As a Linux user, you may have encountered documents or webpages that don‘t render properly because they use Microsoft fonts that are not included in Linux by default. This can lead to a less than ideal viewing experience. Fortunately, there is an easy way to install Microsoft fonts on Linux – the ttf-mscorefonts-installer package.
What is ttf-mscorefonts-installer?
ttf-mscorefonts-installer is a package in Debian-based Linux distributions that allows you to easily download and install Microsoft‘s TrueType core fonts. These include popular fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, Courier New, Georgia, Verdana and others that are commonly used in documents, presentations and webpages.
Key Benefits
- Makes Microsoft fonts available for use in Linux applications like LibreOffice
- Improves cross-platform document compatibility
- Enhances rendering of webpages designed using Microsoft fonts
- Easy automated installation with one command
Fonts Included
Here is the complete list of Microsoft fonts installed by ttf-mscorefonts-installer:
- Andale Mono
- Arial (Bold, Italic, Bold Italic)
- Arial Black
- Comic Sans MS (Bold)
- Courier New (Bold, Italic, Bold Italic)
- Georgia (Bold, Italic, Bold Italic)
- Impact
- Times New Roman (Bold, Italic, Bold Italic)
- Trebuchet MS (Bold, Italic, Bold Italic)
- Verdana (Bold, Italic, Bold Italic)
- Webdings
How to Install Microsoft Fonts using ttf-mscorefonts-installer
Installing Microsoft fonts via ttf-mscorefonts-installer is very simple:
- Open the terminal in your Linux distribution
- Run the command:
sudo apt install ttf-mscorefonts-installer - Accept the EULA license agreement when prompted
- Run
sudo fc-cache -f -vto refresh the font cache
That‘s it! The Microsoft fonts will now be available system-wide for use in any application.
Verifying the Installation
You can verify that the fonts installed properly by running:
fc-list | grep Micro
This will display all Microsoft fonts now available on your system.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Some users may encounter issues during installation, such as download failures or license agreement errors. Here are some troubleshooting tips:
404 Download Failure
This is caused by a bug in the apt-helper download process. To work around it:
- Manually download the .deb package using wget:
wget http://ftp.de.debian.org/debian/pool/contrib/m/msttcorefonts/ttf-mscorefonts-installer_3.7_all.deb -P ~/Downloads - Install the package:
sudo apt install ~/Downloads/ttf-mscorefonts-installer_3.7_all.deb
EULA Agreement Error
If you accidentally dismissed the license agreement, reinstall the package:
sudo apt install --reinstall ttf-mscorefonts-installer
And make sure to accept the EULA this time when prompted.
Closing Thoughts
Installing Microsoft TrueType fonts on Linux is a breeze with ttf-mscorefonts-installer. After following this guide, your documents, presentations and web browsing will have improved font consistency and compatibility. No more unknown replacement fonts.
I hope you found this comprehensive overview helpful. Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions!