After installing Linux Mint on my personal computer, one of the first things I wanted to customize was the system fonts.
Linux Mint looks great out of the box, but changing fonts can make the desktop feel more personal and easier to read. In this post, I'll show the font setup I'm currently using and how to install custom fonts in Linux Mint.
My Current Font Setup
After some testing, I settled on the following:
| Setting | Font |
|---|---|
| Default Font | SF Pro Display Regular 11 |
| Desktop Font | SF Pro Display Regular 11 |
| Document Font | SF Pro Display Regular 11 |
| Monospace Font | Fira Code Regular 10 |
| Window Title Font | SF Pro Display Regular 11 |
Why SF Pro Display?
SF Pro Display is Apple's system font.
I like it because:
- Clean and modern
- Easy to read
- Looks professional
- Gives Linux Mint a macOS-style appearance
Why Fira Code?
Fira Code is mainly used for:
- Terminal
- Programming
- Code editors
It was designed specifically for developers and looks much cleaner than many default monospace fonts.
My Font Rendering Settings
I left most of the rendering options at their recommended values:
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Text Scaling Factor | 1.0 |
| Hinting | Slight |
| Antialiasing | RGBA |
| RGBA Order | RGB |
For most users, these defaults provide sharp and smooth text.
How to Install Custom Fonts in Linux Mint
Installing fonts is very easy.
Method 1: Double-Click the Font File
- Download a font (.ttf or .otf).
- Double-click the font file.
- Click Install.
The font becomes available for your user account.
Method 2: Install Fonts Manually
Sometimes you may want to organize fonts yourself.
Step 1: Open Your Home Folder
Open Files and go to: Home
Step 2: Show Hidden Files
By default, Linux Mint hides system and configuration folders.
To show hidden files, press: CTRL + H
Pressing it again hides them.
Alternatively to show hidden files just right click and select “Show Hidden Files” then boom!
You will now see folders beginning with a dot (.), such as:
.fonts
.icons
.themes
.config
Step 3: Create a .fonts Folder (if needed)
If you don't already have one:
Home → Right Click → Create Folder
Name it:
.fonts
The dot at the beginning makes it a hidden folder.
Step 4: Copy Font Files
Place your font files inside:
~/.fonts
Example:
~/.fonts/SF-Pro-Display-Regular.otf
~/.fonts/SF-Pro-Display-Bold.otf
Step 5: Refresh Fonts
Usually, logging out and back in is enough.
You can also refresh the font cache using Terminal:
fc-cache -fv
How to Change Fonts in Linux Mint
Open:
System Settings → Font Selection
You can then choose:
- Default Font
- Desktop Font
- Document Font
- Monospace Font
- Window Title Font
Select your preferred font and size.
Changes are applied immediately.
Useful Hidden Folders for Customizing Linux Mint
After enabling hidden files with Ctrl + H, you'll see some useful folders:
| Folder | Purpose |
|---|---|
| .fonts | Custom fonts |
| .icons | Custom icon packs |
| .themes | Custom themes |
| .config | Application settings |
| .local | User-specific application files |
These folders are where most Linux Mint customization happens.
Final Thoughts
One thing I quickly learned after moving to Linux Mint is that customization is much easier than I expected. Installing fonts only takes a few minutes, and small changes can make the desktop feel completely different.
For my setup, SF Pro Display gives the desktop a clean modern look, while Fira Code makes the Terminal and code editors more enjoyable to use. Combined with custom themes and icons, Linux Mint can be tailored to look exactly the way you want.
If you're new to Linux Mint, customizing fonts is one of the easiest and most satisfying changes you can make.
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