Removing foreign language fonts

Anonymous

Does anyone know of a way to remove the many foreign language fonts from Windows 7? There wasn't an option to exclude them during setup. I've tried deleting them, but Windows tells me that they are system fonts which cannot be deleted. I've also tried "Hiding" them, but they still show up in the font list in Office and other programs. All I want and need are the basic English language fonts. Having to wade through dozens of useless (to me) fonts is a major annoyance. There should be a way to exclude them from my system if I don't need them.

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Anonymous

Hello mcbarker69,

The reason that I did not know the fonts in question is because no particular fonts were mentioned, and I had gone into fonts and removed a couple foreign fonts with no problem. However that being said, in order to remove the fonts that are being referred to follow these steps:

Take ownership of the file:

- Click Start Orb > type fonts in the search box > click Fonts

- Right-click the font > click Properties - Click Security tab > click Advanced - Click Owner > click Edit - Select your Username > click OK

Click OK on the Windows Security box

Change Permissions of the file:

- Click Permissions > click Change Permissions

- Select your Username > click Edit

- Checkmark Allow for Full control

- Click OK - Click OK

Click Yes on the Windows Security box

- Click OK

You will need to remember the names of your font(s) that you want to delete.

Delete the file:

Will need to start Safe mode with command prompt

Restart your computer and tap F-8 continually, this will bring you to your Advanced Boot Options, select Safe mode with command prompt.

Once you have booted:

In command prompt navigate to fonts:

- type cd c:\windows\fonts > press enter

- type del "font name" > press enter *Do not use the quotes around the font name

This should bring you back to a clean prompt.

Once you are finished > Ctrl+Alt+Del > select restart from the arrow in the bottom right corner of your screen and start Windows normally.

Hope this helps

As the Windows Security box states; this could cause Windows to act differently. Make sure you know which fonts you are removing and that Windows does not need them before you remove any protected system fonts. This could cause many complications with your installation of Windows.

Chris.H

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

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133 additional answers

Anonymous

2013-03-02T18:56:29+00:00

As the Windows Security box states; this could cause Windows to act differently. Make sure you know which fonts you are removing and that Windows does not need them before you remove any protected system fonts. This could cause many complications with your installation of Windows.

For the record, for anyone thinking of trying this out: I did a test of these instructions, changing permissions and deleting just one Arabic system-protected font. However, after doing so, I was unable to launch Adobe Photoshop Elements 9. Apparently, the hooks between the PSE font list and the system fonts are deep. I tried reinstalling the font, but PSE still crashed. I had to do a system restore to get everything back to normal. I did not try launching any other applications after PSE crashed, so I don't know whether Word, Excel, etc. would be affected. But since I use PSE every day, the fact that it was affected was enough to curb my enthusiasm for trying any more tricks.

I appreciate that Microsoft's engineers have responded to the complaints in this forum. However, these issues now go back several years. I am using Win 8 and NOTHING has changed from Win 7 to make it possible to only display those fonts that the user needs. From a programming standpoint, this should not be a big deal to accomplish. But MS has chosen to ignore the suggestions from so many users on this topic. Not very encouraging.
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Anonymous

2013-03-02T19:06:53+00:00

does anyone know if Microsoft solved the can't font delete problem in windows 8? Or at least does hidden mean hidden so the fonts wont show up in adobe Photoshop? I will buy it if they did.

Windows 8 does not resolve the problems described in this forum. You're still stuck with unwanted system-protected fonts. When I tried deleting one of these fonts as a test, by changing permissions on the file as described elsewhere in this forum, I could delete the font, but then Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 would crash on launch. Had to do a system restore to get back to normal.

Also, selecting "Hidden" attribute doesn't do anything to eliminate them from font lists. But in Adobe PSE, most of the non-Latin fonts are separately grouped at the bottom of the font drop-down list. So at least in that program, the unwanted fonts are somewhat out of the way. But in Word and most other programs, all the non-Latin fonts are mixed in alphabetically with the rest.
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Anonymous

2013-03-25T04:19:37+00:00

Chris,

This is an infuriating problem and you insult us explaining the difference between right click and double click. Oh that just burns me. I need to get all these foreign fonts out and I need to know which ones are TRULY being used by the system. I bet none. My fonts will not allow me to transfer full permission from trusted installer to me, the administrator. I rue the day I ever got Windows 8 instead of Mac.

Carol Dwyer
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