Failed to decode downloaded font

web-development

font-issues

debugging

browser-tools

byNikita Barsukov·Feb 7, 2025

Quickly tackling the "Failed to decode downloaded font" error involves policing your server's MIME types and taking care of CORS settings on your Apache server. Make sure your MIME types are correctly set for fonts:

.woff → application/font-woff
.woff2 → application/font-woff2
.eot → application/vnd.ms-fontobject
.ttf → font/truetype
.otf → font/opentype

Resolve CORS issues with a bit of .htaccess magic:

<FilesMatch "\.(ttf|otf|eot|woff|woff2)$">
    Header set Access-Control-Allow-Origin "YOUR-DOMAIN.com"
</FilesMatch>

Remember to change YOUR-DOMAIN.com to your actual domain. Avoid using * as it can compromise your security.

Also, check your font files for corruption and ensure you've used binary mode during FTP transfer. You wouldn't want a griefer messing with your beautiful @font-face CSS, would you?

Ensuring Font File Fitness

Let's talk file integrity. Corrupted font files can lead to "Failed to decode" errors. Be a font file fitness trainer:

Use md5sum or similar. They're the gym scales for your font file.
Binary mode during FTP transfer keeps your fonts in shape, making sure no unwanted "modification calories" accumulate.

Suspect a file is feeling off? Give it a makeover with Transfonter, adding .eot and .woff to its fashion portfolio for maximum browser compatibility.

Addressing @font-face Rightly

Your CSS needs to "address" the right font file. Remember to specify complete file paths and file extensions in your @font-face rule.

@font-face {
  font-family: 'RobotoRegular'; /* Or 'ComicSans' if you're feeling brave */
  /* The full path and the format are like your home's address and mailbox respectively */
  src: url('fonts/Roboto-Regular.woff2') format('woff2'),
       url('fonts/Roboto-Regular.woff') format('woff');
}

Note: Roboto, not Comic Sans.

Serving Fonts Right with Server Configurations

Your server is the restaurant and the font files are the exotic dishes. The right mime types in the server config are your menu details.

types {
  /* woff, woff2, eot, otf and tiff walked into the server, ready to be served */
  font/woff2 woff2;
  font/woff woff;
  application/vnd.ms-fontobject eot;
  font/opentype otf;
  font/truetype ttf;
}

Custom orders? Update nginx.conf and mime.types respectively, for the alias of a font directory or missing mime type.

Debug with Browser Developer Tools

Like Batman's utility belt, browser developer tools are indispensable when it comes to debugging font issues.

Look for HTTP status codes that hint a failed font file request.
Watch out for console warnings telling tales of rebellious font behavior.
The Network tab is your detective sidekick, investigating font paths or CORS restrictions.

Clear Cache, Clear Troubles

Experiencing the deja vu of persistent font errors? Your browser cache may be acting as a time loop. Clear your browser cache and keep those font troubles in the past where they belong.