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How to change fonts for Android - to read the lyrics

by Mario Jones

One of the best things about Android is just how customizable it is. Android phones let you personalize them to your heart's content in order to improve the experience and express yourself. Changing fonts for Android seems like a logical extension of this philosophy, though it isn't always as straightforward as you might expect. The good news is that where there is a will, there is a way! Read on to learn how to change fonts for Android!

While stock Android (still) lacks the ability to customize your system font, plenty of manufacturers have adapted their software to support this highly requested feature. Companies like Samsung, HTC, and LG all make it easy to change fonts for Android.

The process may change depending on your specific handset, but you can normally find this option in the settings, usually under the “Display” section. From there you can change the actual font, as well as the font size.

For instance, nearly all Samsung Android devices let you change the font style. Samsung has pre-installed a few extra fonts besides the default one, but you can get more online through the Galaxy Store (both free and paid).

Selecting a font requires a quick trip to Settings > Display > Font size and style. Just tap the name of the font that you want and confirm that you want to set it as a system font. Font replacement is instantaneous; no need for rebooting. The selected font will be displayed throughout your device's interface such as the time on the status bar, system menus, and even in your text messages.

If you can't change your font system-wide, then a useful trick to change fonts for Android is to install a custom launcher. This will replace your main home screen and will often be able to affect other UI elements across the system as well. By customizing your fonts this way, you'll change the way your device looks most of the time. Failing that, there are a couple of apps that will let you manually change your fonts for Android. We'll explore our top picks below.

One of the most popular third-party launchers is Apex Launcher. As shown in our video, here's how to change fonts on your phone's home screen after you download and install Apex Launcher. Keep in mind that this will only change fonts within the launcher itself and that the app is fairly expensive.

1. Go into the settings of Apex Launcher.
2. Tap the “Home Screen” selection.
3. Tap the “Layout and Style” option.
4. Finally, tap the “Label Font” selection and pick which font you want to use for your home screen.

If you want to change the font on your app drawer, there's another method to do so via Apex Launcher:

1. Go into the settings of Apex Launcher.
2. Tap the “App Drawer” selection.
3. Tap on the “Drawer Layout & Icons” option.
4. Finally, scroll down and then tap the “Label Font” selection and pick which font you want to use for your app drawer.

Finally, you can change the font for your phone's folder in this manner with Apex Launcher:

1. Go into the settings of Apex Launcher.
2. Tap on the “Folder” selection.
3. Finally, scroll down and then tap on the “Label Font” selection and pick which font you want to use for your folder.

GO Launcher is a launcher aimed specifically at those users who like to customize their phones. That includes changing fonts. To change font styles in GO Launcher, do the following:

1. Copy your TTF or OTF font files to your phone.
2. Long press anywhere on the home screen and select “GO Settings.”
3. Choose Font > Select Font.
4. Pick your font, or tap “Scan” to add files stored on your device.

This won't change the fonts system-wide, but it will change them across the app, which will include most of the menus and apps you'll interact with regularly.

Another powerful launcher when it comes to Android customization is the excellent Action Launcher: Pixel Edition. To change your font using Action Launcher, head into the settings and then choose Appearance > Font. Now choose the font you want. You won't have a huge selection here, just the system fonts and a few variations, but it's still better than nothing!

1. Go into the settings of Action Launcher.
2. Head to Appearance > Font.
3. Choose a font you want to use and you're done

Smart Launcher 5 is another launcher that will let you select new fonts for Android. This time, you'll head into the settings and then choose Global appearance > Font. There's a very decent selection of fonts available in Smart Launcher, which is great for those that really want to express themselves. It's just a shame that once again the change is only going to impact the fonts that are in the app.

1. Go into the settings of Smart Launcher 5.
2. Head to Global appearance > Font.
3. Choose a font you want to use and you're done.

i
Font is not a launcher, but rather an app specifically used to change fonts for Android. It is completely free and supports many Samsung, Xiaomi Meizu, Huawei, HTC, Sony, and Motorola rooted handsets.

On non-rooted devices, use i
Font's Online tab to browse for available fonts. To use a font on the list, do the following:

1. Enable installation of apps from “Unknown Sources.” This option can usually be found in Settings > Security.
2. Launch i
Font and go to the “RECOM” or “FIND” tabs to find fonts.
3. Tap on a font name that you want to install.
4. Tap the “Download” button.
5. Tap the “Set” button to install the font.
6. Go to Settings > Display > Font Size and Style. Your newly installed font should appear on the list.
7. Tap on the new font to use it as the system font.
8. The font is applied immediately. No reboot needed.

You can also copy True
Type fonts (TTF) from your PC to the /sdcard/ifont/custom directory; the fonts will then appear on the “Custom tab.” But to be able to install and use the fonts, you will need a rooted device.

Unfortunately, the trade-off is that Samsung One UI does not seem to support i
Font anymore (at least this writer could not get it to work). You may, therefore, find that newer Samsung devices don't work. An alternative does exist, however, and it's called Wings Samsung Fonts.

While many people will be happy sticking with the default fonts for Android, being able to customize them is a great option for those that like to personalize their gadgets. This flexibility is part of the appeal of Android. The good news is that no matter what type of device you own, there should be some way to set your own font. And now you know how to start!

Those who are a bit more tech-savvy can change fonts manually on rooted devices using the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), among other options, but we're not going to go into detail on how to do it in this post.

What font is splattered all over your Android device's UI today? Have you ever changed your fonts for Android to something else? Let us know in the comments below!