Database Users

[HOW-TO] Change Galaxy Tab system font without FontFlip

Being one to never stop changing the look of any of my Android devices I wondered how to change the system font on my Tab. First result was the ability right within the system settings app itself, but more clicking on "Get more fonts" ended up with only pay options. My Tab is rooted with z4 so I though why not see if I can just swap out the files. A simple install of Root Explorer and some file renaming later I had a new font installed on my Tab that even sticks through reboot. Here is how I did it (quite simple really):
Requirements:
- A Galaxy Tab of course, rooted
- Root Explorer, paid market app or other means if you are so inclined
- Your new font in TrueType format on your sdcard with the needed ttf's for regular and bold (eg YourFont-R.ttf and YourFont-B.ttf, etc)
Steps:
1 - Using root explorer, navigate to /system/font and rename DroidSans.ttf and DroidSans-Bold.ttf (I just append ORIG to them)
2 - Still in that directory click the button "Mount as r/w" just under the notify bar on your screen
3 - Navigate back to where your new font is and copy the regular and bold ttf files to /system/fonts
4 - Rename each ttf file as DroidSans.ttf for regular fonts and DroidSans-Bold.ttf for bold fonts
5 - Go to Settings > Display > Set Font and set if to Default
NOTE If Default is already your selected font, select another font and apply then reselect Default and apply and your new font should be visible.
Your new font should now be used as the on screen display font. For reference my Tab is a Bell version and I used the attached font (Ubuntu font) as my new font.
Hope this helps some people.
Cheers

Thanks! Will try this out on my Sprint Tab later.

Any luck finding a way to do it without actually replacing the font? Surely if it allows market download of fonts then you can just add new ones and update some list somewhere...
Sent from my GT-P1000 using Tapatalk

alias_neo said:
Any luck finding a way to do it without actually replacing the font? Surely if it allows market download of fonts then you can just add new ones and update some list somewhere...
Sent from my GT-P1000 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't fully replace the original font as I renamed the original files. This is the way I was able to use the built in font switching tool without spending money on font packs. Only drawback for me is that the font list will only ever be 2 fonts for me, Default and Helvetica Neue Something. I originally changed it as I really like the Ubuntu font on my Desire and wanted to sue it on the Tab.

Or just grab any font apk from this thread!

alias_neo said:
Any luck finding a way to do it without actually replacing the font? Surely if it allows market download of fonts then you can just add new ones and update some list somewhere...
Sent from my GT-P1000 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Create a new folder on sdcard (fonts) under that folder create 2 more 1) original 2) custom fonts or (what ever fonts u r using) go back to system/fonts and copy the original and save them on sdcard/original now download the fonts to (custom folder created)
Copy the fonts go to system/fonts and paste (Before you do this write the permissions )
After you paste change the permissions and you are done
Now go to display / fonts and/ change them to default
Happy fonting lol

bluemonde said:
Create a new folder on sdcard (fonts) under that folder create 2 more 1) original 2) custom fonts or (what ever fonts u r using) go back to system/fonts and copy the original and save them on sdcard/original now download the fonts to (custom folder created)
Copy the fonts go to system/fonts and paste (Before you do this write the permissions )
After you paste change the permissions and you are done
Now go to display / fonts and/ change them to default
Happy fonting lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure I follow your explanation here. Is there a way to just add fonts to the font folder and they show up?

Uprightmusic said:
I'm not sure I follow your explanation here. Is there a way to just add fonts to the font folder and they show up?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi the option to paste the font folder seems lost when I am opening the sd card ? Which program are you using to paste it into? Also I tried the first suggestion, renaming the fonts, but it says ...system file is read only? Your help is much appreciated.
Many thanks Devarsi

Hi the option to paste the font folder seems lost when I am opening the sd card ? Which program are you using to paste it into? Also I tried the first suggestion, renaming the fonts, but it says ...system file is read only? Your help is much appreciated.
Many thanks Devarsi
[/B]
bluemonde said:
Create a new folder on sdcard (fonts) under that folder create 2 more 1) original 2) custom fonts or (what ever fonts u r using) go back to system/fonts and copy the original and save them on sdcard/original now download the fonts to (custom folder created)
Copy the fonts go to system/fonts and paste (Before you do this write the permissions )
After you paste change the permissions and you are done
Now go to display / fonts and/ change them to default
Happy fonting lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

DAMN I forgot to change back the permission and now my Tab is looping boot.. AARRGGHHH

heavylildude said:
DAMN I forgot to change back the permission and now my Tab is looping boot.. AARRGGHHH
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Boot into recovery and reflash your rom/kernel.

