Using a custom typeface in Android

Yes It is possible.

You have to create a custom view which extends text view.

In attrs.xml in values folder:

<resources> <declare-styleable name="MyTextView"> <attr name="first_name" format="string"/> <attr name="last_name" format="string"/> <attr name="ttf_name" format="string"/> </declare-styleable> </resources> 

In main.xml:

<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" xmlns:lht="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/com.lht" android:orientation="vertical" android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="fill_parent" > <TextView android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:text="Hello"/> <com.lht.ui.MyTextView android:id="@+id/MyTextView" android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:text="Hello friends" lht:ttf_name="ITCBLKAD.TTF" /> </LinearLayout> 

In MyTextView.java:

package com.lht.ui; import android.content.Context; import android.graphics.Typeface; import android.util.AttributeSet; import android.util.Log; import android.widget.TextView; public class MyTextView extends TextView { Context context; String ttfName; String TAG = getClass().getName(); public MyTextView(Context context, AttributeSet attrs) { super(context, attrs); this.context = context; for (int i = 0; i < attrs.getAttributeCount(); i++) { Log.i(TAG, attrs.getAttributeName(i)); /* * Read value of custom attributes */ this.ttfName = attrs.getAttributeValue( "http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/com.lht", "ttf_name"); Log.i(TAG, "firstText " + firstText); // Log.i(TAG, "lastText "+ lastText); init(); } } private void init() { Typeface font = Typeface.createFromAsset(context.getAssets(), ttfName); setTypeface(font); } @Override public void setTypeface(Typeface tf) { // TODO Auto-generated method stub super.setTypeface(tf); } } 

I did this in a more "brute force" way that doesn't require changes to the layout xml or Activities.

Tested on Android version 2.1 through 4.4. Run this at app startup, in your Application class:

private void setDefaultFont() { try { final Typeface bold = Typeface.createFromAsset(getAssets(), DEFAULT_BOLD_FONT_FILENAME); final Typeface italic = Typeface.createFromAsset(getAssets(), DEFAULT_ITALIC_FONT_FILENAME); final Typeface boldItalic = Typeface.createFromAsset(getAssets(), DEFAULT_BOLD_ITALIC_FONT_FILENAME); final Typeface regular = Typeface.createFromAsset(getAssets(),DEFAULT_NORMAL_FONT_FILENAME); Field DEFAULT = Typeface.class.getDeclaredField("DEFAULT"); DEFAULT.setAccessible(true); DEFAULT.set(null, regular); Field DEFAULT_BOLD = Typeface.class.getDeclaredField("DEFAULT_BOLD"); DEFAULT_BOLD.setAccessible(true); DEFAULT_BOLD.set(null, bold); Field sDefaults = Typeface.class.getDeclaredField("sDefaults"); sDefaults.setAccessible(true); sDefaults.set(null, new Typeface[]{ regular, bold, italic, boldItalic }); } catch (NoSuchFieldException e) { logFontError(e); } catch (IllegalAccessException e) { logFontError(e); } catch (Throwable e) { //cannot crash app if there is a failure with overriding the default font! logFontError(e); } } 

For a more complete example, see http://github.com/perchrh/FontOverrideExample

Although I am upvoting Manish's answer as the fastest and most targeted method, I have also seen naive solutions which just recursively iterate through a view hierarchy and update all elements' typefaces in turn. Something like this:

public static void applyFonts(final View v, Typeface fontToSet) { try { if (v instanceof ViewGroup) { ViewGroup vg = (ViewGroup) v; for (int i = 0; i < vg.getChildCount(); i++) { View child = vg.getChildAt(i); applyFonts(child, fontToSet); } } else if (v instanceof TextView) { ((TextView)v).setTypeface(fontToSet); } } catch (Exception e) { e.printStackTrace(); // ignore } } 

You would need to call this function on your views both after inflating layout and in your Activity's onContentChanged() methods.

