Windows Fonts Silent Install (PowerShell)

This article will serve as an informative guide and give you a clear understanding of how to perform silent installs of one or more Windows Fonts 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 Install Windows Fonts Silently with PowerShell

Windows Fonts Silent Install (PowerShell)

  • Copy the PowerShell Script below to “C:\Downloads” & name it Add-Font.ps1
  • Create a new folder for your font files at “C:\Downloads\Fonts”
  • Copy your (.fon, .fnt, .ttf, .ttc, .otf) files to “C:\Downloads\Fonts”
  • 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 the following commands:
Powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy ByPass .\Add-Font.ps1 -path '.\Fonts'

Hide the Copyright Banner, Do Not Present an Interactive Prompt to the User, Do Not Load the PowerShell Profile, and Hide Window.

PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -NoLogo -NonInteractive -NoProfile -WindowStyle Hidden .\Add-Font.ps1 -path '.\Fonts'

Reference: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/archive/blogs/deploymentguys/adding-and-removing-fonts-with-windows-powershell


#########################################################################################
#   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:     Add-Font.ps1
# Date:     08/28/2013
# Version:  1.0.1
#
# Purpose:  PowerShell script to install Windows fonts.
#
# Usage:    Add-Font -help | -path "<Font file or folder path>"
#
# Copyright (C) 2010 Microsoft Corporation
#
#
# Revisions:
# ----------
# 1.0.0   09/22/2010   Created script.
# 1.0.1   08/28/2013   Fixed help text.  Added quotes around paths in messages.
#
#******************************************************************************

#requires -Version 2.0

#*******************************************************************
# Declare Parameters
#*******************************************************************
param(
    [string] $path = "",
    [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 Add-SingleFont()
#
# Purpose:  Install a font file
#
# Input:    $file    Font file path
#
# Returns:  0 - success, 1 - failure
#
#*******************************************************************
function Add-SingleFont($filePath) {
    try {
        [string]$filePath = (resolve-path $filePath).path
        [string]$fileDir  = split-path $filePath
        [string]$fileName = split-path $filePath -leaf
        [string]$fileExt = (Get-Item $filePath).extension
        [string]$fileBaseName = $fileName -replace($fileExt ,"")

        $shell = new-object -com shell.application
        $myFolder = $shell.Namespace($fileDir)
        $fileobj = $myFolder.Items().Item($fileName)
        $fontName = $myFolder.GetDetailsOf($fileobj,21)

        if ($fontName -eq "") { $fontName = $fileBaseName }

        copy-item $filePath -destination $fontsFolderPath

        $fontFinalPath = Join-Path $fontsFolderPath $fileName
        $retVal = [FontResource.AddRemoveFonts]::AddFont($fontFinalPath)

        if ($retVal -eq 0) {
            Write-Host "Font `'$($filePath)`'`' installation failed"
            Write-Host ""
            1
        }
        else {
            Write-Host "Font `'$($filePath)`' installed successfully"
            Write-Host ""
            Set-ItemProperty -path "$($fontRegistryPath)" -name "$($fontName)$($hashFontFileTypes.item($fileExt))" -value "$($fileName)" -type STRING
            0
        }
        ""
    }
    catch {
        Write-Host "An error occured installing `'$($filePath)`'"
        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 = @'
Add-Font.ps1
This script is used to install Windows fonts.

Usage:
Add-Font.ps1 -help | -path "<Font file or folder path>"

Parameters:

    -help
     Displays usage information.

    -path
     May be either the path to a font file to install or the path to a folder 
     containing font files to install.  Valid file types are .fon, .fnt,
     .ttf,.ttc, .otf, .mmm, .pbf, and .pfm

Examples:
    Add-Font.ps1
    Add-Font.ps1 -path "C:\Custom Fonts\MyFont.ttf"
    Add-Font.ps1 -path "C:\Custom Fonts"
'@

$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
    }

    if ((Test-Path $path -PathType Leaf) -eq $true) {
        If ($hashFontFileTypes.ContainsKey((Get-Item $path).Extension)) {
            $retVal = Add-SingleFont $path
            if ($retVal -ne 0) { exit 1 }
            else { exit 0 }
        }
        else {
            "`'$($path)`' not a valid font file type"
            ""
            exit 1
        }
    }
    elseif ((Test-Path $path -PathType Container) -eq $true) {
        $bErrorOccured = $false
        write-host $path
        foreach($file in (Get-Childitem $path -Recurse)) {
            if ($hashFontFileTypes.ContainsKey($file.Extension)) {
                $retVal = Add-SingleFont $($file.Fullname)
                if ($retVal -ne 0) {
                    $bErrorOccured = $true
                    Write-Output "Install of $($file.name) Failed"
                }
                else { Write-Output "Install of $($file.name) Successful" }
            }
            else {
                "`'$(Join-Path $path $file.Name)`' not a valid font file type"
                ""
            }
        }

        If ($bErrorOccured -eq $true) { exit 1 }
        else { exit 0 }
    }
    else {
        "`'$($path)`' 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.