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Preview, add, or replace missing fonts

Learn how to add missing fonts from Adobe Fonts or replace them with other available fonts.

Note:

By updating to Illustrator 29.3, you can preview missing fonts without installing them on your computer or adding them from Adobe Fonts.

For font preview to work, your collaborator must embed fonts in the file by saving it with the option Embed permitted fonts for file preview or Create PDF Compatible File selected. They must update to Illustrator 29.3 to use Embed permitted fonts for file preview. Create PDF Compatible File is an existing default option now extended to support font embedding without your collaborator needing to update Illustrator or save the file again. However, this option may not embed all the permitted fonts.

Preview, add, or replace missing fonts

When you open a file containing missing fonts, you can preview them readily. To edit the text containing missing fonts, add them from Adobe Fonts or replace them with another font.

  1. Open the Illustrator file shared with you. If the file contains fonts missing in your Illustrator app, you get a Missing Fonts dialog with the list of missing fonts:

    • If you see a selected checkbox next to a font, it indicates that the font is available in Adobe Fonts.
    • If you see Preview only and a greyed-out checkbox next to a font, it indicates that the font isn't available in Adobe Fonts and can only be previewed.
    Missing Fonts dialog with a Preview only font and a font available in Adbe Fonts.
    Preview missing fonts, add them from Adobe Fonts, or replace them.

    Note:

    Some fonts may not be compatible with the preview capability even after updating to Illustrator 29.3. In this case, they will be automatically substituted with the default font and highlighted.

  2. Do one of the following:

    • Select Add Fonts to add the fonts available in Adobe Fonts to Illustrator. When added, the Creative Cloud desktop app displays a notification indicating the same.
    • Select Close to continue with the preview.
    • Select Replace Fonts to replace the missing fonts with another font from your file, a recently used font, or a font from your computer.
    Note:

    To add missing fonts from Adobe Fonts, ensure that you turn on Adobe Fonts in the Creative Cloud desktop app (Preferences > Services > Adobe Fonts).

Edit the text using the default font

Even if you chose not to add the missing fonts from Adobe Fonts or replace them, you can edit the text containing them.

  1. Double-click the text containing the missing fonts.

  2. Select Edit in the warning message. Illustrator will substitute the missing fonts with the default font and highlight the text.

  3. Edit the text.

Remove the text highlight

If you don't want Illustrator to highlight the text containing the substitute font, do the following:

  1. Navigate to Edit > Preferences > Type (Windows) or Illustrator > Settings > Type (macOS).

  2. Deselect Highlight Substituted Fonts.

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