I was able to do this in a centralized way, here is the result:

I have following Activity and I extend from it if I need custom fonts:

import android.app.Activity; import android.content.Context; import android.os.Bundle; import android.util.AttributeSet; import android.view.LayoutInflater.Factory; import android.view.LayoutInflater; import android.view.View; import android.widget.TextView; public class CustomFontActivity extends Activity { @Override protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) { getLayoutInflater().setFactory(new Factory() { @Override public View onCreateView(String name, Context context, AttributeSet attrs) { View v = tryInflate(name, context, attrs); if (v instanceof TextView) { setTypeFace((TextView) v); } return v; } }); super.onCreate(savedInstanceState); setContentView(R.layout.activity_main); } private View tryInflate(String name, Context context, AttributeSet attrs) { LayoutInflater li = LayoutInflater.from(context); View v = null; try { v = li.createView(name, null, attrs); } catch (Exception e) { try { v = li.createView("android.widget." + name, null, attrs); } catch (Exception e1) { } } return v; } private void setTypeFace(TextView tv) { tv.setTypeface(FontUtils.getFonts(this, "MTCORSVA.TTF")); } } 

But if I am using an activity from support package e.g. FragmentActivity then I use this Activity:

import android.annotation.TargetApi; import android.content.Context; import android.os.Build; import android.os.Bundle; import android.support.v4.app.FragmentActivity; import android.util.AttributeSet; import android.view.LayoutInflater; import android.view.View; import android.widget.TextView; public class CustomFontFragmentActivity extends FragmentActivity { @Override protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) { super.onCreate(savedInstanceState); setContentView(R.layout.activity_main); } // we can't setLayout Factory as its already set by FragmentActivity so we // use this approach @Override public View onCreateView(String name, Context context, AttributeSet attrs) { View v = super.onCreateView(name, context, attrs); if (v == null) { v = tryInflate(name, context, attrs); if (v instanceof TextView) { setTypeFace((TextView) v); } } return v; } @TargetApi(Build.VERSION_CODES.HONEYCOMB) @Override public View onCreateView(View parent, String name, Context context, AttributeSet attrs) { View v = super.onCreateView(parent, name, context, attrs); if (v == null) { v = tryInflate(name, context, attrs); if (v instanceof TextView) { setTypeFace((TextView) v); } } return v; } private View tryInflate(String name, Context context, AttributeSet attrs) { LayoutInflater li = LayoutInflater.from(context); View v = null; try { v = li.createView(name, null, attrs); } catch (Exception e) { try { v = li.createView("android.widget." + name, null, attrs); } catch (Exception e1) { } } return v; } private void setTypeFace(TextView tv) { tv.setTypeface(FontUtils.getFonts(this, "MTCORSVA.TTF")); } } 

I haven't tested this code with Fragments yet, but hopefully it will work.

My FontUtils is simple which also solves the pre-ICS issue mentioned here https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=9904:

import java.util.HashMap; import java.util.Map; import android.content.Context; import android.graphics.Typeface; public class FontUtils { private static Map<String, Typeface> TYPEFACE = new HashMap<String, Typeface>(); public static Typeface getFonts(Context context, String name) { Typeface typeface = TYPEFACE.get(name); if (typeface == null) { typeface = Typeface.createFromAsset(context.getAssets(), "fonts/" + name); TYPEFACE.put(name, typeface); } return typeface; } } 

Hey i also need 2 different fonts in my app for different widgeds! I use this way:

In my Application class i create an static method:

public static Typeface getTypeface(Context context, String typeface) { if (mFont == null) { mFont = Typeface.createFromAsset(context.getAssets(), typeface); } return mFont; } 

The String typeface represents the xyz.ttf in the asset folder. (i created an Constants Class) Now you can use this everywhere in your app:

mTextView = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.text_view); mTextView.setTypeface(MyApplication.getTypeface(this, Constants.TYPEFACE_XY)); 

The only problem is, you need this for every widget where you want to use the Font! But i think this is the best way.

Using pospi's suggestion and working with the 'tag' property like Richard did, i created a custom class that loads my custom fonts and applies them to the views according to their tags.

