This article will serve as an informative guide and give you a clear understanding of how to uninstall a single Windows Font file using a PowerShell Script created by Michael Murgolo, a Senior Consultant with Microsoft Services. Although this script has been around for quite some time it still works great, even on current operating systems.
How to Remove a Windows Font Silently with PowerShell
Windows Font Silent Uninstall (PowerShell)
- Copy the PowerShell Script below to “C:\Downloads” & name it Remove-Font.ps1
- Identify the Windows Font you would like to remove. (In this example I am going to remove a font named FontXYZ.ttf)
- Open Windows PowerShell by Right-Clicking on Windows PowerShell and selecting Run as Administrator
- Change the directory to “C:\Downloads”
- PS C:\Downloads>
- Enter one of the following commands:
Powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy ByPass .\Remove-Font.ps1 -file 'FontXYZ.ttf'
Hide the Copyright Banner, Do Not Present an Interactive Prompt to the User, Do Not Load the PowerShell Profile, and Hide Window.
Powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy ByPass -NoLogo -NonInteractive -NoProfile -WindowStyle Hidden .\Remove-Font.ps1 -file 'FontXYZ.ttf'
- If the Windows Font you would like to remove contains spaces in the name, you will want to add a grave accent character ( ` ) before each space in the name. (In this example, I am going to remove a font named “Font ABC XYZ.ttf”)
Powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy ByPass .\Remove-Font.ps1 -file 'Font` ABC` XYZ.ttf'
Hide the Copyright Banner, Do Not Present an Interactive Prompt to the User, Do Not Load the PowerShell Profile, and Hide Window.
Powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy ByPass -NoLogo -NonInteractive -NoProfile -WindowStyle Hidden .\Remove-Font.ps1 -file 'Font` ABC` XYZ.ttf'
#########################################################################################
# MICROSOFT LEGAL STATEMENT FOR SAMPLE SCRIPTS/CODE
#########################################################################################
# This Sample Code is provided for the purpose of illustration only and is not
# intended to be used in a production environment.
#
# THIS SAMPLE CODE AND ANY RELATED INFORMATION ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY
# OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED
# WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND/OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
#
# We grant You a nonexclusive, royalty-free right to use and modify the Sample Code
# and to reproduce and distribute the object code form of the Sample Code, provided
# that You agree:
# (i) to not use Our name, logo, or trademarks to market Your software product
# in which the Sample Code is embedded;
# (ii) to include a valid copyright notice on Your software product in which
# the Sample Code is embedded; and
# (iii) to indemnify, hold harmless, and defend Us and Our suppliers from and
# against any claims or lawsuits, including attorneys’ fees, that arise
# or result from the use or distribution of the Sample Code.
#########################################################################################
#******************************************************************************
# File: Remove-Font.ps1
# Date: 08/28/2013
# Version: 1.0.1
#
# Purpose: PowerShell script to uninstall a Windows font.
#
# Usage: Remove-Font -help | -path "<Font file name>"
#
# Copyright (C) 2010 Microsoft Corporation
#
#
# Revisions:
# ----------
# 1.0.0 09/22/2010 Created script.
# 1.0.1 08/28/2013 Now checking if $error[0] is not null before trying to
# echo that value in Remove-SingleFont so as not to
# generate an error when none occurred.
#
#******************************************************************************
#requires -Version 2.0
#*******************************************************************
# Declare Parameters
#*******************************************************************
param(
[string] $file = "",
[switch] $help = $false
)
#*******************************************************************
# Declare Global Variables and Constants
#*******************************************************************
# Define constants
set-variable CSIDL_FONTS 0x14 -option constant
# Create hashtable containing valid font file extensions and text to append to Registry entry name.
$hashFontFileTypes = @{}
$hashFontFileTypes.Add(".fon", "")
$hashFontFileTypes.Add(".fnt", "")
$hashFontFileTypes.Add(".ttf", " (TrueType)")
$hashFontFileTypes.Add(".ttc", " (TrueType)")
$hashFontFileTypes.Add(".otf", " (OpenType)")
