How to Add or Delete Fonts in DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve does not manage fonts in the same way it manages effects, LUTs, transitions, or media files. In most cases, Resolve reads the fonts installed on your operating system, which means adding or removing a font for Resolve is really a matter of installing or deleting it in Windows, macOS, or Linux. Once the font is available to the system, it should appear inside Resolve’s text tools, including Text and Text+.

Understanding How Fonts Work in DaVinci Resolve

Before adding or deleting anything, it is important to understand a key point: DaVinci Resolve does not have a dedicated font installation folder for ordinary fonts. Unlike some plugins or media assets, fonts are not usually imported directly into the Resolve interface. Instead, the application scans the fonts available to your operating system and makes them accessible through text controls.

This applies whether you are using the free version of DaVinci Resolve or DaVinci Resolve Studio. The process is essentially the same: install the font properly at the system level, then reopen Resolve. If the font is valid and compatible, it should appear in the font dropdown menu.

Resolve commonly works with standard font formats such as:

• TTF — TrueType Font, widely supported and commonly used.
• OTF — OpenType Font, also widely supported and often preferred for professional typography.
• TTC — TrueType Collection, less common but supported by many operating systems.

Fonts downloaded from reputable foundries are generally reliable. Fonts from unknown sources can cause missing characters, incorrect spacing, crashes, or licensing problems, so they should be handled carefully.

How to Add Fonts to DaVinci Resolve on Windows

On Windows, adding a font for use in DaVinci Resolve is straightforward. The font must first be installed in the operating system.

1. Download the font file from a trusted source. Make sure the file is in a supported format such as .ttf or .otf.
2. If the font is inside a ZIP archive, extract the folder first. Do not install directly from inside the compressed file.
3. Right-click the font file and choose Install or Install for all users.
4. If prompted, approve the installation with administrator permission.
5. Close DaVinci Resolve completely if it is already open.
6. Reopen Resolve and go to the Edit, Cut, or Fusion page.
7. Add a text title, open the Inspector, and check the font dropdown menu.

Using Install for all users is often the better option on shared workstations or professional systems. It places the font in a location that is available to all accounts and can reduce permission-related problems.

If the font does not appear immediately, restart the computer. Windows usually updates its font list quickly, but professional applications sometimes need a fresh session before they recognize newly installed typefaces.

How to Add Fonts to DaVinci Resolve on macOS

On macOS, fonts are managed primarily through Font Book, Apple’s built-in font management application. This is the safest and most organized way to install fonts for DaVinci Resolve.

1. Download the font file from a reliable source.
2. Double-click the .ttf or .otf file.
3. Font Book will open a preview window.
4. Click Install Font.
5. Watch for any warnings about duplicates or validation issues.
6. Quit and reopen DaVinci Resolve.
7. Check the font list in the Inspector after adding a text element.

Font Book may mark a font as problematic if it detects duplicate files, corruption, or compatibility concerns. Do not ignore these warnings on professional projects. A defective font may seem harmless, but it can cause rendering inconsistencies, missing glyphs, or layout shifts when a project is opened on another machine.

macOS also allows fonts to be installed for a single user or for all users. For most individual editors, the default user installation is sufficient. In studio environments, a managed system-wide font workflow is usually more reliable.

How to Add Fonts to DaVinci Resolve on Linux

Linux users can add fonts to DaVinci Resolve by installing them into the appropriate font directory. The exact method depends on the distribution, but the general process is consistent.

1. Download a supported font file such as .ttf or .otf.
2. Create a user font folder if it does not already exist: ~/.local/share/fonts.
3. Copy the font files into that folder.
4. Refresh the font cache by running: fc-cache -fv.
5. Restart DaVinci Resolve.
6. Check the font menu in the text controls.

For system-wide installation, fonts may be placed in directories such as /usr/local/share/fonts, but administrator privileges are usually required. On production systems, it is best to document where fonts are installed so projects can be reproduced later without confusion.

Where to Find Fonts Inside DaVinci Resolve

After installation, fonts are usually selected from the Inspector. The exact location depends on which type of text element you are using.

• Basic Text Title: Go to the Edit page, drag a text title onto the timeline, select it, and open the Inspector. The font dropdown appears under text settings.
• Text+ Title: Add a Text+ title, open the Inspector, and choose the font from the text controls. Text+ uses Fusion-based tools and offers more advanced styling options.
• Fusion Page: Add a Text+ node, select it, and use the font controls in the Inspector.

