How to Fix Custom Fonts Not Rendering on iPhone Browsers in Shopify

Understanding the Problem: Custom Font Not Rendering on iPhone

When trying to create a unique and engaging shopping experience on your Shopify store, using custom fonts can play a crucial role. However, a common issue faced by many Shopify users is that custom fonts render correctly on desktop browsers but fail to show up on iPhone browsers, defaulting to standard fonts instead.

This can be frustrating, especially when the custom font adds a distinct character to your brand. Understanding why this happens and how to fix it is key to ensuring your store looks perfect on every device.

Possible Causes of the Problem

Several factors can cause custom fonts to not render correctly on iPhone browsers. Here are some common issues:

1. Unsupported Font Formats: Not all font formats are supported by every browser. iPhones require specific file formats to render fonts properly.
2. Incorrect Font-Face Declaration: If the @font-face rule in your CSS is not correctly declared, the font may not load properly on all devices.
3. Browser Caching Issues: Sometimes browsers cache old versions of your site’s assets, which could include outdated font files, leading to display issues.
4. File Path Errors: Incorrect file paths in the CSS can prevent the browser from finding and loading the font file.
5. Missing Font Variants: Ensuring that all necessary font files are uploaded (e.g., .eot, .ttf, .woff, .woff2) can help prevent rendering issues.

Steps to Fix Custom Fonts Not Rendering on iPhone

To solve the issue of custom fonts not rendering on iPhone, follow these detailed steps:

1. Convert Your Font Files

Since different browsers support different font formats, converting your font files to include all major formats is essential. Use a free online font converter to convert your fonts into the following formats: .eot, .svg, .ttf, .woff, and .woff2.

2. Upload Font Files to Shopify

Upload all your converted font files to the Assets folder of your Shopify theme.

3. Edit Your CSS File

Add the following @font-face declaration to your CSS file to ensure all the necessary formats are included and properly referenced:

@font-face {
  font-family: 'KasseUltraFLF';
  src: url('./KasseUltraFLF.eot');
  src: url('./KasseUltraFLF.eot?#iefix') format('embedded-opentype'),
       url('./KasseUltraFLF.woff2') format('woff2'),
       url('./KasseUltraFLF.woff') format('woff'),
       url('./KasseUltraFLF.ttf') format('truetype'),
       url('./KasseUltraFLF.svg#KasseUltraFLF') format('svg');
  font-weight: normal;
  font-style: normal;
}

4. Clear Browser Cache

After updating your CSS and font files, clear the cache on your iPhone browser to ensure the new files are loaded properly. You can do this by going to the settings of your browser and selecting the option to clear browsing data.

5. Verify Font Loading

Test your website on multiple iPhone browsers to ensure the custom font is rendering correctly. If it’s still not showing, double-check the file paths and make sure all font files are uploaded correctly.

Questions and Answers

Q1: Why does my custom font work on desktop but not on mobile?

Custom fonts might work on desktops but not on mobile due to unsupported font formats, caching issues, or incorrect @font-face declarations. Ensuring you have all necessary formats and correct paths can solve this issue.

Q2: How can I check if my font files are being correctly loaded?

Use browser developer tools to check the network requests for your font files. You should see requests for the .eot, .woff, .woff2, .ttf, and .svg versions of your custom font. If any file fails to load, there might be an issue with the file path or server configuration.

Conclusion

Ensuring that custom fonts render correctly on all devices, including iPhones, is crucial for maintaining a consistent and professional appearance for your Shopify store. By converting your font files to all necessary formats, uploading them correctly, and verifying your CSS, you can avoid common pitfalls and ensure a seamless visual experience for your visitors.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to Shopify experts or the community forums for additional support.