GIMP Text Tool Not Working or Font Resets

How to fix it

Try these in order — the most common fix is first.

1. 1. Update GIMP

   1. Install the latest 3.2.x from gimp.org; several text tool bugs were reported in 3.2.2 and fixed in later point releases per forum reports
   Did this fix it? Yes No

2. 2. Check text layer basics

   Copy steps
   1. Click the canvas with the Text tool and type; check the layer is visible and text color differs from the background
   2. Set the font in Tool Options before you click, not after typing, if it resets
   Did this fix it? Yes No

3. 3. Fix fonts not detected

   Copy steps
   1. Open Edit > Preferences > Folders > Fonts to see scanned folders
   2. Windows: system fonts are in C:\Windows\Fonts, user fonts can go in %APPDATA%\GIMP\3.0\fonts
   3. Restart GIMP after installing a font, or use the Fonts dock refresh button
   Did this fix it? Yes No

4. 4. Use a text tool preset as a workaround

   Copy steps
   1. Open Windows > Dockable Dialogs > Tool Presets and save a preset with your font
   2. Select it before using the Text tool
   Did this fix it? Yes No

Symptoms

Text will not appear, the font snaps back to Sans-Serif, the font picker only shows your search text, or the text tool is disabled with a no-fonts message.

Why it happens

• No fonts found by Fontconfig
• Font installed in a folder GIMP does not scan
• Known text tool bugs in some 3.0 and 3.2 releases (tracked on the GIMP GitLab)
• Text layer is hidden or color matches the background

This guide also covers

• gimp text tool not working
• gimp font reset sans serif
• gimp 3 can't change font
• gimp text not showing

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