Want to add a personal touch to your documents or social posts? With iOS 13 and later, including the iPhone SE 2020, you can install and use custom fonts in supported apps. Whether you’re writing in Notes, Pages, or designing something in Adobe, custom fonts can give your work a unique edge.
Here’s a quick and easy guide to get you started.
What You Need to Know First
- Custom fonts only work in supported apps like Pages, Mail, Keynote, Word, and others.
- Fonts can be installed via the App Store, fonts manager, or within third-party apps.
- You’ll manage all installed fonts under Settings > General > Fonts.
How to Download and Install Fonts from the App Store
- Open the App Store on your iPhone SE.
- Search for a fonts app like Fonts, iFont, or Font Diner.
- Tap Get and install your chosen app.
- Open the app and follow the prompts to download and install new fonts.
Some apps may require a profile to be installed via Settings to activate fonts.
How to Use Custom Fonts in Supported Apps
Let’s try it using the Notes app:
- Open the Fonts app you downloaded.
- Select a font and copy it to your clipboard (if applicable).
- Open the Notes app and start a new note.
- Paste the copied font or type using the custom keyboard provided by the fonts app.
If the font appears correctly, it works with Notes. You can test other apps like Messages, Pages, or Instagram captions.
Use Fonts Directly in iWork Apps (Pages, Keynote, Numbers)
- Open Pages or any iWork app.
- Start a new document.
- Tap the brush icon at the top toolbar.
- Tap the current font name to open the font list.
- Scroll and select from the installed fonts.
This is the native way to use full-featured fonts in professional documents.
View All Installed Fonts in iOS Settings
- Go to Settings > General > Fonts.
- Tap on any font to preview its style and metadata.
This is also where you can delete fonts if you no longer need them.
Tips and Notes
- Fonts won’t appear in every app. Make sure the app supports iOS’s font API.
- Some font apps include custom keyboards — these allow you to use fonts in places like Messages or Instagram.
- Adobe and Microsoft apps tend to offer their own font management too.