So basicly, instead of setting the TypeFace in the attribute android:fontFamily you are using the android:tag attritube and set it to one of the defined enums.

public class Fonts { private AssetManager mngr; public Fonts(Context context) { mngr = context.getAssets(); } private enum AssetTypefaces { RobotoLight, RobotoThin, RobotoCondensedBold, RobotoCondensedLight, RobotoCondensedRegular } private Typeface getTypeface(AssetTypefaces font) { Typeface tf = null; switch (font) { case RobotoLight: tf = Typeface.createFromAsset(mngr,"fonts/Roboto-Light.ttf"); break; case RobotoThin: tf = Typeface.createFromAsset(mngr,"fonts/Roboto-Thin.ttf"); break; case RobotoCondensedBold: tf = Typeface.createFromAsset(mngr,"fonts/RobotoCondensed-Bold.ttf"); break; case RobotoCondensedLight: tf = Typeface.createFromAsset(mngr,"fonts/RobotoCondensed-Light.ttf"); break; case RobotoCondensedRegular: tf = Typeface.createFromAsset(mngr,"fonts/RobotoCondensed-Regular.ttf"); break; default: tf = Typeface.DEFAULT; break; } return tf; } public void setupLayoutTypefaces(View v) { try { if (v instanceof ViewGroup) { ViewGroup vg = (ViewGroup) v; for (int i = 0; i < vg.getChildCount(); i++) { View child = vg.getChildAt(i); setupLayoutTypefaces(child); } } else if (v instanceof TextView) { if (v.getTag().toString().equals(AssetTypefaces.RobotoLight.toString())){ ((TextView)v).setTypeface(getTypeface(AssetTypefaces.RobotoLight)); }else if (v.getTag().toString().equals(AssetTypefaces.RobotoCondensedRegular.toString())) { ((TextView)v).setTypeface(getTypeface(AssetTypefaces.RobotoCondensedRegular)); }else if (v.getTag().toString().equals(AssetTypefaces.RobotoCondensedBold.toString())) { ((TextView)v).setTypeface(getTypeface(AssetTypefaces.RobotoCondensedBold)); }else if (v.getTag().toString().equals(AssetTypefaces.RobotoCondensedLight.toString())) { ((TextView)v).setTypeface(getTypeface(AssetTypefaces.RobotoCondensedLight)); }else if (v.getTag().toString().equals(AssetTypefaces.RobotoThin.toString())) { ((TextView)v).setTypeface(getTypeface(AssetTypefaces.RobotoThin)); } } } catch (Exception e) { e.printStackTrace(); // ignore } } } 

In your Activity or Fragment you just call

Fonts fonts = new Fonts(getActivity()); fonts.setupLayoutTypefaces(mainLayout); 

I found a nice solution on the blog of Lisa Wray. With the new data binding it is possible to set the font in your XML files.

@BindingAdapter({"bind:font"}) public static void setFont(TextView textView, String fontName){ textView.setTypeface(Typeface.createFromAsset(textView.getContext().getAssets(), "fonts/" + fontName)); } 

In XML:

<TextView app:font="@{`Source-Sans-Pro-Regular.ttf`}" android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="wrap_content"/> 

I think there can be a handier way to do it. The following class will set a custom type face for all your the components of your application (with a setting per class).

/** * Base Activity of our app hierarchy. * @author SNI */ public class BaseActivity extends Activity { private static final String FONT_LOG_CAT_TAG = "FONT"; private static final boolean ENABLE_FONT_LOGGING = false; private Typeface helloTypeface; @Override protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) { super.onCreate(savedInstanceState); helloTypeface = Typeface.createFromAsset(getAssets(), "fonts/<your type face in assets/fonts folder>.ttf"); } @Override public View onCreateView(String name, Context context, AttributeSet attrs) { View view = super.onCreateView(name, context, attrs); return setCustomTypeFaceIfNeeded(name, attrs, view); } @Override public View onCreateView(View parent, String name, Context context, AttributeSet attrs) { View view = super.onCreateView(parent, name, context, attrs); return setCustomTypeFaceIfNeeded(name, attrs, view); } protected View setCustomTypeFaceIfNeeded(String name, AttributeSet attrs, View view) { View result = null; if ("TextView".equals(name)) { result = new TextView(this, attrs); ((TextView) result).setTypeface(helloTypeface); } if ("EditText".equals(name)) { result = new EditText(this, attrs); ((EditText) result).setTypeface(helloTypeface); } if ("Button".equals(name)) { result = new Button(this, attrs); ((Button) result).setTypeface(helloTypeface); } if (result == null) { return view; } else { if (ENABLE_FONT_LOGGING) { Log.v(FONT_LOG_CAT_TAG, "A type face was set on " + result.getId()); } return result; } } } 

