To add fonts to Procreate Pocket, open a canvas, go to Actions → Add → Add Text, double-tap the text, choose Edit Style, and tap the + symbol next to the Text Style title. Then pick your font file in the Files app. Procreate Pocket imports .ttf, .otf, and .ttc files, and you can also drop them into the app's Fonts folder in Files or AirDrop them from a Mac. If the font arrived as a .zip, unzip it first, because the app can't read compressed archives.

Before You Import: Check Your Font Files

Most failed imports come down to the file, not the app. Run through this short checklist first.

Confirm the format. Procreate Pocket reads three formats:

• .ttf (TrueType): the older, widely supported format.
• .otf (OpenType): the current common format, often carrying extra glyphs and typographic features.
• .ttc (TrueType Collection): several font styles packed into a single file, common for large CJK families.

Web-only formats and installer packages won't import. If a foundry delivers a folder of mixed assets, find the actual font files inside it.

Unzip archives. Font downloads usually arrive as a .zip. In the Files app, tap the archive once and iOS extracts it to a folder beside the original. Open that folder and look for the .ttf, .otf, or .ttc files.

Save the file on the device. The importer browses the Files app, so the font has to be reachable there, either in local storage or in a cloud folder your phone can see. If it's sitting in an email attachment or a browser download that never landed in Files, save it first.

Check what you already have. Procreate Pocket ships with 26 open-source default fonts that can be used in personal and commercial work, including Anton, Space Grotesk, Sora, Poppins, and Rubik. It also exposes the fonts built into iOS, which is nearly a hundred on a typical iPhone, though the exact number depends on your iOS version. You may not need to import anything.

Method 1: Import From Inside Procreate Pocket

This is the most direct route and the one to learn first.

1. Open a canvas and expand the toolbar.
2. Tap Actions → Add → Add Text.
3. Type a placeholder word so you have a text layer to work with.
4. Double-tap the text and choose Edit Style.
5. In the Edit Text Style menu, tap the + next to the Text Style title.
6. Browse to the folder holding your font in the Files app and tap the file.
7. The font appears in your Font list, ready to apply.

You can select several files in one pass if your folder contains a full family, which saves time when you're loading regular, bold, and italic weights together.

Method 2: Drag Fonts Into the Procreate Pocket Fonts Folder

This method suits people who want to install a whole batch at once, or who like to see what's installed.

1. Open the Files app and navigate to the folder with your fonts.
2. Touch and hold a font file (or select several) until it lifts.
3. While still holding it with one finger, use another finger to tap Browse → On My iPhone → Procreate Pocket → Fonts.
4. Drop the file into that folder.

That folder is where Procreate Pocket stores every font you've imported. Treat it as the source of truth: if a font is in there, the app can load it. Restart the app if a freshly dropped font doesn't show up straight away.

Method 3: AirDrop From a Mac

If your font library lives on a Mac, which is common for designers who manage fonts in Font Book or a dedicated manager, AirDrop is the quickest transfer.

1. Turn on AirDrop on both your Mac and your iPhone.
2. In Finder, locate the font file.
3. Right-click it, choose Share → AirDrop, and select your iPhone.
4. On the phone, choose to open the file in Procreate Pocket when prompted.

Make sure you're sending the actual font file rather than the installed copy buried in a system folder. Keep a tidy "mobile fonts" folder on your Mac for this purpose so you aren't hunting through system directories.

Applying and Previewing Your New Font

Once imported, add a text layer and open the font list inside Edit Style. Fonts are listed alphabetically and each name is rendered in its own typeface, so you can scroll to preview. Tapping a font applies it to your selected text immediately, which makes it easy to audition several options on the same word.

A few practical tips for type-heavy work:

• Test with your actual headline or lockup, not a placeholder. Kerning and weight look very different at real copy lengths.
• Check that the font includes the characters you need. Missing glyphs usually fall back to a system font silently.
• Rasterize or duplicate text layers before heavy editing, so you keep an editable version alongside a painted one.

Troubleshooting Common Import Problems

The font won't appear in the list. Confirm the file extension is .ttf, .otf, or .ttc. Then check that you imported the font file itself and not an archive or a preview image.

The import button does nothing visible. Some import paths complete in the background without a confirmation. Open the font list and scroll before assuming it failed.

OTF features don't show up. Procreate has historically not exposed OpenType alternates such as swashes, stylistic sets, and some ligatures. Some foundries note this on OTF product pages. If a script face depends on those alternates, check how it behaves before committing to a design. A glyph-access workaround, such as copying the alternate characters out of a font-management app and pasting them in, is often the practical solution. Behavior can change between app versions, so test with your version.

The font looks wrong or falls back. The font may lack characters in your text, or the file may be a partial or corrupted download. Re-download from the source.

The file is grayed out in the picker. That usually means the file is still zipped, is the wrong type, or hasn't finished downloading from cloud storage.

