Easy Guide: How To Replace Fonts In Figma

Nov 2, 2025 by Admin 42 views

Hey design enthusiasts! Ever found yourself knee-deep in a Figma file, only to realize the font you chose at the start just isn't cutting it? Or maybe you're dealing with a massive design system where you need to swap out fonts globally? Don't worry, we've all been there! Changing fonts in Figma might seem like a daunting task, especially if you're working on a large project. But fear not, because it's actually pretty straightforward. This guide is your friendly companion, breaking down the process of replacing fonts in Figma, ensuring your designs look exactly how you envision them. We'll cover everything from simple replacements to more advanced techniques that'll save you tons of time.

Why Replace Fonts in Figma?

So, why would you even want to replace fonts, right? Well, there are several super valid reasons. First off, font choices are crucial to your design's overall feel. A slight change in typeface can drastically alter how your audience perceives your work. Maybe you started with something trendy, but it doesn't quite fit the brand's evolving aesthetic. Or perhaps you're working with a client who has specific brand guidelines you need to adhere to. Then there's the readability factor. Sometimes, a font looks great in small sizes, but it becomes a blurry mess when used in body text. Replacing a font with a more legible one is a simple fix to improve the user experience. Plus, let's face it, sometimes you just get tired of a font! Maybe you've used it in a ton of projects and you're craving a fresh look. Replacing fonts is like giving your design a makeover. Changing fonts can also be about accessibility, ensuring your design is usable for everyone. Some fonts are more accessible than others, and replacing a less accessible font can make your design more inclusive. Now that you know the "why", let's dive into the "how".

This guide will empower you to efficiently manage your font replacements, ensuring your designs always look their best and stay true to your creative vision. Whether you're a seasoned designer or just starting out with Figma, this information will become an invaluable tool in your workflow. Mastering font replacement is a skill that will save you time and help you create more effective and impactful designs.

The Importance of Font Consistency in Figma

Font consistency is critical for establishing a professional and polished look in your designs. It goes beyond just choosing fonts that you like. It's about using typefaces in a way that contributes to the overall message and visual harmony of your work. When fonts are inconsistent, it creates a sense of visual clutter and can confuse the viewer. It's like listening to a song where the instruments are out of tune. The individual elements might be good on their own, but they don't work together. Consistent fonts create a sense of unity and clarity. They help guide the viewer's eye through the design, making it easier for them to understand the information being presented. Also, consistency strengthens your brand identity. The fonts you choose become a signature element of your brand. They communicate your brand's personality and values. If you're constantly changing fonts, you risk diluting your brand's message. Also think about the design systems. A robust design system relies on consistent typography. Fonts are defined as part of the system and are used across all elements. Replacing fonts without careful planning can break the design system and lead to inconsistencies.

By following these principles, you will be able to create stunning designs and your audience will love your work. Consistency in font usage is more than just a stylistic choice. It's a fundamental aspect of good design. By prioritizing font consistency, you're investing in the overall quality and effectiveness of your designs, improving user experience, and strengthening your brand identity.

Method 1: Replacing Fonts Manually in Figma

Alright, let's get down to the nitty-gritty of how to replace fonts manually in Figma. This method is perfect if you have a smaller project or you only need to change a few instances of a particular font. It's also a great way to get comfortable with the process before tackling larger, more complex designs. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Select the Text Layer: In your Figma file, click on the text layer that uses the font you want to replace. You can find this in the Layers panel on the left side of the screen. Alternatively, select the text directly on the canvas. If the text is part of a larger group or frame, make sure you select the text layer itself, not the container.
Open the Text Properties Panel: Look at the Properties panel on the right side of the Figma interface. This is where you'll find all the settings for the selected text layer. If you don't see the Properties panel, make sure the text layer is selected. If the text layer is selected, but you still don't see the properties panel, click the "Text" section of the properties panel to make sure it's expanded.
Find the Font Section: In the Text section of the Properties panel, you'll see the font settings. This is where you can change the font, font weight, and font size. Click on the current font name (usually located at the top of the Text section) to open the font selection dropdown. This dropdown will show you all the fonts that are available in Figma.
Choose Your New Font: From the font selection dropdown, choose the font you want to replace the old one with. You can scroll through the list or use the search bar at the top to find the specific font you're looking for. Figma will immediately update the selected text layer with the new font. If you need to change the font weight (e.g., from regular to bold), you can do that in the same Text section. Just click on the font weight dropdown and select the desired weight. Also, if you need to change the size of the font, you can do it in the Text section. Just type in the new size or use the up and down arrows.
Repeat for Other Instances: This process is perfect if you want to change one text layer. Repeat these steps for every text layer in your design that uses the font you want to replace. Be sure to carefully examine your design to identify all instances of the font and replace them accordingly. If the font is used in various layers, you'll need to go through each one. It's a bit time-consuming, but ensures you have complete control over the changes. Once you are done, make sure that the fonts are consistent with your design requirements.

