If you want to block Windows from downloading fonts and fonts catalog data from third-party providers, here is what you need to do. Using the Local Group Policy Editor and Registry Editor, you can prevent Windows 11/10 from automatically downloading font catalog data from any third-party providers.
When you download and install a font on your computer, a temporary catalog gets installed too. Windows uses this catalog to find an update or new fonts from the corresponding provider. On the other hand, Windows periodically checks for and downloads fonts and fonts catalog from some providers such as Microsoft, Adobe, etc. If you do not want to allow this to happen, here is what you need to change.
How to allow or block Windows from downloading Fonts Catalog
To allow or block Windows from downloading fonts catalog using the Local Group Policy Editor, follow these steps:
- Press Win+R to open the Run dialog.
- Type gpedit.msc and hit the Enter button.
- Navigate to Fonts in the Computer Configuration.
- Double-click on the Enable Font Providers setting.
- Select the Enabled option to allow and the Disabled option to block.
- Click the OK button.
- Restart your computer.
Let’s check out these steps in detail.
To get started, you need to open the Local Group Policy Editor on your computer. For that, press Win+R, type gpedit.msc, and hit the Enter button.
Next, navigate to the following path:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Network > Fonts
Here you can find a setting named Enable Font Providers. You need to double-click on this setting and select Enabled to allow downloading or Disabled to block downloading.
Click the OK button and restart your computer to get the change.
How to prevent Windows from downloading fonts catalog
To prevent Windows from downloading fonts catalog using the Registry Editor, follow these steps:
- Press Win+R > type regedit > press the Enter button.
- Click the Yes option.
- Navigate to System in HKLM.
- Right-click on System > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
- Name it EnableFontProviders.
- Double-click on it to set the value data.
- Enter 1 to allow and 0 to block downloading fonts catalog.
- Click the OK button.
- Restart your computer.
To know more about these steps, continue reading.
First, you need to open the Registry Editor. For that, press Win+R, type regedit and press the Enter button. If it shows the UAC prompt, click the Yes option.
Once the Registry Editor is opened on your computer, navigate to the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System
Here you have to create a REG_DWORD value. For that, right-click on the System key, and select the New > DWORD (32-bit) Value option.
Name it as EnableFontProviders and double-click on it to set the value data. Enter 1 to allow downloading and 0 to prevent Windows from downloading fonts and fonts catalog data automatically.
Click the OK button to save the change and restart your computer.
Why are my downloaded fonts not showing up?
Windows doesn’t display the hidden fonts in the list while choosing a font in any program. To get rid of that issue, you need to search for fonts in the Taskbar search box, click on the search result, right-click on the grayed-out font, and select the Show option.
How do I access downloaded fonts?
You can access downloaded fonts on your Windows 11/10 computer easily. One, you can use them in any program such as Paint, Photoshop, GIMP, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc. Two, you can open the Fonts panel using the Taskbar search box to manage them.
How do I remove downloaded fonts from Windows?
To remove downloaded fonts from Windows 11/10, you need to use the Fonts settings panel in Windows Settings. For that, search for fonts settings and open the corresponding search result. Then, choose a font you want to uninstall or remove, and click the Uninstall button.
That’s all! Hope this guide helped you block Windows from downloads third-party fonts catalog data.
