emacs init: Set default font

By Xah Lee. Date: . Last updated: .

This page shows you how to set font for emacs in init file.

Set Font to Init File, via Graphical User Interface Menu

Chose the menu:

  1. menu [Options ▸ Set Default Font…]
  2. menu [Options ▸ Save Options].

font setting is saved to the Emacs Init File in the custom-set-variables section. [see emacs init: M-x customize]

emacs font size menu 2021-03-18
emacs font size menu 2021-03-18
emacs font size dialog 2021-03-18
emacs font size dialog 2021-03-18

Set Font in Init File

put this in your Emacs Init File:

;; set overall font

(set-frame-font
 (let ((fontlist (font-family-list)))
   (cond
    ((member "Cascadia Mono" fontlist) "Cascadia Mono")
    ((member "Consolas" fontlist) "Consolas")
    ((member "Menlo" fontlist) "Menlo")
    ((member "DejaVu Sans Mono" fontlist) "DejaVu Sans Mono")
    (t nil)))
 t t)

List available fonts

(print (font-family-list))

[see Evaluate Emacs Lisp Code]

Check if a font exist

;; returns true if Symbola exists
(member "Symbola" (font-family-list))

[see Emacs: Evaluate Elisp Code]

Reference