Pros and Cons of Manual Replacement:

Pros:
- Simple and straightforward, great for small projects.
- Gives you precise control over each instance of the font.
Cons:
- Time-consuming for large projects.
- Requires careful attention to detail to avoid missing instances of the font.

While this method might seem simple, it's essential for anyone working in Figma. Knowing how to manually replace fonts gives you a solid foundation for more advanced techniques and helps you understand how Figma handles text properties. This method is effective for smaller projects or for making isolated changes, but let's be real, manually replacing fonts across an entire project can be a total drag. That's where the next method comes in handy.

Method 2: Using the "Find and Replace" Feature in Figma

Okay, guys, let's level up our font-replacing game! If you're dealing with a project where a specific font is used throughout, manually changing each instance is a recipe for carpal tunnel. Luckily, Figma has a super handy "Find and Replace" feature that makes this process a breeze. Here's how to use it:

Access the Find and Replace Feature: Go to the menu bar at the top of the Figma interface. Click on "Edit" then choose "Find and Replace." You can also use the keyboard shortcut: Cmd + Shift + H on a Mac or Ctrl + Shift + H on Windows. This will open the Find and Replace panel.
Specify What to Find: In the "Find" field, type the name of the font you want to replace. Make sure you spell the font name correctly! Figma will search for an exact match. You can also specify other attributes in the "Find" field, but to replace fonts, just type the font name. The "Find" field lets you search for specific text strings, font names, font styles, and other properties. This makes it an incredibly versatile tool for making quick changes across your entire project.
Specify the Replacement Font: In the "Replace with" field, type the name of the font you want to use as the replacement. Again, make sure you spell the font name correctly. If you're replacing multiple font styles, such as bold or italic, make sure you select the correct font styles from the font style dropdown.
Choose Your Replacement Strategy: Figma gives you a few options for replacing fonts:
- Replace All: This is the nuclear option. Figma will replace all instances of the font you specified with the new font. Use this with caution, especially if you have complex designs, but this option will save you tons of time. Be sure to examine your design closely to ensure that the replacement looks correct.
- Replace: This option lets you replace instances one by one. Click "Replace" to replace the current instance and then continue through your design, allowing you to review each change. This gives you more control and is ideal if you want to make sure the replacement looks right in each context.
Review and Refine: After replacing the fonts, carefully review your design to make sure everything looks as it should. The "Find and Replace" feature is generally accurate, but it's always a good idea to double-check, especially if you have complex text styles or overrides. Make sure your text still looks good, and that the spacing and alignment are correct. You may need to adjust some text styles or sizes.

This method is super useful, especially when you are redesigning existing projects or when you want to update fonts across a large design. Find and Replace significantly speeds up the font replacement process and makes it much less tedious than manual replacements. Now that you have learned how to use this feature, try it yourself.

Pros and Cons of Find and Replace:

Pros:
- Saves a ton of time, especially on large projects.
- Relatively easy to use.
Cons:
- Requires careful review to avoid unintended changes.
- Doesn't always account for complex text styles and overrides.

Using the "Find and Replace" feature is an essential skill for any Figma user. It will drastically improve your workflow, especially on larger projects. Now you are one step closer to mastering Figma.

Method 3: Using Styles for Efficient Font Replacement in Figma

Alright, let's talk about the big guns: using text styles to replace fonts. This is the pro move, guys. If you're serious about creating scalable, maintainable designs, and especially if you're working within a design system, mastering text styles is a must. Here’s why and how:

What are Text Styles?

Text styles are pre-defined sets of text attributes (font, size, weight, line height, letter spacing, etc.) that you can apply consistently throughout your design. Think of them as reusable recipes for your text. When you create a text style, you give it a name, like "Heading 1" or "Body Text". You then apply that style to text layers. The beauty of this approach is that when you change the text style, all instances of that style in your design automatically update. This way you can easily make global changes to the look and feel of your text.

Setting Up Text Styles

If you have not set up your text styles yet, here is how you can do it:

Select a Text Layer: Choose a text layer that has the font and style you want to use as a base for your text style.
Create a Style: In the Properties panel on the right, you'll see a section for "Text." Click the four-dot icon (Style) next to the font name to open the Text Styles panel. Click the "+" icon (Create Style) to create a new text style. Figma will prompt you to name your style. Use a descriptive name like "Heading 1", "Body Text Bold", etc. This makes your styles easy to find and use. Consider the hierarchy and structure of your design when naming your text styles.
Apply Your Text Styles: Select the text layer and click the desired text style from the Text Styles panel. The text will automatically update to match the attributes of the selected style. Make sure you apply text styles consistently throughout your project. Consistency will make it much easier to replace fonts in the future.