The default implementations of LayoutInflater do not support specifying the font typeface from xml. I have however seen it done in xml by providing a custom factory for the LayoutInflater that will parse such attributes from the xml tag.

The basic structure would like this.

public class TypefaceInflaterFactory implements LayoutInflater.Factory { @Override public View onCreateView(String name, Context context, AttributeSet attrs) { // CUSTOM CODE TO CREATE VIEW WITH TYPEFACE HERE // RETURNING NULL HERE WILL TELL THE INFLATER TO USE THE // DEFAULT MECHANISMS FOR INFLATING THE VIEW FROM THE XML } } public class BaseActivity extends Activity { @Override public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) { super.onCreate(savedInstanceState); LayoutInflater.from(this).setFactory(new TypefaceInflaterFactory()); } } 

This article provides a more in depth explanation of these mechanisms and how the author attempts to provide xml layout support for typefaces in this way. The code for the author's implementation can be found here.

Setting a custom font to a regular ProgressDialog/AlertDialog:

font=Typeface.createFromAsset(getAssets(),"DroidSans.ttf"); ProgressDialog dialog = ProgressDialog.show(this, "titleText", "messageText", true); ((TextView)dialog.findViewById(Resources.getSystem().getIdentifier("message", "id", "android"))).setTypeface(font); ((TextView)dialog.findViewById(Resources.getSystem().getIdentifier("alertTitle", "id", "android"))).setTypeface(font); 

Yes it is possible by overriding the default typeface. I followed this solution and it worked like a charm for all TextViews and ActionBar text too with a single change.

public class MyApp extends Application { @Override public void onCreate() { TypefaceUtil.overrideFont(getApplicationContext(), "SERIF", "fonts/Roboto-Regular.ttf"); // font from assets: "assets/fonts/Roboto-Regular.ttf } } 

styles.xml

<!-- Base application theme. --> <style name="AppTheme" parent="Theme.AppCompat.Light.NoActionBar"> <!-- Customize your theme here. --> <item name="colorPrimary">@color/pantone</item> <item name="colorPrimaryDark">@color/colorPrimaryDark</item> <item name="colorAccent">@color/colorAccent</item> <item name="android:windowTranslucentStatus" tools:targetApi="kitkat">true</item> <item name="android:windowDisablePreview">true</item> <item name="android:typeface">serif</item> </style> 

Instead of themes.xml as mentioned in the above link, I mentioned the default font to override in my styles.xml in my default app theme tag. The default typefaces that can be overwritten are serif, sans, monospace and normal.

TypefaceUtil.java

public class TypefaceUtil { /** * Using reflection to override default typeface * NOTICE: DO NOT FORGET TO SET TYPEFACE FOR APP THEME AS DEFAULT TYPEFACE WHICH WILL BE OVERRIDDEN * @param context to work with assets * @param defaultFontNameToOverride for example "monospace" * @param customFontFileNameInAssets file name of the font from assets */ public static void overrideFont(Context context, String defaultFontNameToOverride, String customFontFileNameInAssets) { try { final Typeface customFontTypeface = Typeface.createFromAsset(context.getAssets(), customFontFileNameInAssets); final Field defaultFontTypefaceField = Typeface.class.getDeclaredField(defaultFontNameToOverride); defaultFontTypefaceField.setAccessible(true); defaultFontTypefaceField.set(null, customFontTypeface); } catch (Exception e) { Log.e("Can not set custom font " + customFontFileNameInAssets + " instead of " + defaultFontNameToOverride); } } } 

Initially, I didnt know the typefaces to be overwritten are fixed and set of defined values but eventually it helped me understand how Android deals with fonts and typefaces and their default values, which is a different point ofcourse.

