How do I remove or deactivate Noto Sans systems fonts?

Question

Level 2

192 points

How do I remove or deactivate Noto Sans systems fonts?

There are dozens and dozens of Noto Sans fonts that pollute my font lists in every application that uses fonts.

How do I get rid of them or deactivate them? I don't want or need them. The System/Library/Fonts/Supplemental folder is protected in a way that won't allow me to remove files. Font Book doesn't even show all these fonts as existing, so, no help there.

I have an app called Typeface that says I should be able to deactivate those fonts, but it doesn't work. I can see 328 fonts in that Supplemental folder where the Noto Sans fonts exist, but, the Noto Sans fonts appear to be hidden from that list.

It seem ridiculous that Apple is forcing all these fonts on us and not even giving us the option to remove or deactivate them if we don't want or need them. My font lists have so many fonts I don't want but can't get rid of, which I'm sure is slowing down applications.

iMac 24″, macOS 12.1

Posted on Jan 8, 2022 2:26 PM

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Answer 1

Old Toad

Level 10

215,754 points

Jan 8, 2022 3:07 PM in response to Tom H.

The location of those fonts is in theSystem/Library/Fonts folder and are on a read only volume. Therefore, you can't delete them. You can customize the font list in most Apple apps and many 3rd party apps by putting all of your favorite and most used fonts in the Favorites section of Font Book.

Then when you open a font menu they will be at the top of the list.

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Answer 2

Tom H. Author

Level 2

192 points

Jan 8, 2022 4:16 PM in response to Old Toad

Wow, I can't remove fonts I don't want or need? Incredible.

I have a lot of fonts that I use, I'm a graphic designer. Favoriting fonts is not a viable option for me, I'd have to fave hundreds to bypass the hundreds of fonts that Apple is forcing me to scroll past. Apple needs to remove this ridiculous restriction and let me choose want fonts I want on my computer.

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Answer 3

etresoft

Level 9

56,692 points

Jan 8, 2022 5:35 PM in response to Tom H.

Tom H. wrote:

I have a lot of fonts that I use, I'm a graphic designer. Favoriting fonts is not a viable option for me, I'd have to fave hundreds to bypass the hundreds of fonts that Apple is forcing me to scroll past. Apple needs to remove this ridiculous restriction and let me choose want fonts I want on my computer.

Most of these are document support fonts. They are supposed to remain hidden until you get a document from a client that uses them. Then, and only then, the font will be available and the document will work as it should.

Apple is not the one putting these fonts into your font menus. It is 3rd party apps doing that. You need to contact the developers of those apps and ask them why they don't seem to have even tested their app on a Mac in the past several years.

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Answer 4

Jan 14, 2022 6:17 AM in response to Tom H.

In a desperate attempt to remove all the unwanted fonts from my system I completely erased my my Mac (Mac mini with M1 chip) and started with a fresh OS... and I still have the NOTO fonts (and others). So NO, I don't believe that third-parties are adding these fonts. I first noticed this in Catalina and now they're being installed with Monterey, too! Apple, FIX THIS!!!

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