Tray this one, it's simple
using apk font
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=12927086&postcount=6

[Q] root - change font jelly bean 4.2

Which app you recommend to do this?

Anyone??

I'd like to know as well
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium

Font Installer, which is also part of ROM toolkit, has always worked for me to change system fonts.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jrummy.liberty.toolbox&hl=en
Edit - It's come to my attention the above method is not ideal, yet.
Phil

^ thank God I made a nandroid back up right before I did it... Caused the phone to no longer boot, even after wiping caches
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium

Nooo don't use any of the font installer app(s) just yet! most, if not all of them would cause your phone to be stuck in " X " loading animation.
I had to learn it the hard way, lol. ( I forgot to make a nandroid backup beforehand. >_< )

Good to know if you guys find any app that works please let know!

You can install fonts manually in the system/fonts folder but it takes time...
you need to find a font that has all the different font "states" (light, bold,
italic, condensed/ all combinations of these) and should be in .ttf format
*I used the Ubuntu font family*
So here's what you need to do:
1. Make a nandroid ! FIRST !
2. Download your font
3. Use a root browser and find system/fonts
4. Locate the main fonts the system uses (ICS & JB use roboto)
5. Write down all the font state names that begin with roboto (ie roboto-italic)
6. Rename the font states from your downloaded font to the corresponding roboto
font states (ie font-italic to roboto-italic) *Capitalization Matters*
7. Paste all renamed font states in system/fonts
8. Set permissions for each pasted font state (644 / rw-r--r--)
9. Boot into recovery and wipe cache/dalvik & fix permissions
10. Reboot and enjoy!
This method will use your font for most of the text in your phone although
there will be some apps that have their own fonts and/or uses a font from the
system that (currently) cannot be changed.

I want to use zekton font but I think it is just regular. Help

Where did you download ubuntu from?
blazefury said:
You can install fonts manually in the system/fonts folder but it takes time...
you need to find a font that has all the different font "states" (light, bold,
italic, condensed/ all combinations of these) and should be in .ttf format
*I used the Ubuntu font family*
So here's what you need to do:
1. Make a nandroid ! FIRST !
2. Download your font
3. Use a root browser and find system/fonts
4. Locate the main fonts the system uses (ICS & JB use roboto)
5. Write down all the font state names that begin with roboto (ie roboto-italic)
6. Rename the font states from your downloaded font to the corresponding roboto
font states (ie font-italic to roboto-italic) *Capitalization Matters*
7. Paste all renamed font states in system/fonts
8. Set permissions for each pasted font state (644 / rw-r--r--)
9. Boot into recovery and wipe cache/dalvik & fix permissions
10. Reboot and enjoy!
This method will use your font for most of the text in your phone although
there will be some apps that have their own fonts and/or uses a font from the
system that (currently) cannot be changed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where did you download ubuntu from? I have them in my ICS CM9 ROM.

You helped me get rid of the ugly, boring JB system font!
blazefury said:
You can install fonts manually in the system/fonts folder but it takes time...
you need to find a font that has all the different font "states" (light, bold,
italic, condensed/ all combinations of these) and should be in .ttf format
*I used the Ubuntu font family*
So here's what you need to do:
1. Make a nandroid ! FIRST !
2. Download your font
3. Use a root browser and find system/fonts
4. Locate the main fonts the system uses (ICS & JB use roboto)
5. Write down all the font state names that begin with roboto (ie roboto-italic)
6. Rename the font states from your downloaded font to the corresponding roboto
font states (ie font-italic to roboto-italic) *Capitalization Matters*
7. Paste all renamed font states in system/fonts
8. Set permissions for each pasted font state (644 / rw-r--r--)
9. Boot into recovery and wipe cache/dalvik & fix permissions
10. Reboot and enjoy!
This method will use your font for most of the text in your phone although
there will be some apps that have their own fonts and/or uses a font from the
system that (currently) cannot be changed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks!
I used the above above method in my Note's PA 2.99 installation to get my favorite system font (Rehotalko) in. Worked like a charm, and I didn't have to wipe any caches. Also, I did the permissions on the fonts after reboot, using Root Explorer. No hiccoughs at all.
It was a little fiddly editing 12 fonts to match the Roboto set so their properties would be correct (see http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1952886 ), but it was worth it!:good::laugh:

