Microsoft Bringing Fonts and Language Packs for Windows 10 to the Store

The Microsoft Store isn’t just a place where users can download apps, games and movies for their Windows 10 devices. Ever since the launch of Windows 10, Microsoft has been slowly moving core parts of the OS to the store, making them easier to update for the company. System apps like the Windows Calculator are now updated through the Microsoft Store, and the company also uses the store to add support for new media formats.

In the future, though, it seems like Microsoft is bringing more OS-related content to the Microsoft Store. The company will soon start releasing fonts for the OS through the Microsoft Store and the store listing for one of the fonts was spotted earlier today (thanks for the tip, Ducky!). Like just other regular content, you will be able to download and install the font on your device with a single click. It isn’t clear whether Microsoft plans on letting third-party font designers submit their own fonts to the Microsoft Store, which would effectively make it a lot like Google Fonts, but for Windows.

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In addition to fonts, Microsoft also seems to be working on bringing language packs for the OS to the Microsoft Store. Listings for a  couple of “local experience” packs were leaked recently by Italian blog Aggiornamenti Lumia, and you’d be able to download these experience packs to install that language on your device in the future.

Microsoft bringing fonts and language packs to the Microsoft Store isn’t too much of a big deal, especially for things like fonts which aren’t updated as regularly as apps or games. The idea behind moving font downloads to the Microsoft Store could be to do with making Windows 10 more modular so that Microsoft doesn’t have to release an entire OS update just to update a couple of fonts.

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Conversation 21 comments

  • gdt841

    23 November, 2017 - 4:37 am

    <p>Is it too late to point out to Microsoft that this is a typeface? A font is a combination of typeface, point size and decorations such as bold, italic etc. E.g. something that you could physically pick up and assemble to print a page back in the days of moveable type.</p>

    • Jim Butts

      24 November, 2017 - 8:03 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#220089"><em>In reply to Dondon:</em></a><em>point taken, but if you ask Joe User, he'll call it a font. </em></blockquote><p><br></p>

  • Alex Taylor

    23 November, 2017 - 5:42 am

    <p>So does that indicate that we might install a font without being an Administrator? </p><p>I try to run as a regular user, but there are an enormous number of things that don't play well with that, including fonts and stupid stuff like setting a connection as metered, that you presently can't do without admin privileges. (the metered connection is especially perverse – we trust you to connect to a network, but not to try and avoid downloading exabytes of updates over it?) </p>

    • Mehedi Hassan

      Premium Member
      23 November, 2017 - 6:25 am

      <blockquote><a href="#220095"><em>In reply to agt4:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Not necessarily, admins can still put restrictions on what you can and can not download from the Microsoft Store, especially when your company uses MS Store for Business. </p>

    • jimchamplin

      Premium Member
      23 November, 2017 - 10:01 am

      <blockquote><a href="#220095"><em>In reply to agt4:</em></a></blockquote><p>Ah… the font installer will elevate. </p>

      • Alex Taylor

        23 November, 2017 - 12:51 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#220114"><em>In reply to jimchamplin:</em></a></blockquote><p>Yes, I'm aware that it will elevate, I just question why it needs to. </p><p>Installing a font for the current user shouldn't necessitate giving that user the password to an administrator account. </p><p>I'm acustommed to needing to elevate only to install a font system-wide. Or does windows not have per-user setup for fonts? </p>

        • MikeGalos

          26 November, 2017 - 4:54 am

          <blockquote><a href="#220193"><em>In reply to agt4:</em></a></blockquote><p>Changing the basic capabilities of an operating system is, pretty much by definition, an administrator task, Realize that an OpenType font is actually a small application as things like hinting are programmatic and could easily change how applications render and display on screen and print.</p>

  • DaveHelps

    Premium Member
    23 November, 2017 - 7:21 am

    <p>I kinda think it could be a big deal. Fonts require administrative privileges to install today, so moving to the store may be about more than just convenience – if it’s also a move to a trusted repository and installation mechanism that’s available to non-privileged users, it’s one less reason to invoke admin rights.</p>

  • visu9211

    23 November, 2017 - 9:29 am

    <p>Again, All these change to download Fonts, Language Packs etc. seems like MS wants to falsely increase the number of Store visits to say to developers that we had 5 Billion store views last year… They know that Store is mostly a deserted place and UWP is not going anywhere…</p>

    • Locust Infested Orchard Inc.

      23 November, 2017 - 11:42 am

      <blockquote><a href="#220113"><em>In reply to visu9211:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Your comment is beyond ridiculous, for it is like stating Jeff Bezos', CEO of Amazon.com, recent acquisition of Whole Foods, is attempting to increase the foot traffic in his newly acquired venture, as well as sales of food and grocery on Amazon.com.</p><p><br></p><p>In September, Microsoft rebranded its 'Windows Store' to 'Microsoft Store', so it makes sense for Microsoft to sell typefaces at the Store.</p><p><br></p><p>If Microsoft decides in 2025 to sell commemorative cakes and party poppers celebrating 50 years of their technological innovation and prowess, I would be more than inclined to purchase some. You however, would continue to resent Microsoft's business ethos.</p><p><br></p><p>Go shine Tim Cook's shoes. I'm sure he'll appreciate a Microsoft hater at his beck and call. No doubt once you've perfected the art of shoe shining, Tim will elevate you to a higher level, requesting you to shine items that require both finesse and stamina.</p>

