How To Fix Missing Fonts in a PDF

Let’s Talk About Why Fonts Go Missing in PDFs

Opened a file and seen a weird error message or noticed letters just not showing up? This oddity usually boils down to one simple thing: the fonts didn’t come along for the ride when the file was saved. That’s what we mean by “missing font in PDFs.”

There are a few common causes of fonts missing in PDFs. Sometimes the person who made the file didn’t embed the fonts when exporting it. When this happens, and your computer doesn’t have the font installed, the PDF has no idea what to do with the missing bits. Converting documents from one format to another (especially when you combine PDF files from different sources) can also cause hiccups.

So, what you're seeing is likely the result of one of these sneaky issues, but you don’t need to be a designer or tech whiz to fix it.

Replace Fonts Using Edit PDF

If you can open your file but see blank spaces or strange symbols, try using the Smallpdf Edit PDF tool to change the font directly in the file.

1. Upload your file to Edit PDF—it works in any browser, no downloads needed.
2. Select the block(s) with a missing font.
3. Choose one of Smallpdf's fonts—there are 10 to choose from.
4. Once you’re happy, download the file again.

This workaround won’t restore the exact original font if it’s completely gone, but it lets you make the document readable and editable again without starting from scratch.

Edit PDF is a Pro feature, but don’t worry—you can try it out with a free 7-day trial. That gives you full access to the tool, plus all the others.

Re-Embed Fonts From the Original Document

If you still have access to the original file—like a Word doc or PowerPoint—this step will save you a lot of hassle. Open preferences and click on “Save.” Under “Font Embedding,” make sure “Embed fonts in the file” is checked. This step makes sure your fonts stay with the file no matter where it’s opened.

If the fonts weren’t embedded in the first place, you’re going to encounter a font missing in PDF issue or get an error message when opening the PDF on another device.

Open your original file and follow the steps above to enable font embedding and re-save the PDF. You’ll probably find that your missing letters magically reappear.

Can’t Edit a PDF Due to Missing Fonts?

Trying to edit a form or fill in details but nothing shows up? That’s usually because you cannot edit a PDF due to missing font files—it literally can’t render or replicate the font you're trying to use.

Here’s a solid workaround that gives you full control:

1. Upload the file with the font issues to PDF to Word.
2. Wait for it to convert into an editable Word doc.
3. Download the file and open it in Word.

Now you can switch out the fonts for ones already installed on your computer, giving your whole document a cleaner, more consistent look. If you know which font is missing, try searching for it online. If it’s available, download and install it—then reopen your PDF to see if that solves the problem. It’s a simple way to tackle a missing font in PDFs without too much fuss.

How To Avoid Missing Fonts When Merging Files

This one’s sneaky: you combine PDF files, everything looks fine—then poof, your headers or labels vanish. What happened? Well, if the original PDFs didn’t embed their fonts, merging them causes the system to freak out a little.

That’s how you end up with combined PDFs missing fonts.

To avoid it, reopen each individual file, check the font settings, and re-export them with the “embed fonts” option enabled. Then merge them using Merge PDF once everything’s clean. This way, every piece plays nicely together, and nothing mysteriously disappears.

What To Do When Fonts Vanish

Why is my font not showing up in a PDF?

Most likely, the font wasn’t embedded when the PDF was saved, or your device doesn’t have the same font installed. These are common causes of fonts missing in PDF files.

How do I add missing fonts to a PDF?

If you have the original document, re-export the PDF with the fonts embedded. If not, use Edit PDF to manually select the glitchy text and change the font.

How do you repair fonts in a PDF?

Try fixing the issue using Smallpdf’s Edit PDF tool or convert the file to Word, replace the font there, then re-save as a PDF with embedded fonts.

How do I fix missing letters in a PDF?

Missing letters usually happen when the font can’t render properly. Either re-embed the original font or swap it out for a more universal one using Edit PDF.