Fonts need to be available when you need them, without slowing down your system or disrupting your workflow. Monotype Connect+ provides flexible font activation options that let you choose how much control you want over font management.

Monotype Fonts supports two activation modes:

Understanding font types

Before activating or deactivating fonts, it helps to understand the difference between Permanent and Temporary fonts.

Key difference: Permanent fonts represent ownership and are associated with your account. Temporary fonts are machine-specific and are available only for the current device or workflow.

Feature	Permanent Fonts	Temporary Fonts
Purpose	For fonts you want to keep and use regularly.	For fonts needed temporarily, such as when opening a document with missing fonts.
Ownership	Belong to your Monotype Fonts account.	Do not belong to your Monotype Fonts account.
How are they activated	Typically activated manually from Search, Browse, Favorites, or Font Sets.	Typically activated automatically when a document requires them.
Available across devices	Yes, on eligible devices where you're signed in.	No, only on the machine where they were activated.
When activated	Become available for use and remain associated with your account.	Become available for use on the local machine only.
When deactivated	User deactivation removes the font from the machine and your account. System deactivation removes it from the machine but keeps it in your account.	User or system deactivation removes the font from the machine only.
Example	A brand font you regularly use across projects and devices.	A font automatically activated so a shared document displays correctly.

Manage font activation and deactivation

Task	Steps	Result
Activate a font manually	Find a font using Search, Browse, Favorites, or Font Sets. Select Activate.	The font is activated immediately, added to your account as a Permanent font, and becomes available across eligible devices.
Open a document with missing fonts	Open the document. Monotype Fonts detects missing fonts. Required fonts are activated automatically.	The document opens with the correct fonts. The activated fonts are treated as Temporary fonts by default.
Change a Temporary font to Permanent	Locate the temporary font. Select Make Permanent or change the font type to Permanent.	The font is added to your account and becomes available across eligible devices.
Change a Permanent font to Temporary	Select the permanent font. Change the font type to Temporary.	The font is removed from your account and becomes machine-specific.
Deactivate a Permanent font	Locate the active permanent font. Select Deactivate.	The font is removed from the machine and your account.
Deactivate a Temporary font	Locate the active temporary font. Select Deactivate.	The font is removed from the machine. No account ownership changes occur.
Review fonts when capacity is exceeded (Auto Mode)	Open the Attention Required notification. Review active fonts. Choose fonts to deactivate.	You can manually free capacity while keeping required fonts active.
Use Auto-Deactivate (auto mode)	Open the Attention Required notification. Select Auto-Deactivate.	The system keeps the newly activated font active and deactivates older fonts until capacity returns to a healthy level.

Note: In auto mode, temporary fonts may be automatically deactivated when a document closes, an application closes, or another safe cleanup point is reached. Permanent fonts are not automatically removed simply because a document or application closes.

Capacity awareness indicators (only for auto mode)

To help you avoid performance issues, auto mode may display capacity indicators.

Capacity Status	Description	Action Required
Normal	Font activation is within the recommended capacity for your machine. No indicators are displayed.	No action needed.
Approaching limit	Font activation is nearing the recommended capacity. A subtle, non-blocking notification may appear to let you know that capacity pressure is increasing.	No action required. You can continue working normally.
Attention required	The number of active fonts has exceeded the recommended capacity for your machine. All fonts remain available, but performance may be affected.	Review active fonts or use auto-deactivate to return the machine to a healthy state.

Note: These indicators are only for information. They do not interrupt your work, prevent font activation, or automatically deactivate fonts. In auto mode, fonts remain available until you choose to resolve the over-capacity state.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a document fail to open if capacity is exceeded?

No. Font activation always completes, and documents continue to open normally.

Can the system deactivate fonts while I'm working?

No. Monotype Fonts does not perform surprise deactivations during active work sessions.

Does the system track font usage inside applications?

No. The system does not rely on application usage tracking to determine deactivation behavior.

Can ownership change automatically?

No. Ownership changes only when you explicitly choose to make a font permanent or temporary.

Which mode should I use?

Use Auto Mode if you want fonts to be managed automatically and performance optimized.
Use Manual Mode if you prefer complete control over which fonts are active on your machine.