

Activate/Deactivate Fonts: Instead of permanently installing fonts, you can temporarily activate them for a session or specific project, reducing the load on your system.
Organize Fonts: Create collections, tag fonts, and search more efficiently than with native OS tools.
Preview Fonts: Get better previews and compare fonts side-by-side.
Identify Duplicates and Corrupt Fonts: Many managers can scan your library for issues.

While DaVinci Resolve doesn't directly integrate with these managers (it still sees system-level activations), they streamline the process of making fonts available to your OS when needed, without cluttering your system permanently.

Organize Your Downloaded Font Files

Before installing, create a structured folder system for your raw font files. Instead of leaving them in your "Downloads" folder, create a main "Fonts" folder and then subfolders:

By Project (e.g., "Client_Project_A_Fonts")
By Type (e.g., "Serif," "Sans-serif," "Script")
By Source (e.g., "Google_Fonts," "Adobe_Fonts," "Purchased")

This makes it easy to find and reinstall specific fonts if you ever need to set up a new computer or recover from data loss.

Understand Font Licensing and Commercial Use

This point cannot be stressed enough. Many fonts are free for "personal use" only. This means you can use them for home projects, learning, or non-profit work. However, if your video project is for a client, generates revenue, or is distributed commercially (even on YouTube with ads), you likely need a "commercial license."

Check the Font's License: Always look for a "license.txt" file within the font download or check the website where you obtained the font.
When in Doubt, Buy or Use Free for Commercial Use: If you're unsure, either purchase a commercial license or stick to fonts explicitly stated as "free for commercial use" (like many on Google Fonts or Font Squirrel).
Consequences: Using fonts without the correct license can lead to legal action, requiring you to pay fines or remove your content.

Consistently Use Font Styles (Bold, Italic)

When applying bold or italic styles to text in DaVinci Resolve, always use the dedicated Bold or Italic buttons in the Inspector panel if they are available for that specific font. Avoid using the "Faux Bold" or "Faux Italic" options that some software generates automatically if a true bold or italic font file isn't present.

True bold and italic styles are separate font files (e.g., "MyFont-Bold.ttf") that a designer created specifically for that look. Faux styles are simply digital distortions of the regular font, which can look pixelated or uneven, especially at larger sizes or in print.

Exporting Projects and Font Compatibility

When you export a video from DaVinci Resolve, the text will be "rendered" into the video frames. This means the fonts themselves are not embedded into the video file in a way that someone else can extract them. The final video will look exactly as you intended.

However, if you are sharing a DaVinci Resolve project file with another editor, they will also need to have the exact same fonts installed on their system for the project to display correctly. Always ensure project collaborators have access to and install the necessary fonts. Packaging fonts with project files (ensuring licenses allow distribution) is a common professional practice.

How To Add Delete Font Davinci Resolve FAQ

Can I install fonts only for DaVinci Resolve, without installing them system-wide?

No, DaVinci Resolve relies on fonts being installed at the operating system level (Windows or macOS). It does not have an internal font manager or a way to use fonts that are not registered with the OS. If you want to use a font in Resolve, it must be available to your entire computer.

What font formats does DaVinci Resolve support?

DaVinci Resolve primarily supports TrueType Font (.ttf) and OpenType Font (.otf) formats. These are the most common font formats and are widely compatible across operating systems and professional software.

Why did my font disappear or change after updating DaVinci Resolve?

A DaVinci Resolve update usually does not affect your system-installed fonts directly. If a font seems to disappear, it's more likely one of these reasons:

The font was somehow uninstalled from your operating system.
A font conflict occurred, or a new system update (Windows/macOS) caused an issue.
If you updated your OS, sometimes font caches need to be rebuilt. Try reinstalling the font.
It's possible DaVinci Resolve's internal font cache needs to be refreshed. A full restart of your computer after reinstalling the font can sometimes help.

Is it safe to delete system fonts like Arial or Times New Roman?

Absolutely not. Deleting critical system fonts can lead to major issues with your operating system's interface, text rendering in applications, and overall stability. Only delete fonts that you have personally installed and are certain are not essential for your OS or other vital software.

My font is installed, but it only shows up in some applications, not DaVinci Resolve. Why?

This is uncommon if the font is truly installed system-wide. First, ensure you've restarted DaVinci Resolve after installation. If it still doesn't appear, try these steps:

Verify Installation: Go back to your OS's font settings (Windows Settings > Fonts, macOS Font Book) and confirm the font is listed and active.
Check for Errors: Font Book on macOS can sometimes flag fonts with errors. Check if the font is validated.
Reinstall: Try uninstalling the font completely and then reinstalling it.
Font Cache: In rare cases, your OS's font cache might be corrupted. Searching online for "rebuild font cache [Your OS]" can provide steps, but this is an advanced troubleshooting step.

Can I use variable fonts in DaVinci Resolve?

DaVinci Resolve supports standard OpenType and TrueType fonts. While variable fonts (a newer OpenType feature that allows for continuous variations of width, weight, etc., within a single font file) are gaining traction, their advanced features might not be fully accessible or behave predictably in all versions of DaVinci Resolve's text tools. You can install them, but you might only be able to use the "default" static instances, rather than dynamically adjusting the variables within Resolve itself.

Final Checklist for How To Add Delete Font Davinci Resolve

Before moving on with your video project, run through this quick checklist to ensure your font management is complete and correct:

Font Files Verified: Have you double-checked that your font files (.otf or .ttf) are correct and not corrupted?
System-Wide Installation Confirmed: Is the font successfully installed in your Windows Fonts settings or macOS Font Book?
DaVinci Resolve Restarted: Have you closed DaVinci Resolve completely and reopened it since installing or deleting fonts?
Font Visible/Removed in Resolve: Can you now find the added font in DaVinci Resolve's Inspector panel, or is the deleted font no longer appearing?
Licensing Checked (for added fonts): If applicable, have you verified the font's license for commercial use to avoid future issues?
Project Collaboration Noted: If sharing the project, have you informed collaborators about the specific fonts they will need to install?
System Stability: Is your computer still running smoothly after adding/deleting fonts, with no unexpected crashes or slowdowns?