Check PDF fonts
Drop a PDF to list its fonts and whether each one is embedded, with the likely cause of garbled text and how to fix it.
No upload
Drop a PDF here
We check whether the fonts it uses are embedded. The file never leaves your device.
How to check a PDF for font problems
- 1
Drop the PDF
Drop the PDF that shows garbled text, or press Choose a PDF.
- 2
Read the diagnosis
Fonts that aren’t embedded, fonts that copy as garbage and Type 3 fonts each get a short explanation and fix.
- 3
Fix it
The reliable fix is a new export with fonts embedded. If you’re in a hurry, save a copy as images that looks the same everywhere.
Common causes of garbled PDF text
The font isn’t embedded
A PDF that carries its fonts looks the same everywhere. Without them, the viewer substitutes a font from the computer it runs on, and where that font is missing you get boxes, question marks or shifted text.
PDFs with Japanese, Chinese or Korean text are the most affected when the font isn’t embedded.
It reads fine but copies as garbage
Without a ToUnicode map, the PDF only knows which glyph to draw, not which character it is. The page looks right, but copying or searching gives the wrong characters.
The fix is a new export from the original document, or OCR to recover the text.
Common questions
How do I check whether fonts are embedded?+
Drop the PDF here and every font is listed as embedded or not. In Adobe Acrobat Reader you can also look under File, Properties, Fonts.
Some fonts aren’t embedded. What now?+
Ask the sender to export the PDF again with fonts embedded. Copy the list of missing fonts to send them a ready-made message.
Can I fix it myself?+
Save it as images to get a PDF that looks the same everywhere. You won’t be able to select or search the text in that copy.
Helvetica shows up as a standard font.+
It’s one of the 14 fonts every PDF viewer has. It’s usually fine even when not embedded.
Does my file leave my device?+
No. Checking fonts and saving as images both happen in your browser.