Change Stock Arabic Font

Hello guys
As we all know, Samsung uses the FlipFont library in system fonts, which provides a new way of font customizations. But in the same time, this library does not give us the benefit of having two desired fonts together (unless we build our custom font). Samsung has also replaced the stock Android ICS Arabic font with an ugly looking font type.
Samsung uses a system Arabic font stored within "/system/fonts" folder under the name of "GS45_Arab_AndroidOS" as their stock Arabic font, which is the classical font in even older Samsung phones.
Here, I am posting this thread to those people who would like to install their custom "English FlipFont" whether from the market or internet and in the same time want a permanent good Arabic font. This procedure needs root!
1- Choose a TTF font that you would like to use as Arabic font. In this tutorial, I have used the "Adobe Arabic" font. You can find it in the attachments.
2- Rename this file into "GS45_Arab_AndroidOS.ttf".
3- Copy this font into your mobile SD Card (whether internal or external).
4- Using a root explorer on the device, navigate to the font. Copy the font.
5- Navigate now to "/system/fonts" and paste the font there.
6- Fix file permissions into "rw-r--r--".
7- Reboot your device.
8- Enjoy!
Some TTF fonts may fail. If you have an Open-Type Font (OTF), you may use an online font converter to convert it to TTF.
Screenshots are provided.
I hope I could help

tried this without succes and then i tried to include the fonts before flashing the rom that works well.

Don_Zakaria said:
tried this without succes and then i tried to include the fonts before flashing the rom that works well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried the font included herein?
Some TTF fonts do not work. You should follow exactly the aforementioned steps.
What have you exactly done?

tweetatoo said:
Have you tried the font included herein?
Some TTF fonts do not work. You should follow exactly the aforementioned steps.
What have you exactly done?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i followed all the steps with the included font but the Original file seems to be read only so it can't be replaced. What i did is:
1. unpack the rom.zip
2. put the ttf in the fonts folder (system - fonts) -as you mentioned it has to be renamed into "GS45_Arab_AndroidOS.ttf"-
3. zipped it again.
4. flashed the rom

Don_Zakaria said:
i followed all the steps with the included font but the Original file seems to be read only so it can't be replaced. What i did is:
1. unpack the rom.zip
2. put the ttf in the fonts folder (system - fonts) -as you mentioned it has to be renamed into "GS45_Arab_AndroidOS.ttf"-
3. zipped it again.
4. flashed the rom
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why don't you just use Root Explorer? Just navigate to / System / fonts folder. Mount the folder as R/W and paste the file there. As simple as that!

tweetatoo said:
Why don't you just use Root Explorer? Just navigate to / System / fonts folder. Mount the folder as R/W and paste the file there. As simple as that!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's an easier way that's true but had to flash a new rom anyway.

Some fonts
tweetatoo if you don't mind here are some fonts already renamed. Those are much better than the default (ugly) one.

Don_Zakaria said:
tweetatoo if you don't mind here are some fonts already renamed. Those are much better than the default (ugly) one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wonderful collection
Thank you very much

tweetatoo said:
Wonderful collection
Thank you very much
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have actually applied all the steps mentioned by tweetatoo to install a new font instead of the default one shipped on Samsung Galaxy Note 2. In fact I couldn't paste the new font in /fonts/ directory since it is a system file that cannot be changed. I tried to change permissions of font directory, but still in vain. Therefore, pasting the new font which has the same name of the old one, could not be completed and no replacement of the old font with the new one has taken place.
Do you have any idea how I can allow pasting the new font in /fonts/ directory?
Many thanks.
T.

terryhenderson said:
I have actually applied all the steps mentioned by tweetatoo to install a new font instead of the default one shipped on Samsung Galaxy Note 2. In fact I couldn't paste the new font in /fonts/ directory since it is a system file that cannot be changed. I tried to change permissions of font directory, but still in vain. Therefore, pasting the new font which has the same name of the old one, could not be completed and no replacement of the old font with the new one has taken place.
Do you have any idea how I can allow pasting the new font in /fonts/ directory?
Many thanks.
T.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have root? Did you use root-mode in file explorer?