I use DataBinding for this (with Kotlin).

Set up BindingAdapter:

BindingAdapter.kt

import android.graphics.Typeface import android.view.View import android.view.ViewGroup import android.widget.TextView import androidx.databinding.BindingAdapter import java.util.* object BindingAdapters { @JvmStatic @BindingAdapter("typeface", "typefaceStyle") fun setTypeface(v: TextView, tf: Typeface?, style: Int?) { v.setTypeface(tf ?: Typeface.DEFAULT, style ?: Typeface.NORMAL) } } 

Usage:

fragment_custom_view.xml

<layout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto" xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"> <data> <import type="android.graphics.Typeface" /> <variable name="typeface" type="android.graphics.Typeface" /> </data> <TextView android:id="@+id/reference" style="@style/TextAppearance.MaterialComponents.Body1" android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:text="I'm formatted text" app:typeface="@{typeface}" app:typefaceStyle="@{Typeface.ITALIC}" /> </layout> 

MyFragment.kt

override fun onViewCreated(view: View, savedInstanceState: Bundle?) { super.onViewCreated(view, savedInstanceState) binding = FragmentCustomView.bind(view) binding.typeface = // some code to get user selected typeface } 

Now, if the user selects a new typeface you can just update the binding value and all your TextViews that you've set app:typeface will get updated.

I don't know if it changes the whole app, but I have managed to change some components that couldn't otherwise be changed by doing this:

Typeface tf = Typeface.createFromAsset(getAssets(), "fonts/Lucida Sans Unicode.ttf"); Typeface.class.getField("DEFAULT").setAccessible(true); Typeface.class.getField("DEFAULT_BOLD").setAccessible(true); Typeface.class.getField("DEFAULT").set(null, tf); Typeface.class.getField("DEFAULT_BOLD").set(null, tf); 

I like pospi's suggestion. Why not go all-out any use the 'tag' property of a view (which you can specify in XML - 'android:tag') to specify any additional styling that you can't do in XML. I like JSON so I'd use a JSON string to specify a key/value set. This class does the work - just call Style.setContentView(this, [resource id]) in your activity.

public class Style { /** * Style a single view. */ public static void apply(View v) { if (v.getTag() != null) { try { JSONObject json = new JSONObject((String)v.getTag()); if (json.has("typeface") && v instanceof TextView) { ((TextView)v).setTypeface(Typeface.createFromAsset(v.getContext().getAssets(), json.getString("typeface"))); } } catch (JSONException e) { // Some views have a tag without it being explicitly set! } } } /** * Style the passed view hierarchy. */ public static View applyTree(View v) { apply(v); if (v instanceof ViewGroup) { ViewGroup g = (ViewGroup)v; for (int i = 0; i < g.getChildCount(); i++) { applyTree(g.getChildAt(i)); } } return v; } /** * Inflate, style, and set the content view for the passed activity. */ public static void setContentView(Activity activity, int resource) { activity.setContentView(applyTree(activity.getLayoutInflater().inflate(resource, null))); } } 

Obviously you'd want to handle more than just the typeface to make using JSON worthwhile.

A benefit of the 'tag' property is that you can set it on a base style which you use as a theme and thus have it apply to all of your views automatically. EDIT: Doing this results in a crash during inflation on Android 4.0.3. You can still use a style and apply it to text views individually.

One thing you'll see in the code - some views have a tag without one being explicitly set - bizarrely it's the string 'Αποκοπή' - which is 'cut' in greek, according to google translate! What the hell...?

@majinboo's answer is revised for performance and memory management. Any more than one font need related Activity can use this Font class by giving the constructor itself as a parameter.

