setfont

Load console screen fonts for Linux TTYs

TLDR

Change the terminal font

$ setfont [font].gz

Change font by specifying a full path

$ setfont /usr/share/kbd/consolefonts/[font.psf.gz]

Double the font size

$ setfont -d

Reset to the default font

$ setfont

Save the current font before changing

$ setfont -o [saved_font] [new_font]

Set font for a specific console

$ setfont -C /dev/tty2 [font]

SYNOPSIS

setfont [OPTIONS] [font.new...] [-m cmap] [-u umap] [-C console]

setfont loads console screen fonts into the EGA/VGA character generator for Linux virtual terminals (TTYs). It can load PSF (PC Screen Font) files and optionally associate Unicode mapping tables for proper character display.
Fonts are typically stored in /usr/share/kbd/consolefonts/ and come in various sizes (8x8, 8x14, 8x16). The command operates on the current console by default but can target specific TTYs with -C. When called without arguments, it loads a default 8x8 font.

PARAMETERS

-d, --double

Double the font size for high-density displays

-h N, --font-height N

Override font height (useful for partial fonts)

-o file

Save previous font to the specified file

-O file

Save previous font and Unicode map together

-om file

Store current console mapping table

-ou file

Save current Unicode mapping to file

-m file, --consolemap file

Load console map or Unicode console map

-u file, --unicodemap file

Load Unicode mapping table for the font

-C device, --console device

Set font on the specified console device

-f, --force

Force loading Unicode map even if empty

-R, --reset

Restore console to bootup defaults

-v, --verbose

Enable verbose output

-V, --version

Print version information

CAVEATS

Only works on Linux virtual consoles (TTYs), not in terminal emulators like xterm or GNOME Terminal. Requires appropriate permissions (typically root) to modify console settings. Font changes do not persist across reboots; configure in /etc/vconsole.conf for systemd systems or appropriate init scripts.

HISTORY

setfont is part of the kbd (keyboard and console utilities) package, which has been a standard Linux component since the early 1990s. The PSF font format was developed specifically for Linux console fonts. The command evolved from earlier utilities like loadfont and integrates Unicode support added in Linux 2.0 era.