If you are working on precise motion graphics, Text+ is often the better choice. It provides more control over shading, layout, animation, and compositing. However, for simple lower thirds or captions, the standard Text title may be sufficient.

How to Delete Fonts from DaVinci Resolve

Because DaVinci Resolve uses system fonts, deleting a font from Resolve means removing or disabling it from your operating system. There is no reliable built-in Resolve button for deleting a font from the font menu.

Deleting Fonts on Windows

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Personalization, then Fonts.
3. Search for the font you want to remove.
4. Select the font family.
5. Click Uninstall if the option is available.
6. Restart DaVinci Resolve.

Some fonts are protected system fonts and cannot be removed easily. Avoid forcing the deletion of system fonts, as this can affect Windows, other applications, and project compatibility.

Deleting Fonts on macOS

1. Open Font Book.
2. Find the font or font family you want to remove.
3. Right-click it and choose Remove, or disable it if you may need it later.
4. Confirm the action.
5. Restart DaVinci Resolve.

In many cases, disabling a font is safer than deleting it. Disabling removes the font from active application menus without permanently removing the file. This is useful when troubleshooting font conflicts or cleaning up an overly long font list.

Deleting Fonts on Linux

1. Locate the font file in your user or system font directory.
2. Remove the file from the directory.
3. Run fc-cache -fv to rebuild the font cache.
4. Restart DaVinci Resolve.

As with Windows and macOS, be careful not to remove system fonts unless you are certain they are not required. A conservative approach is always preferable on a workstation used for client work.

What to Do If a Font Does Not Appear in Resolve

Occasionally, a font may be installed correctly but still fail to appear in DaVinci Resolve. This can happen for several reasons. Work through the following checks methodically:

• Restart Resolve: The application may not refresh the font list while it is open.
• Restart the computer: This can resolve operating system font cache delays.
• Check the font format: Use standard TTF or OTF files whenever possible.
• Look for font family grouping: Some fonts appear under a family name rather than the individual file name.
• Validate the font: On macOS, use Font Book validation. On Windows, try previewing the font before installation.
• Check duplicate fonts: Duplicate versions can cause confusion or prevent the expected style from loading.
• Test another application: If the font does not appear in a word processor or design program, the issue is probably system-level, not Resolve-specific.

Also remember that some fonts contain limited character sets. A font may appear to work but fail to display accented characters, symbols, or non-Latin scripts. For multilingual projects, choose fonts with complete language support and test them before delivery.

Managing Fonts for Professional Projects

Good font management is not only about installation. It is also about consistency, licensing, and long-term project reliability. If a project is opened on another computer without the required fonts, titles may change appearance or default to a different typeface. This can affect spacing, line breaks, brand compliance, and overall design quality.

For professional work, follow these practices:

• Keep a project font folder with licensed font files or clear documentation of where they came from.
• Record font names and versions in project notes, especially for brand-sensitive work.
• Avoid unlicensed fonts, particularly in commercial videos, advertisements, and broadcast deliverables.
• Use consistent font versions across all editing stations.
• Export reference stills of important title frames so typography can be verified later.

If you are handing off a DaVinci Resolve project, do not assume fonts will travel automatically with the project archive. A Resolve project file can preserve text settings, but it does not necessarily package and install fonts on the recipient’s computer. The receiving system must have the same fonts installed for the design to match accurately.

When You Should Not Delete a Font

Deleting fonts can make your font menu cleaner, but it can also create problems. Do not remove a font if it is used in current projects, required by a client’s brand guidelines, installed by essential software, or part of the operating system. If you are uncertain, disable the font instead of deleting it, or move a backup copy to a clearly labeled archive folder.

Be especially cautious with projects that may need revisions months later. A title sequence that looks correct today may not render identically in the future if the original font has been deleted or replaced with a newer version. In serious post-production environments, typography should be treated with the same discipline as footage, audio, color settings, and project files.

Final Recommendations

Adding fonts to DaVinci Resolve is simple once you understand that the process happens through the operating system, not through Resolve itself. Install the font on Windows, macOS, or Linux, restart Resolve, and select the typeface from the text controls. To delete fonts, remove or disable them through your system font manager, then reopen Resolve to refresh the list.

For casual editing, this workflow is usually enough. For professional work, however, font management deserves more care. Use reputable font sources, respect licensing terms, document the typefaces used in each project, and keep backups where permitted. With a disciplined approach, you can avoid missing fonts, inconsistent titles, and last-minute delivery problems in DaVinci Resolve.