# Type 1 fonts require handling multiple resource files.
# Not supported in this script
#$hashFontFileTypes.Add(".mmm", "")
#$hashFontFileTypes.Add(".pbf", "")
#$hashFontFileTypes.Add(".pfm", "")
# Initialize variables
$invocation = (Get-Variable MyInvocation -Scope 0).Value
$scriptPath = Split-Path $Invocation.MyCommand.Path
$fontRegistryPath = "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Fonts"
#*******************************************************************
# Load C# code
#*******************************************************************
$fontCSharpCode = @'
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;
using System.IO;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
namespace FontResource
{
public class AddRemoveFonts
{
private static IntPtr HWND_BROADCAST = new IntPtr(0xffff);
private static IntPtr HWND_TOP = new IntPtr(0);
private static IntPtr HWND_BOTTOM = new IntPtr(1);
private static IntPtr HWND_TOPMOST = new IntPtr(-1);
private static IntPtr HWND_NOTOPMOST = new IntPtr(-2);
private static IntPtr HWND_MESSAGE = new IntPtr(-3);
[DllImport("gdi32.dll")]
static extern int AddFontResource(string lpFilename);
[DllImport("gdi32.dll")]
static extern int RemoveFontResource(string lpFileName);
[DllImport("user32.dll",CharSet=CharSet.Auto)]
private static extern int SendMessage(IntPtr hWnd, WM wMsg, IntPtr wParam, IntPtr lParam);
[return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
[DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
private static extern bool PostMessage(IntPtr hWnd, WM Msg, IntPtr wParam, IntPtr lParam);
public static int AddFont(string fontFilePath) {
FileInfo fontFile = new FileInfo(fontFilePath);
if (!fontFile.Exists)
{
return 0;
}
try
{
int retVal = AddFontResource(fontFilePath);
//This version of SendMessage is a blocking call until all windows respond.
//long result = SendMessage(HWND_BROADCAST, WM.FONTCHANGE, IntPtr.Zero, IntPtr.Zero);
//Alternatively PostMessage instead of SendMessage to prevent application hang
bool posted = PostMessage(HWND_BROADCAST, WM.FONTCHANGE, IntPtr.Zero, IntPtr.Zero);
return retVal;
}
catch
{
return 0;
}
}
public static int RemoveFont(string fontFileName) {
//FileInfo fontFile = new FileInfo(fontFileName);
//if (!fontFile.Exists)
//{
// return false;
//}
try
{
int retVal = RemoveFontResource(fontFileName);
//This version of SendMessage is a blocking call until all windows respond.
//long result = SendMessage(HWND_BROADCAST, WM.FONTCHANGE, IntPtr.Zero, IntPtr.Zero);
//Alternatively PostMessage instead of SendMessage to prevent application hang
bool posted = PostMessage(HWND_BROADCAST, WM.FONTCHANGE, IntPtr.Zero, IntPtr.Zero);
return retVal;
}
catch
{
return 0;
}
}
public enum WM : uint
{
NULL = 0x0000,
CREATE = 0x0001,
DESTROY = 0x0002,
MOVE = 0x0003,
SIZE = 0x0005,
ACTIVATE = 0x0006,
SETFOCUS = 0x0007,
KILLFOCUS = 0x0008,
ENABLE = 0x000A,
SETREDRAW = 0x000B,
SETTEXT = 0x000C,
GETTEXT = 0x000D,
GETTEXTLENGTH = 0x000E,
PAINT = 0x000F,
CLOSE = 0x0010,
QUERYENDSESSION = 0x0011,
QUERYOPEN = 0x0013,
ENDSESSION = 0x0016,
QUIT = 0x0012,
ERASEBKGND = 0x0014,
