Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Finding Missing Fonts.

Finding Missing Fonts

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated July 15, 2024)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021


2

Kevin has various old documents that contain formatting for fonts that his company no longer uses. He can list these fonts by using the font substitution tool, but he cannot always locate the fonts in the document using Find and Replace. Kevin wonders if there is a foolproof way of locating all instances of the missing fonts. He knows he could simply substitute the font automatically, but he needs to see where the font is used so he can determine which font should be used to replace it.

One option is to go ahead and use the font substitution tool to replace the old fonts with a new font that you know you don't use for any other purpose, such as Varsity, Vagabond, or one of the script fonts. You can then use the Find and Replace feature of Word to search for the new font, examine the context, and then make replacements as you deem appropriate.

You can also use the Styles and Formatting pane to examine any instances where that font is used, if you prefer. In the pane, have Word display all the formatting in use. Then look for any styles that utilize the replacement font. You can then use the tools in the pane to display the number of occurrences of the formatting and, if desired, apply a different style to those elements.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (12693) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Finding Missing Fonts.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Better Use of Heading Space

If your column headings are too large to work well in your worksheet, why not turn them a bit? Here's how.

Discover More

Getting Rid of Extra Quote Marks in Exported Text Files

If you don't like the way that Excel exports information you intend to use with other programs, then your best bet is to ...

Discover More

Using Named Ranges in a Macro

Named ranges are a great capability provided by Excel. You can define all sorts of named ranges in a workbook, but how do ...

Discover More

Comprehensive VBA Guide Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is the language used for writing macros in all Office programs. This complete guide shows both professionals and novices how to master VBA in order to customize the entire Office suite for their needs. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2010 today!

More WordTips (ribbon)

Using Very Large Font Sizes

You can format your text to use some very, very large font sizes. The results you see from formatting with large fonts ...

Discover More

Searching for Text that Does Not Have a Certain Format

You can easily use Find and Replace to find text that has a particular format to it. Most people don't know you can use ...

Discover More

Adjusting Text Pitch

Want to adjust the pitch of your text? The answer depends on what, exactly, is meant by "pitch." This tip looks at the ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 7 + 9?

2020-09-14 14:08:49

Rachel

Thank you so much for this article! I'm searching for a font in a 100+ page document and this will make it so much easier to find the one that's missing!


2020-05-23 07:08:43

Yateen

Why not use your own macro ListFontsInDocs?


This Site

Got a version of Word that uses the ribbon interface (Word 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the menu interface.

Videos
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.