Chief_Death said:
Do you have root? Did you use root-mode in file explorer?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes of course, I use root explorer, otherwise how would I be able to get to /fonts/ directory?

It's very good ! Thanks very much !
i'll do it soon

terryhenderson said:
Yes of course, I use root explorer, otherwise how would I be able to get to /fonts/ directory?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Getting into a protected system folder does not need root actually. Any folder explorer can reach the topmost folder in the system. But writing to a system folder requires root permissions.
Use this root explorer: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.speedsoftware.rootexplorer&hl=en
Google for downloadable versions
Open this program, copy the font file, then navigate to /system/fonts/ folder. After that, you will find on the top side of the screen "Mount R/W". Click on it and paste now.
After that, reboot and enjoy

Is this applicable for Samsung only?
Sent from my LG-E975 using Tapatalk 2

Hi,
I followed your steps and used the file you attached and now all the arabic shows as rectangles. Any ideas? Also, could I have the original font back for now until I sort this out, its my mums phone and shes upset lol.
tweetatoo said:
Hello guys
As we all know, Samsung uses the FlipFont library in system fonts, which provides a new way of font customizations. But in the same time, this library does not give us the benefit of having two desired fonts together (unless we build our custom font). Samsung has also replaced the stock Android ICS Arabic font with an ugly looking font type.
Samsung uses a system Arabic font stored within "/system/fonts" folder under the name of "GS45_Arab_AndroidOS" as their stock Arabic font, which is the classical font in even older Samsung phones.
Here, I am posting this thread to those people who would like to install their custom "English FlipFont" whether from the market or internet and in the same time want a permanent good Arabic font. This procedure needs root!
1- Choose a TTF font that you would like to use as Arabic font. In this tutorial, I have used the "Adobe Arabic" font. You can find it in the attachments.
2- Rename this file into "GS45_Arab_AndroidOS.ttf".
3- Copy this font into your mobile SD Card (whether internal or external).
4- Using a root explorer on the device, navigate to the font. Copy the font.
5- Navigate now to "/system/fonts" and paste the font there.
6- Reboot your device.
7- Enjoy!
Some TTF fonts may fail. If you have an Open-Type Font (OTF), you may use an online font converter to convert it to TTF.
Screenshots are provided.
I hope I could help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
---------- Post added at 04:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:18 PM ----------
Oh crap, I thought this was the s4 section. I have an international s4 gt-i9500 and I just replaced the font with the adobe arabic font. What should I do now?
3alaawi said:
Hi,
I followed your steps and used the file you attached and now all the arabic shows as rectangles. Any ideas? Also, could I have the original font back for now until I sort this out, its my mums phone and shes upset lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

keikai25 said:
Is this applicable for Samsung only?
Sent from my LG-E975 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is supposed to work on your device, since it supports Arabic natively. Just locate the Arabic font used by your LG device. Personally, I am a Samsung professional, and not an LG professional. Sorry
3alaawi said:
Hi,
I followed your steps and used the file you attached and now all the arabic shows as rectangles. Any ideas? Also, could I have the original font back for now until I sort this out, its my mums phone and shes upset lol.
---------- Post added at 04:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:18 PM ----------
Oh crap, I thought this was the s4 section. I have an international s4 gt-i9500 and I just replaced the font with the adobe arabic font. What should I do now?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After replacing the font, it is better to fix permissions back into rw-r--r-- instead of the rw-rw-rw. Then, reboot your phone
The rectangles should now appear good. In case the problem persists:
1- Try to make your phone language "English".
2- Reboot the phone.
3- Replace the font again and fix permissions.
4- Reboot again.
Arabic should now work perfectly.
Logically, even if you use Galaxy S 4, this method shall work perfectly, since the method uses a universal Android trick instead of the FlipFont library.

tweetatoo said:
This is supposed to work on your device, since it supports Arabic natively. Just locate the Arabic font used by your LG device. Personally, I am a Samsung professional, and not an LG professional. Sorry
After replacing the font, it is better to fix permissions back into rw-r--r-- instead of the rw-rw-rw. Then, reboot your phone
The rectangles should now appear good. In case the problem persists:
1- Try to make your phone language "English".
2- Reboot the phone.
3- Replace the font again and fix permissions.
4- Reboot again.
Arabic should now work perfectly.
Logically, even if you use Galaxy S 4, this method shall work perfectly, since the method uses a universal Android trick instead of the FlipFont library.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, Will this solution work with the galaxy tab 3.8.0 ?

i followed your steps exactly. Arabic is still showing on my device but the problem is not in the font, it's in the size of the font.
is this supposed to be solved with the replacement of the font? or the size has nothing to do with the font?