SYSCOLORCHANGE = 0x0015,
SHOWWINDOW = 0x0018,
WININICHANGE = 0x001A,
SETTINGCHANGE = WM.WININICHANGE,
DEVMODECHANGE = 0x001B,
ACTIVATEAPP = 0x001C,
FONTCHANGE = 0x001D,
TIMECHANGE = 0x001E,
CANCELMODE = 0x001F,
SETCURSOR = 0x0020,
MOUSEACTIVATE = 0x0021,
CHILDACTIVATE = 0x0022,
QUEUESYNC = 0x0023,
GETMINMAXINFO = 0x0024,
PAINTICON = 0x0026,
ICONERASEBKGND = 0x0027,
NEXTDLGCTL = 0x0028,
SPOOLERSTATUS = 0x002A,
DRAWITEM = 0x002B,
MEASUREITEM = 0x002C,
DELETEITEM = 0x002D,
VKEYTOITEM = 0x002E,
CHARTOITEM = 0x002F,
SETFONT = 0x0030,
GETFONT = 0x0031,
SETHOTKEY = 0x0032,
GETHOTKEY = 0x0033,
QUERYDRAGICON = 0x0037,
COMPAREITEM = 0x0039,
GETOBJECT = 0x003D,
COMPACTING = 0x0041,
COMMNOTIFY = 0x0044,
WINDOWPOSCHANGING = 0x0046,
WINDOWPOSCHANGED = 0x0047,
POWER = 0x0048,
COPYDATA = 0x004A,
CANCELJOURNAL = 0x004B,
NOTIFY = 0x004E,
INPUTLANGCHANGEREQUEST = 0x0050,
INPUTLANGCHANGE = 0x0051,
TCARD = 0x0052,
HELP = 0x0053,
USERCHANGED = 0x0054,
NOTIFYFORMAT = 0x0055,
CONTEXTMENU = 0x007B,
STYLECHANGING = 0x007C,
STYLECHANGED = 0x007D,
DISPLAYCHANGE = 0x007E,
GETICON = 0x007F,
SETICON = 0x0080,
NCCREATE = 0x0081,
NCDESTROY = 0x0082,
NCCALCSIZE = 0x0083,
NCHITTEST = 0x0084,
NCPAINT = 0x0085,
NCACTIVATE = 0x0086,
GETDLGCODE = 0x0087,
SYNCPAINT = 0x0088,
NCMOUSEMOVE = 0x00A0,
NCLBUTTONDOWN = 0x00A1,
NCLBUTTONUP = 0x00A2,
NCLBUTTONDBLCLK = 0x00A3,
NCRBUTTONDOWN = 0x00A4,
NCRBUTTONUP = 0x00A5,
NCRBUTTONDBLCLK = 0x00A6,
NCMBUTTONDOWN = 0x00A7,
NCMBUTTONUP = 0x00A8,
NCMBUTTONDBLCLK = 0x00A9,
NCXBUTTONDOWN = 0x00AB,
NCXBUTTONUP = 0x00AC,
NCXBUTTONDBLCLK = 0x00AD,
INPUT_DEVICE_CHANGE = 0x00FE,
INPUT = 0x00FF,
KEYFIRST = 0x0100,
KEYDOWN = 0x0100,
KEYUP = 0x0101,
CHAR = 0x0102,
DEADCHAR = 0x0103,
SYSKEYDOWN = 0x0104,
SYSKEYUP = 0x0105,
SYSCHAR = 0x0106,
SYSDEADCHAR = 0x0107,
UNICHAR = 0x0109,
KEYLAST = 0x0109,
IME_STARTCOMPOSITION = 0x010D,
IME_ENDCOMPOSITION = 0x010E,
IME_COMPOSITION = 0x010F,
IME_KEYLAST = 0x010F,
INITDIALOG = 0x0110,
COMMAND = 0x0111,
SYSCOMMAND = 0x0112,
TIMER = 0x0113,
HSCROLL = 0x0114,
VSCROLL = 0x0115,
INITMENU = 0x0116,
INITMENUPOPUP = 0x0117,
MENUSELECT = 0x011F,
MENUCHAR = 0x0120,
ENTERIDLE = 0x0121,
MENURBUTTONUP = 0x0122,
MENUDRAG = 0x0123,
MENUGETOBJECT = 0x0124,
UNINITMENUPOPUP = 0x0125,
MENUCOMMAND = 0x0126,
CHANGEUISTATE = 0x0127,
UPDATEUISTATE = 0x0128,
QUERYUISTATE = 0x0129,
CTLCOLORMSGBOX = 0x0132,
CTLCOLOREDIT = 0x0133,
CTLCOLORLISTBOX = 0x0134,
CTLCOLORBTN = 0x0135,
CTLCOLORDLG = 0x0136,
CTLCOLORSCROLLBAR = 0x0137,
CTLCOLORSTATIC = 0x0138,
MOUSEFIRST = 0x0200,
MOUSEMOVE = 0x0200,
LBUTTONDOWN = 0x0201,
LBUTTONUP = 0x0202,
LBUTTONDBLCLK = 0x0203,
RBUTTONDOWN = 0x0204,
RBUTTONUP = 0x0205,
RBUTTONDBLCLK = 0x0206,
MBUTTONDOWN = 0x0207,
MBUTTONUP = 0x0208,
MBUTTONDBLCLK = 0x0209,
MOUSEWHEEL = 0x020A,
XBUTTONDOWN = 0x020B,
XBUTTONUP = 0x020C,
XBUTTONDBLCLK = 0x020D,
MOUSEHWHEEL = 0x020E,
MOUSELAST = 0x020E,
PARENTNOTIFY = 0x0210,
ENTERMENULOOP = 0x0211,
EXITMENULOOP = 0x0212,
NEXTMENU = 0x0213,
SIZING = 0x0214,
CAPTURECHANGED = 0x0215,
MOVING = 0x0216,
POWERBROADCAST = 0x0218,
DEVICECHANGE = 0x0219,
MDICREATE = 0x0220,
MDIDESTROY = 0x0221,