How to Remove Fonts You No Longer Need

Imported fonts are plain files in a folder, so cleanup is simple. Go to Files → On My iPhone → Procreate Pocket → Fonts, then delete the files you don't want. They'll disappear from the font list. This is also a good moment to prune fonts you imported while experimenting, because a crowded list slows down picking.

Check the License Before You Use a Font in Client Work

Importing a font into an app is not the same as being licensed to use it in a deliverable. Procreate Pocket's bundled defaults are open-source and cleared for personal and commercial use, but fonts you add yourself carry their own terms. For motion and broadcast work, check whether your license covers:

• Use in video, animation, and broadcast, not just print or web.
• Embedding or converting to outlines.
• Use by freelancers or agencies on a client's behalf.
• Installation on mobile devices, since some desktop licenses are seat-based.

Foundries often sell separate licenses for each use. If the same typeface ends up in After Effects, it needs to be licensed there too.

Where Procreate Pocket Type Fits in a Motion Pipeline

For motion designers, Procreate Pocket is rarely the final home of type. Live text in After Effects, Cinema 4D, or Blender stays editable, scalable, and resolution-independent. Procreate Pocket earns its place earlier, when you're exploring lettering, hand-drawn treatments, and style directions on your phone.

A sensible split looks like this:

• Explore in Procreate Pocket: sketch a title treatment, paint textures over a custom-imported typeface, and mock up a few styleframe options for a pitch.
• Export a flat image or PNG: use a transparent background when you need to composite the result over other footage or stills.
• Rebuild or refine in your main tools: recreate final type in After Effects with the same licensed font, so you keep proper vector sharpness and can animate per-character.

Using Your Type Frames as References in Styleframe

Once you have a handful of lettering frames, you can use them as reference material for AI-assisted motion work in Styleframe. For brand-critical typography, still plan to rebuild final text with the licensed font in your compositing app, and use any generated material for texture, motion exploration, and look development.

Quick Reference

FAQ

Can I use Mac-installed fonts directly in Procreate Pocket? Not automatically. Copy the font files off your Mac and send them via AirDrop or cloud storage.

Why does my downloaded font not appear in the picker? It's most likely still inside a .zip, or hasn't finished downloading to your device.

Do fonts sync between Procreate on iPad and Procreate Pocket? Treat them as separate installs. Each app has its own Fonts folder, so import into both if you use both.

Are the default fonts safe for client work? The bundled fonts are open-source and permitted for personal and commercial use, but confirm the specific license for each one you rely on in a deliverable.

To add fonts to Procreate Pocket, open a canvas, go to Actions → Add → Add Text, double-tap the text, choose Edit Style, and tap the + symbol next to the Text Style title. Then pick your font file in the Files app. Procreate Pocket imports .ttf, .otf, and .ttc files, and you can also drop them into the app's Fonts folder in Files or AirDrop them from a Mac. If the font arrived as a .zip, unzip it first, because the app can't read compressed archives.

Before You Import: Check Your Font Files

Most failed imports come down to the file, not the app. Run through this short checklist first.

Confirm the format. Procreate Pocket reads three formats:

• .ttf (TrueType): the older, widely supported format.
• .otf (OpenType): the current common format, often carrying extra glyphs and typographic features.
• .ttc (TrueType Collection): several font styles packed into a single file, common for large CJK families.

Web-only formats and installer packages won't import. If a foundry delivers a folder of mixed assets, find the actual font files inside it.

Unzip archives. Font downloads usually arrive as a .zip. In the Files app, tap the archive once and iOS extracts it to a folder beside the original. Open that folder and look for the .ttf, .otf, or .ttc files.

Save the file on the device. The importer browses the Files app, so the font has to be reachable there, either in local storage or in a cloud folder your phone can see. If it's sitting in an email attachment or a browser download that never landed in Files, save it first.

Check what you already have. Procreate Pocket ships with 26 open-source default fonts that can be used in personal and commercial work, including Anton, Space Grotesk, Sora, Poppins, and Rubik. It also exposes the fonts built into iOS, which is nearly a hundred on a typical iPhone, though the exact number depends on your iOS version. You may not need to import anything.

Method 1: Import From Inside Procreate Pocket

This is the most direct route and the one to learn first.

1. Open a canvas and expand the toolbar.
2. Tap Actions → Add → Add Text.
3. Type a placeholder word so you have a text layer to work with.
4. Double-tap the text and choose Edit Style.
5. In the Edit Text Style menu, tap the + next to the Text Style title.
6. Browse to the folder holding your font in the Files app and tap the file.
7. The font appears in your Font list, ready to apply.

You can select several files in one pass if your folder contains a full family, which saves time when you're loading regular, bold, and italic weights together.

Method 2: Drag Fonts Into the Procreate Pocket Fonts Folder

This method suits people who want to install a whole batch at once, or who like to see what's installed.

