How to Install Microsoft Fonts on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04
If you’re swapping between Windows and Ubuntu, the missing “Calibri” and “Times New Roman” can feel like an invisible wall. This guide shows how to get those classic Microsoft fonts on both 22.04 LTS and 20.04 LTS without turning your system into a font‑flooded mess.
Why You Might Need Microsoft Fonts
I once had a colleague send me a Word doc that looked fine on Windows but turned every heading into a squashed block of nonsense on my Ubuntu laptop. That’s when I realized the document relied on Calibri and Cambria, fonts that aren’t shipped with Linux by default. If you use Office files, PDFs from corporate clients, or just want to keep your desktop design consistent, installing Microsoft fonts is worth the effort.
Quick Install via Software Center
1. Open “Ubuntu Software.”
The GUI keeps you away from messy apt commands if you’re not comfortable with a terminal.
2. Search for “ttf-mscorefonts-installer”.
That package pulls in the core Microsoft TrueType fonts (Arial, Times New Roman, Verdana).
3. Click Install and accept the license terms when prompted.
The installer downloads the actual font files from Microsoft’s servers; you can’t skip that step.
When the install finishes, restart any applications that were open so they can pick up the new fonts.
Manual Install Using ttf‑mscorefonts‑installer
If you prefer the command line or need a more granular setup:
sudo apt update sudo apt install ttf-mscorefonts-installer
During installation, the license dialog will appear in your terminal. Type y and press Enter to accept.
Using apt ensures you get the latest stable package from Ubuntu’s repositories, and it automatically resolves dependencies like fontconfig.
Adding Office‑Only Fonts (Cambria, etc.)
The default installer won’t give you every Office font. For the extra ones:
1. Download the Microsoft fonts bundle from the official Microsoft site or a reputable mirror.
The bundled ZIP contains OTF files that aren’t in the Debian package.
2. Extract the zip to ~/Downloads/microsoft_fonts.
3. Copy them into your user’s font directory:
mkdir -p ~/.fonts cp ~/Downloads/microsoft_fonts/*.otf ~/.fonts/
4. Refresh the font cache:
fc-cache -f
Placing fonts in ~/.fonts keeps them isolated to your user account, preventing conflicts with system‑wide fonts.
Fixing Font Conflicts After Installation
Sometimes installing new fonts can cause “broken” icons or mis‑rendered text. If that happens:
sudo apt install --reinstall fontconfig fc-cache -fv
Reinstalling fontconfig clears any stale configuration, and the force‑refresh (-f) forces a full rebuild of the cache.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
| Symptom | Fix |
|---|---|
| Fonts not showing in LibreOffice | Ensure you’re using the updated font config: sudo dpkg-reconfigure fontconfig-config |
| “Font not found” errors after update | Re‑install the Microsoft fonts package or delete stale cache files in /var/cache/fontconfig/ |
| System slowdown due to many fonts | Use sudo apt install --purge ttf-mscorefonts-installer if you no longer need them, then run fc-cache -f |
I’ve seen this happen after a major update where the font config package was removed by mistake. A quick purge and reinstall usually fixes it.
Keep Your Fonts Organized
If you’re adding custom fonts later, keep them in ~/.fonts/local/. This keeps your home folder tidy and makes it easier to delete or update fonts without touching system files.
Enjoy the extra typographic freedom—now every document will look exactly as intended. Cheers, and enjoy your new fonts.