@Override public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) { Font font = new Font(this); } 

Revised Fonts class is as below:

public class Fonts { private HashMap<AssetTypefaces, Typeface> hashMapFonts; private enum AssetTypefaces { RobotoLight, RobotoThin, RobotoCondensedBold, RobotoCondensedLight, RobotoCondensedRegular } public Fonts(Context context) { AssetManager mngr = context.getAssets(); hashMapFonts = new HashMap<AssetTypefaces, Typeface>(); hashMapFonts.put(AssetTypefaces.RobotoLight, Typeface.createFromAsset(mngr, "fonts/Roboto-Light.ttf")); hashMapFonts.put(AssetTypefaces.RobotoThin, Typeface.createFromAsset(mngr, "fonts/Roboto-Thin.ttf")); hashMapFonts.put(AssetTypefaces.RobotoCondensedBold, Typeface.createFromAsset(mngr, "fonts/RobotoCondensed-Bold.ttf")); hashMapFonts.put(AssetTypefaces.RobotoCondensedLight, Typeface.createFromAsset(mngr, "fonts/RobotoCondensed-Light.ttf")); hashMapFonts.put(AssetTypefaces.RobotoCondensedRegular, Typeface.createFromAsset(mngr, "fonts/RobotoCondensed-Regular.ttf")); } private Typeface getTypeface(String fontName) { try { AssetTypefaces typeface = AssetTypefaces.valueOf(fontName); return hashMapFonts.get(typeface); } catch (IllegalArgumentException e) { // e.printStackTrace(); return Typeface.DEFAULT; } } public void setupLayoutTypefaces(View v) { try { if (v instanceof ViewGroup) { ViewGroup vg = (ViewGroup) v; for (int i = 0; i < vg.getChildCount(); i++) { View child = vg.getChildAt(i); setupLayoutTypefaces(child); } } else if (v instanceof TextView) { ((TextView) v).setTypeface(getTypeface(v.getTag().toString())); } } catch (Exception e) { e.printStackTrace(); // ignore } } } 

Working for Xamarin.Android:

Class:

public class FontsOverride { public static void SetDefaultFont(Context context, string staticTypefaceFieldName, string fontAssetName) { Typeface regular = Typeface.CreateFromAsset(context.Assets, fontAssetName); ReplaceFont(staticTypefaceFieldName, regular); } protected static void ReplaceFont(string staticTypefaceFieldName, Typeface newTypeface) { try { Field staticField = ((Java.Lang.Object)(newTypeface)).Class.GetDeclaredField(staticTypefaceFieldName); staticField.Accessible = true; staticField.Set(null, newTypeface); } catch (Exception e) { Console.WriteLine(e.Message); } } } 

Application Implementation:

namespace SomeAndroidApplication { [Application] public class App : Application { public App() { } public App(IntPtr handle, JniHandleOwnership transfer) : base(handle, transfer) { } public override void OnCreate() { base.OnCreate(); FontsOverride.SetDefaultFont(this, "MONOSPACE", "fonts/Roboto-Light.ttf"); } } } 

Style:

<style name="Theme.Storehouse" parent="Theme.Sherlock"> <item name="android:typeface">monospace</item> </style> 

It looks like using custom fonts has been made easy with Android O, you can basically use xml to achieve this. I have attached a link to Android official documentation for reference, and hopefully this will help people who still need this solution. Working with custom fonts in Android

It may be useful to know that starting from Android 8.0 (API level 26) you can use a custom font in XML.

Simply put, you can do it in the following way.

1. Put the font in the folder res/font.

2. Either use it in the attribute of a widget

<Button android:fontFamily="@font/myfont"/>

or put it in res/values/styles.xml

<style name="MyButton" parent="android:Widget.Button"> <item name="android:fontFamily">@font/myfont</item> </style> 

and use it as a style

<Button style="@style/MyButton"/> 

Use "fontPath" attribute directly in xml file.

for use in style.xml

<item name="fontPath">fonts/ProximaNovaSemibold.ttf</item>

for use in direct layout file

fontPath="fonts/ProximaNovaBold.ttf"

(Note : No need to use app/android attribute in prefix)