Characters disconnected in the stock browser
Hi,
Thank you for the tip.
The characters appear disconnected in the stock browser Jb 4.3.
In Chrome everything is fine. Did not test other browsers.

tweetatoo said:
Hello guys
As we all know, Samsung uses the FlipFont library in system fonts, which provides a new way of font customizations. But in the same time, this library does not give us the benefit of having two desired fonts together (unless we build our custom font). Samsung has also replaced the stock Android ICS Arabic font with an ugly looking font type.
Samsung uses a system Arabic font stored within "/system/fonts" folder under the name of "GS45_Arab_AndroidOS" as their stock Arabic font, which is the classical font in even older Samsung phones.
Here, I am posting this thread to those people who would like to install their custom "English FlipFont" whether from the market or internet and in the same time want a permanent good Arabic font. This procedure needs root!
1- Choose a TTF font that you would like to use as Arabic font. In this tutorial, I have used the "Adobe Arabic" font. You can find it in the attachments.
2- Rename this file into "GS45_Arab_AndroidOS.ttf".
3- Copy this font into your mobile SD Card (whether internal or external).
4- Using a root explorer on the device, navigate to the font. Copy the font.
5- Navigate now to "/system/fonts" and paste the font there.
6- Reboot your device.
7- Enjoy!
Some TTF fonts may fail. If you have an Open-Type Font (OTF), you may use an online font converter to convert it to TTF.
Screenshots are provided.
I hope I could help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for this excellent job.
However, I did everything by the book on my gnote3,but I keep getting error message:
"copy action error". Can you help, please?

[FONT] CyanogenMod Hexolibre font for any device

This is the official CyanogenMod's theme Hexolibre font. I have extracted all the font files from the Hexolibre app itself and put all of them in a *non flashable* zip.
I tested this on my phone (VS985 running Resurrection Remix 7.1.1 v5.8.1). I saw that the colon on the lock screen and the Dollar icon ($) on keyboard is appearing as a question mark (?). Other than that, everything is working great. All the special symbols, exponential numbers, fractions etc are working too.
_INSTRUCTIONS:_
1) Take a backup of all the files which are starting with 'Roboto' such as 'Roboto-Italic'.
2) Download the zip file and extract all the *.ttf files to /system/font.
3) Set permissions to rw-r-r (644).
4) Reboot and enjoy! \(^O^)/

How to fix the semi colon? Any ideas?

abefaxe said:
How to fix the semi colon? Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am not a developer. I just pulled the original files from CM 13 ROM, renamed and put them all in a zip file. I have no idea how to fix it. Sorry

Sorry to necro, but for anyone still looking to do this I fixed it with a font editor. The colon in the clock is in Roboto-Light.ttf, so you can patch 0xEE01 with another colon yourself for any font, or if you are trying to specifically get that awesome Hexolibre font (aka Lato, my favorite system font) just use the attached already-fixed Hexolibre fonts. If you have already replaced them all and just want to fix the lock screen colon, you just need to replace the Roboto-Light.ttf file. Enjoy!

Adding font to settings (OxygenOs v4.5.8)

Hi guys, there's a way to add new fonts in the font list in settings on rooted oxygenos? I've seen that all the 2 fonts are stored system/fonts, anyone tried to add something else?

Sounds like a good idea of this is possible without root

Not in the system folder. Maybe through an app that stores them on the internal storage.
But making them an option in the settings needs some programing knowledge.

Maybe overwriting the OnePlus slate font files, we can have one our favorite font to choose instead of the OnePlus slate

Hitman478™ said:
Maybe overwriting the OnePlus slate font files, we can have one our favorite font to choose instead of the OnePlus slate
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can this be done without overwriting the system fonts. I have used fontfix and it replaced my system font Roboto. I have also tried placing fonts in /system/fonts directory, but the font changer in settings doesn't detect this new font.

blazing_fire96 said:
Can this be done without overwriting the system fonts. I have used fontfix and it replaced my system font Roboto. I have also tried placing fonts in /system/fonts directory, but the font changer in settings doesn't detect this new font.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, after 2 years i replace fonts directly with magisk, it's the better way imho, thank you anyway