Not all fonts include every possible symbol or character. Fortunately, macOS uses a “fallback font” system that helps fill in the gaps.
When a font doesn’t include a certain symbol, macOS automatically looks for another font that does and substitutes it for you.
This usually works smoothly in most apps, but in some programs that don’t fully use macOS’s text system, you might see unexpected or mismatched symbols.
Why font choice matters
If you want consistent results, it’s best to use a font that actually contains the symbol you need.
For example:
- The Helvetica font does not include arrow symbols.
- If you insert arrows while using Helvetica, macOS will borrow them from another font, meaning they might look slightly different.
To keep your text looking the way you want, it’s better to find and use a font that includes your desired characters directly.
Example: finding the Indian rupee symbol (₹)
Let’s say you want to use the Indian Rupee sign (₹) in a document.
This symbol was added to Unicode in 2010, so it’s not included in many older fonts.
Here’s how you can use PopChar to find which fonts contain this symbol:
1. View all available symbols
- Open PopChar and select any font (for example, Verdana).
- In the font selection menu, choose “Union of All Available Fonts”.
This view shows every symbol available across all your installed fonts. - Characters unavailable in Verdana appear in blue, while those available in Verdana appear in black.
2. Search for the symbol
- Type “rupee” in the PopChar search field.
- You’ll now see both the old Rupee symbol (“Rs”) and the new Rupee symbol (₹) under Currency Symbols.
The old one appears in black (available in Verdana), and the new one in blue (missing from Verdana).
3. Find fonts that include the symbol
- Right-click (or Ctrl-click) the new Rupee symbol and select “Mark Fonts Containing ₹”.
PopChar now marks all fonts that include this character with a bullet in the font list. - For example, Geneva and Georgia may support ₹, while Gentium and GentiumAlt may not.
4. View or export the font list
- To see only the marked fonts, select “Marked Fonts” from the pop-up menu above the font list.
- To export the list, right-click any font and choose “Copy Font List” to copy it to your clipboard.
5. Clear the marks
- To remove all marks, right-click again and select “Reset Marks.”
Tip: This method works for any character or symbol, not just the Rupee sign!
Use it whenever you want to find out which fonts support a specific symbol — like arrows, math symbols, or special language characters.