MDIACTIVATE = 0x0222,
MDIRESTORE = 0x0223,
MDINEXT = 0x0224,
MDIMAXIMIZE = 0x0225,
MDITILE = 0x0226,
MDICASCADE = 0x0227,
MDIICONARRANGE = 0x0228,
MDIGETACTIVE = 0x0229,
MDISETMENU = 0x0230,
ENTERSIZEMOVE = 0x0231,
EXITSIZEMOVE = 0x0232,
DROPFILES = 0x0233,
MDIREFRESHMENU = 0x0234,
IME_SETCONTEXT = 0x0281,
IME_NOTIFY = 0x0282,
IME_CONTROL = 0x0283,
IME_COMPOSITIONFULL = 0x0284,
IME_SELECT = 0x0285,
IME_CHAR = 0x0286,
IME_REQUEST = 0x0288,
IME_KEYDOWN = 0x0290,
IME_KEYUP = 0x0291,
MOUSEHOVER = 0x02A1,
MOUSELEAVE = 0x02A3,
NCMOUSEHOVER = 0x02A0,
NCMOUSELEAVE = 0x02A2,
WTSSESSION_CHANGE = 0x02B1,
TABLET_FIRST = 0x02c0,
TABLET_LAST = 0x02df,
CUT = 0x0300,
COPY = 0x0301,
PASTE = 0x0302,
CLEAR = 0x0303,
UNDO = 0x0304,
RENDERFORMAT = 0x0305,
RENDERALLFORMATS = 0x0306,
DESTROYCLIPBOARD = 0x0307,
DRAWCLIPBOARD = 0x0308,
PAINTCLIPBOARD = 0x0309,
VSCROLLCLIPBOARD = 0x030A,
SIZECLIPBOARD = 0x030B,
ASKCBFORMATNAME = 0x030C,
CHANGECBCHAIN = 0x030D,
HSCROLLCLIPBOARD = 0x030E,
QUERYNEWPALETTE = 0x030F,
PALETTEISCHANGING = 0x0310,
PALETTECHANGED = 0x0311,
HOTKEY = 0x0312,
PRINT = 0x0317,
PRINTCLIENT = 0x0318,
APPCOMMAND = 0x0319,
THEMECHANGED = 0x031A,
CLIPBOARDUPDATE = 0x031D,
DWMCOMPOSITIONCHANGED = 0x031E,
DWMNCRENDERINGCHANGED = 0x031F,
DWMCOLORIZATIONCOLORCHANGED = 0x0320,
DWMWINDOWMAXIMIZEDCHANGE = 0x0321,
GETTITLEBARINFOEX = 0x033F,
HANDHELDFIRST = 0x0358,
HANDHELDLAST = 0x035F,
AFXFIRST = 0x0360,
AFXLAST = 0x037F,
PENWINFIRST = 0x0380,
PENWINLAST = 0x038F,
APP = 0x8000,
USER = 0x0400,
CPL_LAUNCH = USER+0x1000,
CPL_LAUNCHED = USER+0x1001,
SYSTIMER = 0x118
}
}
}
'@
Add-Type $fontCSharpCode
#*******************************************************************
# Declare Functions
#*******************************************************************
#*******************************************************************
# Function Get-SpecialFolder()
#
# Purpose: Convert a CSIDL string to a folder parh string
#
# Input: $id CSIDL folder identifier string
#
# Returns: Folder path
#
#*******************************************************************
function Get-SpecialFolder($id)
{
$shell = New-Object –COM "Shell.Application"
$folder = $shell.NameSpace($id)
$specialFolder = $folder.Self.Path
$specialFolder
}
#*******************************************************************
# Function Get-RegistryStringNameFromValue()
#
# Purpose: Return the Registry value name
#
# Input: $keyPath Regsitry key drive path
# $valueData Regsitry value sting data
#
# Returns: Registry string value name
#
#*******************************************************************
function Get-RegistryStringNameFromValue([string] $keyPath, [string] $valueData)
{
$pattern = [Regex]::Escape($valueData)
foreach($property in (Get-ItemProperty $keyPath).PsObject.Properties)
{
## Skip the property if it was one PowerShell added
if(($property.Name -eq "PSPath") -or
($property.Name -eq "PSChildName"))
{
continue
}
## Search the text of the property
$propertyText = "$($property.Value)"
if($propertyText -match $pattern)
{
"$($property.Name)"
}
}
}
#*******************************************************************
