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Fontsys project artwork

CurseForge · Minecraft mod

Fontsys

Minecraft Java mod that allows you to select and use system fonts in Minecraft. Supports 26.3+ on PC, Mac, and Linux with proper rendering, anti-aliasing, and true bold/italic support.

Choose a version Pick your version below, then grab the matching file.

Quick answer

Which Fontsys release should I use?

Updated today
Latest stable file Fontsys 1.1.0
Game version 26.3
Loader Fabric

Fontsys 1.1.0 targets 26.3 with Fabric. The project page does not say whether this file belongs on the client, dedicated server, or both. All 1 required mods have matching files.

Where it goes

Is Fontsys required on the client, server, or both?

The project page does not say whether this file belongs on the client, dedicated server, or both.

Client Source doesn’t say
Dedicated server Source doesn’t say
Loader for this release Fabric
Required install it here Optional supported, not mandatory Not supported do not install here Source doesn’t say do not assume

The source does not explicitly classify this release as client-only or server-only.

What else does Fontsys 1.1.0 need?

Fontsys 1.1.0. Change the file and its required mods may change too.

All 1 required mods have matching files

Install Fabric API first. We found matching files for this game-version and loader setup. 1 comes through another mod in the chain.

2 listed on this file 1 pulled in by one of those mods
Mod Menu Optional for Fontsys 1.1.0
optional
Matching file found Matched file: v21.0.1 for 26.3
Fabric API Needed by Fontsys 1.1.0
required
Matching file found Matched file: [26.3] Fabric API 0.166.2+26.3

1 extra mod was pulled in by another dependency. Indented rows show who needs each one. We only count dependency files that match this setup. A file for another loader does not fill the gap.

Before you install it

Add Fontsys without breaking your instance.

Built for Fontsys 1.1.0. Pick another file and the loader, install side or required mods may change.

  1. 01

    Stick to this file

    Use Fontsys 1.1.0. It targets 26.3 with Fabric; another release may have different loader, side or dependency requirements.

  2. 02

    Bring the mods it needs

    Install Fabric API first. We found matching files for this game-version and loader setup. 1 comes through another mod in the chain.

  3. 03

    Put it on the correct side

    The project page does not say whether this file belongs on the client, dedicated server, or both.

  4. 04

    Pick the file you checked

    Use the “Get this file” button beside Fontsys 1.1.0. It opens that exact file at the source.

About this project

What does Fontsys add?

Pick any font installed on your computer and Minecraft uses it for all of its text: menus, HUD, chat, tooltips, signs, books, name tags and text displays.

Features

  • Every installed font. Fontsys lists every font on your computer, including the faces inside .ttc collections (most macOS system fonts) and the named weights of variable fonts such as Segoe UI Variable, SF Pro and Inter.
  • Real bold and italic. Bold and italic text uses the font's own Bold, Italic and Bold Italic faces, the way a word processor does, instead of Minecraft's doubled-up bold and slant. Server rank tags and chat formatting look clean and solid.
  • Fonts just for this instance. Drag font files onto the settings screen, or put them in the instance's fonts folder (the Fonts folder button opens it), and they're listed alongside your system fonts, without installing them on your computer.
  • Live preview. See the font with chat, tooltip, sign, bold and italic samples before anything changes, side by side with the next size down and up. Click a size to use it.
  • Quick to find. Press F7 to open the settings. The search box is ready to type in, and the fonts you used last are listed first.
  • One click, no restart. Apply the font and it's used everywhere straight away.
  • Can't get stuck. You have 30 seconds to confirm a new font, or it switches back on its own. The confirmation dialog shows your new font in sample text, look-alike characters, chat, a sign and a tooltip, while its own text and buttons stay in the normal Minecraft font, so you can read it whatever you picked.
  • Fine-tuning. Adjust size, sharpness and baseline offset.
  • Crisp pixel fonts. Turn on Crisp edges and pixel-style fonts get hard, square pixels with no smoothing, like Minecraft's own font. The preview spots pixel fonts and suggests it.
  • Works with Sodium and Iris. Fontsys uses Minecraft's own font renderer, so it works alongside them and on both OpenGL and Vulkan.
  • Client-only. Servers don't need it. Server resource packs keep their custom HUD icons.
  • Your fonts stay where they are. Fontsys reads fonts from where your system keeps them. It never bundles font files and makes no network connections. The only copy it makes is when you drop a font onto the settings screen, into the instance's fonts folder.

How to use

  1. Install Fabric Loader and Fabric API, then drop the Fontsys jar into your mods folder.
  2. Open the settings with F7, from Fontsys Settings… in Options → Language → Font Settings, or from Mod Menu.
  3. Search for a font, pick a style, check the preview and press Apply. Press Enter or Keep changes to keep it.
  4. Reset to vanilla switches back to the normal font at any time.
  5. Fonts folder opens this instance's fonts folder. Fonts you put there are listed with an Instance tag.

Supported systems

  • Windows 11 and macOS: supported.
  • Linux: best effort. Standard font folders and Flatpak launchers; tested on Ubuntu 26.04.

Known limitations

  • Complex scripts such as Arabic and Devanagari don't render correctly. Minecraft doesn't join or reorder glyphs, whatever font is used.
  • Color emoji fonts can't be used, because Minecraft's text renderer is grayscale. They're hidden unless you turn on Show hidden fonts.
  • Symbol fonts such as Wingdings are never listed, because Minecraft can't draw them.
  • Fonts without a Bold or Italic face: bold text is thickened by FreeType, as word processors do; italic text uses Minecraft's slant. The preview shows which applies.
  • Text far away in the world (signs, name tags) can look thin at a distance. Minecraft's glyph atlas has no mipmaps; built-in fonts behave the same.
  • Large text sizes can be clipped in tight spots such as buttons and the scoreboard. Lower the size if that happens.
  • Other font mods: if Caxton, Font, FontSwap or Modern UI is installed, Fontsys turns itself off and tells you, rather than fighting over the font.

Source and issues

Fontsys is open source under the MIT license: github.com/jekitchen/mc-fontsys. Please report problems in the issue tracker. If Fontsys is useful to you, you can buy me a coffee.

Project description from CurseForge.

Pick your setup

Fontsys by Minecraft version and loader

Choose the version and loader you play, then open the matching release.

1 available setups

Check the dependencies, then try the file in a copied instance before changing a world you care about.

Recent files

Fontsys versions and loaders

3 of 3 releases match

Looking for an older file? The official CurseForge project page is in Resources.