Inkscape PDF Import Problems
Workaround available Windows, macOS, Linux Updated November 13, 2026Based on 3 user reportsHow we research
Quick answer
PDF import problems come from font substitution, text imported as shapes and unusual PDFs. Turn off font replacement in the import dialog, try the Internal vs Cairo import, or convert the PDF to SVG first.
Most likely fix: Import options
How to fix it
Try these in order — the most common fix is first.
1. Import options
- File > Open the PDF; in the dialog choose the page
- Set Text handling to Import text as text or Convert to paths
- 1.4.3 changed the default from drawing missing fonts to substituting them, so adjust that option
Did this fix it?2. Try the other import method
- Switch between Poppler/Cairo and the internal import in the dialog
Did this fix it?3. Install the fonts
- Install the fonts named in the PDF, then reopen
Did this fix it?4. Convert first
- Use pdf2svg or Inkscape's command line to convert, which keeps text as vector shapes but not editable
Did this fix it?
Symptoms
Text appears in the wrong font or as weird characters, text is missing, or the import crashes.
Why it happens
- Font substitution to the closest installed font
- PDF uses embedded subset or CID fonts
- Poppler import limitations on some PDFs (a crash was fixed in the 1.4.4 draft)
- Multi-page PDFs need a page chosen
This guide also covers
- inkscape pdf import
- inkscape pdf import font wrong
- inkscape pdf text missing
- inkscape open pdf not working
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