Why aren't my fonts displaying correctly?

Sometimes when visitors view your website, the fonts you use don't display correctly to them. Website Builder offers great font choices, so why do some visitors say your text displays in plain characters?

It's because the font in question — called a system font — isn't installed on the device they used to view your website.

While there's no recognized standard, system fonts are the most common. Examples include Arial, Helvetica, or Times New Roman. When you select Times New Roman for your text, it's safe to assume it displays correctly for everyone who visits your website. That's because it's also safe to assume Times New Roman is installed on pretty much any device a visitor would use.

Not all devices share some of the less-common system fonts, such as Monotype Corsiva. When a someone visits your website using a device without Website Builder's system fonts, that text display as plain characters.

However, Website Builder also has dynamic fonts, such as SeaSide Resort, that always display correctly for everyone.

Everyone browsing the Internet may not have Seaside Resort installed on their devices. When someone downloads a Web page that displays this font, Seaside Resort temporarily downloads, too. It's not saved permanently, just to their browser's cache, just long enough for them to view your Web page.

Website Builder displays these dynamic fonts:

  • Airstream
  • Anagram
  • Boston Traffic
  • Comic Zine
  • EastMarket
  • Helsinki
  • JungleFever
  • Know Your Product
  • Learning Curve Pro
  • Metro
  • Plug-NickelBlack
  • QuigleyWiggly
  • SeasideResort
  • Shangri La
  • SouciSans
  • Umbrage
  • Veggieburger
  • WoodenNickelBlack
  • Xenophone

More info