1. Open the Files app and navigate to the folder with your fonts.
2. Touch and hold a font file (or select several) until it lifts.
3. While still holding it with one finger, use another finger to tap Browse → On My iPhone → Procreate Pocket → Fonts.
4. Drop the file into that folder.

That folder is where Procreate Pocket stores every font you've imported. Treat it as the source of truth: if a font is in there, the app can load it. Restart the app if a freshly dropped font doesn't show up straight away.

Method 3: AirDrop From a Mac

If your font library lives on a Mac, which is common for designers who manage fonts in Font Book or a dedicated manager, AirDrop is the quickest transfer.

1. Turn on AirDrop on both your Mac and your iPhone.
2. In Finder, locate the font file.
3. Right-click it, choose Share → AirDrop, and select your iPhone.
4. On the phone, choose to open the file in Procreate Pocket when prompted.

Make sure you're sending the actual font file rather than the installed copy buried in a system folder. Keep a tidy "mobile fonts" folder on your Mac for this purpose so you aren't hunting through system directories.

Applying and Previewing Your New Font

Once imported, add a text layer and open the font list inside Edit Style. Fonts are listed alphabetically and each name is rendered in its own typeface, so you can scroll to preview. Tapping a font applies it to your selected text immediately, which makes it easy to audition several options on the same word.

A few practical tips for type-heavy work:

• Test with your actual headline or lockup, not a placeholder. Kerning and weight look very different at real copy lengths.
• Check that the font includes the characters you need. Missing glyphs usually fall back to a system font silently.
• Rasterize or duplicate text layers before heavy editing, so you keep an editable version alongside a painted one.

Troubleshooting Common Import Problems

The font won't appear in the list. Confirm the file extension is .ttf, .otf, or .ttc. Then check that you imported the font file itself and not an archive or a preview image.

The import button does nothing visible. Some import paths complete in the background without a confirmation. Open the font list and scroll before assuming it failed.

OTF features don't show up. Procreate has historically not exposed OpenType alternates such as swashes, stylistic sets, and some ligatures. Some foundries note this on OTF product pages. If a script face depends on those alternates, check how it behaves before committing to a design. A glyph-access workaround, such as copying the alternate characters out of a font-management app and pasting them in, is often the practical solution. Behavior can change between app versions, so test with your version.

The font looks wrong or falls back. The font may lack characters in your text, or the file may be a partial or corrupted download. Re-download from the source.

The file is grayed out in the picker. That usually means the file is still zipped, is the wrong type, or hasn't finished downloading from cloud storage.

How to Remove Fonts You No Longer Need

Imported fonts are plain files in a folder, so cleanup is simple. Go to Files → On My iPhone → Procreate Pocket → Fonts, then delete the files you don't want. They'll disappear from the font list. This is also a good moment to prune fonts you imported while experimenting, because a crowded list slows down picking.

Check the License Before You Use a Font in Client Work

Importing a font into an app is not the same as being licensed to use it in a deliverable. Procreate Pocket's bundled defaults are open-source and cleared for personal and commercial use, but fonts you add yourself carry their own terms. For motion and broadcast work, check whether your license covers:

• Use in video, animation, and broadcast, not just print or web.
• Embedding or converting to outlines.
• Use by freelancers or agencies on a client's behalf.
• Installation on mobile devices, since some desktop licenses are seat-based.

Foundries often sell separate licenses for each use. If the same typeface ends up in After Effects, it needs to be licensed there too.

Where Procreate Pocket Type Fits in a Motion Pipeline

For motion designers, Procreate Pocket is rarely the final home of type. Live text in After Effects, Cinema 4D, or Blender stays editable, scalable, and resolution-independent. Procreate Pocket earns its place earlier, when you're exploring lettering, hand-drawn treatments, and style directions on your phone.

A sensible split looks like this:

• Explore in Procreate Pocket: sketch a title treatment, paint textures over a custom-imported typeface, and mock up a few styleframe options for a pitch.
• Export a flat image or PNG: use a transparent background when you need to composite the result over other footage or stills.
• Rebuild or refine in your main tools: recreate final type in After Effects with the same licensed font, so you keep proper vector sharpness and can animate per-character.

Using Your Type Frames as References in Styleframe

Once you have a handful of lettering frames, you can use them as reference material for AI-assisted motion work in Styleframe. For brand-critical typography, still plan to rebuild final text with the licensed font in your compositing app, and use any generated material for texture, motion exploration, and look development.

Quick Reference

FAQ

Can I use Mac-installed fonts directly in Procreate Pocket? Not automatically. Copy the font files off your Mac and send them via AirDrop or cloud storage.

Why does my downloaded font not appear in the picker? It's most likely still inside a .zip, or hasn't finished downloading to your device.

Do fonts sync between Procreate on iPad and Procreate Pocket? Treat them as separate installs. Each app has its own Fonts folder, so import into both if you use both.

Are the default fonts safe for client work? The bundled fonts are open-source and permitted for personal and commercial use, but confirm the specific license for each one you rely on in a deliverable.