Custom Fonts do Not Display on Client Browsers

Issue

Custom fonts or Wingdings do not display correctly in text boxes, titles or captions, even if forcing server-side rendering, and may display as Arial instead.

Environment

Tableau Server
Internet Explorer
Chrome
Firefox

Resolution

Use one of the following workarounds:

Use websafe fonts.
Where applicable, use an image file of the font rather than text.
Ensure font is installed on client computer as well as the computer running Tableau Server.
If font is able to render on Internet Explorer but not other browsers:
- CHROME: No currently known workaround. Chrome renders all fonts using DirectWrite since version 52.
- FIREFOX: Disable "Hardware acceleration". Options --> General --> uncheck "Use recommended performance settings" --> uncheck "Use hardware acceleration when available"

Cause

The font chosen is not websafe and is not installed on the client computer. Certain text objects, including text boxes on dashboards and titles and captions on dashboards and sheets, are always rendered by the client browser even when forcing server-side rendering.

Additional Information

There is some variation in which browsers support which fonts. For example, Chrome and Firefox do not support Wingdings and Webdings fonts, although they are supported by Internet Explorer.

Discuss this article... Feedback Forum