Replacing Fonts Using Text Styles

Once your text styles are set up, replacing fonts becomes incredibly easy:

Select the Text Style: In the Text Styles panel, select the text style you want to modify. You'll see a preview of the style and its attributes.
Edit the Font: Click on the font name in the style properties. Choose the new font from the dropdown. Figma will automatically update all text layers using that style with the new font. If you need to make other changes, like font weight or size, you can do that in the same panel. After modifying your text styles, check your design to ensure the changes look as expected.
Repeat for Other Styles: Repeat these steps for each text style you want to update. Remember, you only need to change the font in the text style itself, not in each individual text layer. This is the magic of using styles!

This method is the most efficient and recommended for managing fonts, especially in large-scale projects. Using text styles ensures consistency throughout your designs and makes it incredibly easy to make global changes to fonts. This is a crucial skill for any Figma user who wants to work efficiently and create designs that are easy to maintain and scale.

Pros and Cons of Using Styles:

Pros:
- Highly efficient and scalable.
- Ensures consistency across your design.
- Makes global changes a breeze.
Cons:
- Requires some initial setup time.
- You need to maintain the text styles.

Using text styles is a bit more involved upfront, but the benefits far outweigh the initial effort. If you're serious about design consistency and efficient workflows, text styles are your best friend. This ensures that any future font replacements are quick and painless. Start implementing styles in your Figma projects to streamline your workflow and keep your designs looking polished and professional.

Troubleshooting Common Font Replacement Issues

Okay, guys, let's talk about some common hiccups and how to fix them when you're replacing fonts in Figma. Even with the best techniques, you might encounter some issues. Here's a quick guide to troubleshooting:

Font Not Showing Up

If the new font you chose isn't appearing in Figma, it's usually because:

The font isn't installed: Make sure the font is installed on your computer. Figma uses the fonts installed on your system, so you may need to download and install the font.
Font Licensing: Check the font licensing. Some fonts are not licensed for commercial use or may only be licensed for specific uses. Make sure you have the proper licensing rights for the font you are trying to use.
Figma needs to update: Sometimes, Figma needs a little nudge. Try refreshing your browser, restarting Figma, or checking for updates. Also, it could be a compatibility issue. Some fonts may not work well with Figma. Try to use common font types (e.g., OpenType) that are widely supported.

Font Looks Different

If the new font appears, but looks wonky, it could be due to:

Font Weights: Make sure you've selected the correct font weight (e.g., regular, bold, italic). If you're switching to a new font, it may have different weight options.
Spacing and Alignment: The new font might have different spacing or alignment properties than the old one. You may need to adjust the line height, letter spacing, or text alignment in the Properties panel. Carefully examine the text after replacing the font to ensure it looks right. You may need to make minor adjustments to the layout to achieve the desired visual appearance.
Unsupported Characters: The new font may not support all the characters used in your text. This can happen with special characters, symbols, or multilingual text. Double-check your text to make sure everything is displayed correctly.

Text is Overlapping or Cutting Off

If your text is overlapping or getting cut off after replacing the font, it might be because:

Text Size: The new font might have a different character height, causing the text to overflow its container. Adjust the text size, line height, or container size to fit the text.
Text Box Size: The text box might be too small for the new font. Adjust the size of the text box to accommodate the text. You might need to adjust the width or height of the text box to display all the text correctly.
Line Height: The line height settings might need to be adjusted to accommodate the new font. Increase the line height to create more space between lines of text and improve readability.

Text Style Overrides Not Updating

If you are using text styles, and the font changes aren't applying correctly:

Check for Overrides: Make sure you haven't overridden the font in individual text layers. Figma prioritizes individual overrides. You need to reset the overrides in the Properties panel for the text to match the text style.
Update the Style: Double-check that you've updated the font in the actual text style itself, not just on individual layers. This is the key to global changes.

By following these troubleshooting tips, you will be able to resolve any issue that might occur during the font replacement process and keep your designs consistent and visually appealing.

Conclusion: Mastering Font Replacement in Figma

Alright, folks, you've now got the knowledge to master font replacement in Figma! We've covered the why, the how, and even the troubleshooting tips. Remember, choosing the right fonts and keeping them consistent is super important for creating professional, visually appealing designs. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned designer, understanding these techniques will help you work more efficiently and keep your projects looking their best. Also, always remember to test and review your design after each step.

By embracing these techniques, you will become a more efficient designer. So, go ahead, and start replacing fonts like a pro. Keep experimenting and learning, and always strive to improve your design skills. Now go forth and create some beautiful designs!

I hope this guide has been helpful. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further assistance. Happy designing!"