Removing foreign language fonts

Anonymous
2009-10-30T16:13:49+00:00

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.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Accessibility

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Anonymous
2009-12-05T14:33:12+00:00

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

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-05-23T17:25:52+00:00

    So ... six years later ... we still can't remove fonts for languages we don't use and never have any intention of using. In order to "protect" me from the horror of ever seeing a blank box where Thai text should be, I'm forced to page through dozens of unwanted, unneeded, useless fonts any time I use virtually any Windows program. And after six years, this still has not been dealt with.

    I'll take the risk of seeing an empty box instead of Thai text. I'm a strong person, I think I can handle it. For the love of all that's holy, unholy, or indifferent, I just want to be able to pick a font of my choice for a layout without having to page through dozens and dozens of ones for alphabets I can't read for languages I probably don't even know exist.

    Microsoft used to be "You know what you're doing; we'll give you the tools to do it." Now it's like Apple: "We know what's best for you, and we'll force you to do it that way even if you mistakenly think you want something different than what we've chosen for you, because you're not smart enough to make any decisions for yourself."

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-05-23T18:56:39+00:00

    Thanks for an articulate complaint about a hideous nightmare that enrages me daily.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-05-23T19:27:25+00:00

    I agree on all three counts: An articulate complaint, a hideous nightmare, and enrages me daily.

    I recently purchased a subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud, and have added about 20 fonts to my library--which can mean anywhere from 4-8 additional fonts each. Now scrolling through the unwanted fonts is even more troublesome because my list of "wanted fonts" is substantially longer.

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-05-24T06:29:33+00:00

    Hi, Worldwalker.

    If you upgrade to Windows 10, I think you'll find we've gone in a direction you'll appreciate. Most of the non-Latin fonts have been moved into optional features.

    If you enable a language — Thai, say — by adding it to your user profile (same as enabling a keyboard), then it will automatically install the optional fonts for you; and you can pick any of the optional packages manually. But you don't have to do any of those things. And if you don't, then you'll have about 230 MB less in fonts than you would have in earlier versions.

    For more details, see this post: Some fonts are missing after upgrade.

    I hope that's useful info.

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