Creative Tech Support

Whether you purchased FontExplorer Pro or you’re just using the trial, the software is the same. You only need to download and install it once.

1. Click the Finder (desktop) and the Go menu at the top of the screen.
2. Choose Applications. If you already have an older FontExplorer installed, drag it from Applications to the trash.
3. Go to http://www.fontexplorerx.com.
4. Click Download near the top of the page.
5. Click Download Trial.
6. When the download completes, open the FontExplorer X disk on your desktop or Finder sidebar.
7. Drag the FontExplorer X Pro application to your Applications folder.
8. Drag FontExplorer X Pro from Applications to the dock.

Configuring FontExplorer

Follow these steps the first time you launch FontExplorer Pro.

1. Open FontExplorer and click Continue.
2. Check the box to agree to the license agreement and continue.
3. If FontExplorer Pro asks for a license, click Trial. Later, you’ll need to license the software – see the instructions below.
4. Check Organize Font Files and Copy fonts to a new location. The default location is FontExplorer X/Font Library, inside the home folder.
5. Click Continue and Analyze. Click Continue again.
6. The Plut-In Manager opens. If not, click the Tools menu and choose Plug-In Manager.
7. Next to each installed app, click Install or Update. You’ll need the admin password. Then close the window.
8. Click the Tools menu and Clean Application Font Caches.
9. Click the Tools menu and Clean System Font Caches.
10. The computer restarts, then you’re ready to use the fonts. Be sure to license your FontExplorer within 30 days. See below.

Purchasing FontExplorer Pro

You can use FontExplorer for up to 30 days before obtaining a license. When the trial period has ended, the software retains your settings and fonts but won’t run until you purchase and activate a license. If you or your company has already purchased a license, skip to the next section.

1. Go to http://www.fontexplorerx.com.
2. Click My Account at the top.
3. If you’ve already purchased FontExplorer, log in and click Previous Orders. Then click Download Order next to FontExplorer. Skip to Activating the license below.
4. Haven’t purchased FontExplorer yet? Log in.
5. Click FontExplorer X Pro near the top of the page.
6. Click Try or Buy, then click Purchase Now.
7. Choose the number of licenses you need and click Proceed to checkout.
8. Complete the checkout process with a credit card.
9. Download the order to obtain the license file.

Activating the license

After you’ve downloaded and installed the software, and purchased the license, you’re ready to activate it.

1. Open your downloads folder from the dock or Finder sidebar. Or click the Finder (desktop) and the Go menu at the top of the screen. Choose Home and open Downloads.
2. Open the LLOrder folder. If you don’t have one, follow steps 1-3 of Purchasing FontExplorer Pro. You’re not actually buying it again, you’re just downloading the license file.
3. Open the FontExplorer X folder inside the LLOrder folder and open the Pro folder inside that.
4. Open the License folder inside and double-click the FEX file inside that.
5. FontExplorer Pro opens and activates the license.

Using FontExplorer

Learn how to use FontExplorer Pro for single users.

FontExplorer also has a server solution that can keep an entire network of computers on the same fonts. If your organization uses a server, please see FontExplorer Server instructions. The rest of this page is for stand-alone users only.

Exporting settings and fonts

If you have more than one computer, you can move the entire font set and settings to the other Mac.

1. Open FontExplorer Pro. Make sure FontExplorer Pro has all the fonts and settings you need.
2. Click the File menu and choose Local Backup–Create.
3. Check the boxes for Sets, Font Request Rules & Preferences and Include Fonts.
4. Click Create Backup and save to an external or shared drive.

Importing settings and fonts

Follow these steps to load fonts from a FontExplorer backup file. 

1. Connect to the external or shared drive containing a FontExplorer backup file.
2. Double-click the backup (.fexbackup) file.
3. Choose a location for the fonts. The default location is FontExplorer X/Font Library, inside the home folder.
4. Check all boxes. If this is a new installation, replace the current configuration. Then click Load.
5. When settings are loaded, click Restart FontExplorer.

Learn more about graphics & media.