# Function Remove-SingleFont()
#
# Purpose: Uninstall a font file
#
# Input: $file Font file name
#
# Returns: 0 - success, 1 - failure
#
#*******************************************************************
function Remove-SingleFont($file)
{
try
{
$fontFinalPath = Join-Path $fontsFolderPath $file
$retVal = [FontResource.AddRemoveFonts]::RemoveFont($fontFinalPath)
if ($retVal -eq 0) {
Write-Host "Font `'$($file)`' removal failed"
Write-Host ""
1
}
else
{
$fontRegistryvaluename = (Get-RegistryStringNameFromValue $fontRegistryPath $file)
Write-Host "Font: $($fontRegistryvaluename)"
if ($fontRegistryvaluename -ne "")
{
Remove-ItemProperty -path $fontRegistryPath -name $fontRegistryvaluename
}
Remove-Item $fontFinalPath
if ($error[0] -ne $null)
{
Write-Host "An error occured removing $`'$($file)`'"
Write-Host ""
Write-Host "$($error[0].ToString())"
$error.clear()
}
else
{
Write-Host "Font `'$($file)`' removed successfully"
Write-Host ""
}
0
}
""
}
catch
{
Write-Host "An error occured removing `'$($file)`'"
Write-Host ""
Write-Host "$($error[0].ToString())"
Write-Host ""
$error.clear()
1
}
}
#*******************************************************************
# Function Show-Usage()
#
# Purpose: Shows the correct usage to the user.
#
# Input: None
#
# Output: Help messages are displayed on screen.
#
#*******************************************************************
function Show-Usage()
{
$usage = @'
Remove-Font.ps1
This script is used to uninstall a Windows font.
Usage:
Remove-Font.ps1 -help | -path "<Font file name>"
Parameters:
-help
Displays usage information.
-file
Font file name. Files located in \Windows\Fonts. Valid file
types are .fon, .fnt, .ttf,.ttc, .otf, .mmm, .pbf, and .pfm
Examples:
Remove-Font.ps1
Remove-Font.ps1 -file "MyFont.ttf"
'@
$usage
}
#*******************************************************************
# Function Process-Arguments()
#
# Purpose: To validate parameters and their values
#
# Input: All parameters
#
# Output: Exit script if parameters are invalid
#
#*******************************************************************
function Process-Arguments()
{
## Write-host 'Processing Arguments'
if ($unnamedArgs.Length -gt 0)
{
write-host "The following arguments are not defined:"
$unnamedArgs
}
if ($help -eq $true)
{
Show-Usage
break
}
$fontFilePath = Join-Path $fontsFolderPath $file
if ((Test-Path $fontFilePath -PathType Leaf) -eq $true)
{
If ($hashFontFileTypes.ContainsKey((Get-Item $fontFilePath).Extension))
{
$retVal = Remove-SingleFont $file
if ($retVal -ne 0)
{
exit 1
}
else
{
exit 0
}
}
else
{
"`'$($fontFilePath)`' not a valid font file type"
""
exit 1
}
}
else
{
"`'$($fontFilePath)`' not found"
""
exit 1
}
}
#*******************************************************************
# Main Script
#*******************************************************************
$fontsFolderPath = Get-SpecialFolder($CSIDL_FONTS)
Process-Arguments
Always make sure to test everything in a development environment prior to implementing anything into production. The information in this article is provided “As Is” without warranty of any kind.