      • visu9211

        24 November, 2017 - 7:43 am

        <blockquote><a href="#220154"><em>In reply to Locust Infested Orchard Inc.:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Wow! I should shine Tim Cook's shoes because I have an opinion. </p><p><br></p><p>I was a Windows Phone user and moved to iPhone… and have never looked back. All MS apps are much better on iOS than they ever were on Windows Phone…</p><p><br></p><p>Also, I don't use any UWP app on my WIn10 laptop… nothing worth looking. And if you look at MS App Store on WIn10… Its waayyyy behind in terms on Quantity &amp; Quality of Apps when compared with Android/iOS. </p><p><br></p><p>MS is great on enterprise and I use it everyday… But when it comes to consumer stuff, I have no faith in them. I would be weary that they might pull support from Consumer Devices/Apps anytime because its not selling as well as they would expect…. And don't get me started on they US only sh*t….</p>

        • Locust Infested Orchard Inc.

          24 November, 2017 - 10:05 am

          <blockquote><a href="#220370"><em><span class="ql-cursor"></span>In reply to visu9211:</em></a></blockquote><blockquote><em>Quote: "Wow! I should shine Tim Cook's shoes because I have an opinion.</em>"</blockquote><p>If indeed you read my paragraph in full, where I stated shining Tim Cook's shoes, you will realise the shining of his shoes would only be an introductory task. For the primary job would have been considerably more to Tim Cook's liking and preference. Read that entire paragraph again to better <strong>grasp </strong>the tasks you would be performing (you'd be grasping more than just the tasks).</p>

          • pecosbob04

            24 November, 2017 - 9:06 pm

            <p><a href="#220384"><em>In reply to Locust Infested Orchard Inc.:</em></a><em>I hope your oh so cleverly disguised yet childishly stupid innuendo is apparent to the owners of this site and that they deal with it appropriately. </em></p>

    • zankfrappa

      23 November, 2017 - 6:29 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#220113"><em>In reply to visu9211:</em></a></blockquote><p>if the number of visits increased because of people downloading fonts then you cant call in falsely increased. it seems like a lot of effort to go to anyway, especially when they could just as easily fake the numbers. </p>

  • rameshthanikodi

    23 November, 2017 - 10:29 am

    <p>wow Microsoft is actually starting to make sense with the store!</p>

  • Eric Rasmussen

    Premium Member
    23 November, 2017 - 11:09 am

    <p>Store apps are also sandboxed, meaning they can't do anything that affects the OS. This appears to be changing, so is Microsoft adding the ability to escalate privileges to store apps? This would be a big deal for developers too.</p>

  • Locust Infested Orchard Inc.

    23 November, 2017 - 12:32 pm

    <p><strong>Mehedi Hassan's Quote: "It isn’t clear whether Microsoft plans on letting third-party font designers submit their own fonts to the Microsoft Store, which would effectively make it a lot like Google Fonts, but for Windows."</strong></p><p><br></p><p>The media and bloggers alike are seemingly obsessed with both Google and Apple, attempting to draw similarities whenever Microsoft engages in a new direction or pursuit. In this instance the comparison with Google's font site suggests Google is somehow the font connoisseur, where all and one must visit Google's typographical heaven.</p><p><br></p><p>With vast masses of people only beholding to names such as Google, Apple, Facebook, etc, behemoths such as Adobe are largely forgotten, yet it is Adobe who have a massive presence with all things concerning typography, including probably the largest source of high-quality OpenType fonts from world-renowned foundries, including Adobe, ITC, Linotype, and Monotype Imaging, as well as smaller font-foundries and talented individual font designers ( typekit.com/fonts?collection=all )</p><p><br></p><p>Also let it be known that the most ubiquitous format of font is OpenType, which is a registered trademark of Microsoft. OpenType works on a variety of operating systems, including macOS, Linux, and even Solaris. Google on the other hand is a data-scrounging, data-thieving, privacy-invading, advert shunting, evil video promoting, tax evading entity.</p><p><br></p><p>I come to Thurrott.com for some sanity, away from Google-biased media outlets, and it was my hope that you Mehedi Hassan, with your considerable affection for Microsoft, having written for years on MSPoweruser, would have injected your passion for Microsoft in your writing. Besides, there is an unwritten rule that news pieces on Thurrott.com should not seek to elevate either Google's or Apple's technological aptitude without due warrant, as is almost always the case on other sites, even to the extent where untruths and misinformation are rife, for example commentary about the iPhone X, http://www.thurrott.com/mobile/ios/142861/heres-reviewers-saying-iphone-x-facial-recognition</p><p><br></p><p>So from here onwards, a little less Google / Apple conversation, a little more Microsoft action, please. All this Google / Apple aggravation ain't satisfactioning me. <img draggable="false" class="emoji" alt="?" src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/2.3/svg/1f61d.svg"></p&gt;

    • MikeGalos

      26 November, 2017 - 4:50 am

      <blockquote><a href="#220190"><em>In reply to Locust Infested Orchard Inc.:</em></a></blockquote><p>Couldn't have put it better.</p>

  • Irfan Ahmad Baagwan

    24 November, 2017 - 12:11 pm

    <p>noting but </p>

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