PowerPoint for Mac keeps losing embedded fonts after saving

Question

PowerPoint for Mac where embedded fonts don’t stay embedded after I save and reopen the file. The slide deck uses a couple of custom fonts that display correctly right after embedding, but once I close and reopen the presentation, PowerPoint replaces them with default system fonts.

Office 365, Macbook M1 Tahoe

Answer 1

Hi Hagler Larry

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A Forum and sharing your experience.

I've tested this on my device and observed similar behavior: while the process worked immediately after embedding, some fonts were not correct or reverted to defaults upon reopening the file.

Font embedding on macOS has limitations as PowerPoint for Mac relies on system-installed fonts, so ensure your fonts appear correctly in Font Book and are properly installed. Office for Mac supports OpenType (.otf) and TrueType (.ttf) fonts; avoid deprecated formats like PostScript Type 1, as these cannot be embedded.

To resolve the issue, start by adjusting PowerPoint’s embedding settings. From the top menu, select PowerPoint > Preferences, then open the Save section. Make sure the option to Embed fonts in the file is checked, and choose Embed all characters for full compatibility. Close the Preferences window to apply the changes. Quit PowerPoint completely and reopen the presentation to confirm changes.

Make sure the font is installed for all users, not just the current user. Restart Office apps after installing or activating fonts. If fonts still don’t appear, check for duplicates in Font Book and resolve them.

• The issue you’re experiencing relates to PowerPoint for Mac and font embedding. While the following article specifically addresses Word for Mac, it provides troubleshooting steps for similar font-related problems on macOS: Third-party installed font fails to appear in Office apps.

Please note: Office doesn’t support custom fonts that were manipulated by a font or typography program. Also, Microsoft Office for Mac technical support doesn’t provide support for installing or configuring third-party fonts.

Please let me know how you get on, as your feedback is valuable to the community. 

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Answer 2

There seems to be issue on Windows too.

Old file from 2022 with embedded fonts suddenly turns 2Mb lighter and the embedded fonts wont work in web apps anymore.