How to install fonts in a Docker Windows Container

In containerized Windows environments, there are scenarios where custom font installation becomes essential—particularly for applications that generate documents, perform automated UI rendering, or rely on specific branding requirements. This guide outlines a reliable approach to installing multiple fonts within a Windows-based Docker container.

Use Case

Installing fonts inside a Windows container is particularly useful for:

• Automated document or PDF generation (e.g., via PowerShell, wkhtmltopdf, or .NET libraries)
• Enterprise applications requiring proprietary or brand-specific fonts
• UI testing environments that need consistent font rendering across builds

Prerequisites

• Docker installed on a Windows host system
• A supported base Windows container image (e.g., mcr.microsoft.com/windows/servercore:ltsc2022)
• A collection of .ttf font files (C:\Windows\Fonts)

Dockerfile Example: Installing Multiple Fonts

To install multiple fonts during the image build process, follow the structure below:

1. Place all font files in a local fonts directory next to your Dockerfile.
2. Use the following sample Dockerfile:

FROM mcr.microsoft.com/windows/servercore:ltsc2022

# Create a temporary folder for fonts
RUN mkdir C:\fonts

# Copy all fonts into the container
COPY fonts/ C:/fonts/

# Install fonts and register them in the system
RUN powershell -Command `
    $fontPath = 'C:\fonts'; `
    $destination = 'C:\Windows\Fonts'; `
    $registryPath = 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Fonts'; `
    Get-ChildItem -Path $fontPath -Filter *.ttf | ForEach-Object { `
        Copy-Item $_.FullName -Destination $destination; `
        $fontFile = $_.Name; `
        $fontName = ($fontFile -replace '.ttf$', '') + ' (TrueType)'; `
        New-ItemProperty -Path $registryPath -Name $fontName -PropertyType String -Value $fontFile -Force `
    }

Also possible to have it in two lines.

FROM mcr.microsoft.com/dotnet/runtime:8.0-windowsservercore-ltsc2022 AS base
WORKDIR /app

COPY C:/Fonts/ C:/app/Fonts/
RUN powershell -Command "Get-ChildItem -Path 'C:\\app\\Fonts' -Filter '*.ttf' | ForEach-Object { Copy-Item $_.FullName -Destination 'C:\\Windows\\Fonts'; New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows NT\\CurrentVersion\\Fonts' -Name ($_.BaseName + ' (TrueType)') -PropertyType String -Value $_.Name }"

This script performs the following tasks:

• Copies all .ttf files into the system fonts directory (C:\Windows\Fonts)
• Registers each font in the Windows Registry so they are available to all applications running within the container