Now a days many people are buying android devices. Cheap Android mobile phones are available from Rs 4000. But most of them lack the support for Unicode fonts i.e. Devanagari fonts like Marathi, Hindi, etc. After searching a bit I got many tricks to enable and install the font. So I am sharing one good trick that actually worked on my Samsung Galaxy S GT-I9000 on Android version 2.3.
REMEMBER – This works only on ROOTED ANDROID DEVICES. We need to access (read/write) the Android file system and so it is necessary to have your device rooted. You can root your device using this APK – EasyRoot.apk. Other way, Google for “How to root android mobile” and follow the steps.
Now Let’s come to the main point…
Steps to Install Hindi font on Android.
- Download and Install ES File Explorer.
- After installing the app you will need to enable the Root Explorer. For that purpose Open “ES File Explorer” go to settings –> check “Root Explorer”. Also check “Mount File System” option so that we can write and file system.
- Download and save these fonts on your device’s /system/font/ directory. (It will replace the fonts from that directory so be careful)
- Reboot the device and enjoy the Marathi, Hindi messages and mails on your android device
WARNING – READ DISCLAIMER.
Aug 19, 2011 at 10:43 pm
long time no see, have been waiting for updates
great work and too helpful…just waiting to get my droid
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Aug 30, 2011 at 10:10 pm
Hi
Do i need to root my device
Where can I find path /system/font/ directory
I am using HTC Desire S.
please help
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Sep 6, 2011 at 10:49 pm
I was actually looking out for installing Unicode Fonts for my HTC G1 Rooted with Custom cyanogen ROM and you made it very easy for me now i am working on with various Unicode Fonts……..A big Thanks from my side
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Sep 18, 2011 at 5:00 pm
hello chetan … i have samsung galaxy s2, i need to install the devnagari font on my device, i trie to follow the above instructions … i downloaded the ES file explorer…but i m finding it confusing how to install the fonts?….please will u help me out ( n btw being a doctor i m totally dumb in understanding technical language)
thanks a lot
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Sep 26, 2011 at 9:38 am
Dear Chetan,
I could not find the system file in galaxy s GT I9000. Could you guide, how to find the system file, as I did all steps you guided but I could not find the system file to place the fonts.
Thank you.
Ghamaraj
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Oct 10, 2011 at 12:12 am
Thanks bro, I desperately needed Indian fonts on the new Firmware (SGS i9000 JVR)
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Oct 11, 2011 at 4:41 pm
did exactly what you mentioned. did not work for my samsung galaxy sl.
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Oct 15, 2011 at 10:12 am
Hi could you suggest how to root sony tablet s? I would love to browse all thojse marathi websites on the tab !
Thanks
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Oct 20, 2011 at 5:23 pm
Hey Chetan,
you rock man.
I am a SE Xperia X8 user(from Belgaum,Karnataka). My mothertounge is ‘Marathi’.Actually my stock 2.1 was quite able to show Devanagiri script. But I have flashed Android 2.3 on my x8. And unfortunately this custom Rom(GingerDX)doesn’t have devanagiri font.
So after I read you, I followed your instructions and did as you said, and now I can read my Lovely Marathi language on my X8.
“DHANYAWAD MITRAA” (THANKS DUDE)…
1 question–How can I change my contact font??? I am using Go Contacts Ex…
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Oct 31, 2011 at 12:31 am
Great Job Bhai,
You have make it large….
Proud to be an INDIAN…
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Oct 31, 2011 at 7:53 am
Chetan,
I have SGS-I9000 with Android Version 2.3.5. I managed to copy the files into /system/fonts but no luck am still getting the blocks while reading any hindi/marathi etc.
Please can you help?
Amit
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Nov 9, 2011 at 4:04 pm
i have Samsung Galaxy 3 *(i5801) upgraded to 2.2 froyo.
so is it ok to root the phone with easyroot.apk??
please let me know. I m worried.
thanks in advance
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Nov 10, 2011 at 6:41 pm
Thanks a lot for this – the installation of the Devanagari font works fine on my rooted SGS 1.
However, some other fonts (or at least some characters) seem to go missing in the process: I miss some symbols such as the forward and backward arrows, as used in K9Mail. Also, the entire Chinese character set is gone (not that I could read Chinese
but the boxes are not nice).
The file size of DroidSansFallback.ttf used here is much smaller than that of my original DroidSansFallback.ttf . However, combining my original DroidSansFallback.ttf with the DroidHindi.ttf provided here does not produce Devanagari fonts on my device.
Is there perhaps a more complete TTF combining all the existing characters? Or some way to edit the DroidSansFallback.ttf file?
Any advice would be highly welcome – thanks
Axel
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Nov 16, 2011 at 1:28 pm
Looks like it works on rooted devices only .. ES file explorer was not able to copy the fonts to my my fonts folder .. Author should mention this in his post .. Wasted my time
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Dec 2, 2011 at 3:56 pm
Thanks, I am very happy.. After 8 Months I am now able to read hindi on Galaxy S2.
Thank You very much again…
Keep it up…
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Feb 9, 2012 at 2:05 am
really nice share chetan,Now using marathi font on my Galaxy Ace
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Feb 9, 2012 at 10:31 pm
I have HTC wildfire S android 2.3. Please tell me how to do so? I tried you method for rooted phones but it giving me error.
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Feb 26, 2012 at 9:32 am
Chetan
I need your help for root HTC chacha its finding way after installing es manager and easy root application. I have lots of work in hindi on my phone. I am professor of this languge and literature.
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Sep 22, 2012 at 12:58 pm
Good tips Chetan & Nice Blog as well !!!
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Dec 13, 2012 at 3:35 pm
Hi Chetan,
I have read your blogs, but I didn’t find anything related to my mobile, so I am posting my query here. I have a wave 533 bada OS mobile and I want to install Whatsapp, I have google it, but didn’t find anything effective. Do you think, it will be possible to install whatapps for bada? Please let me know the progress.
Thanks in advance.
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