Once extracted, you will see font files with .ttf (TrueType) or .otf (OpenType) extensions. Popular ISM Malayalam fonts include IsmMatweb , Karthika , Thoolika , and Revathi . Method A: The Quick Install (Windows) Open the extracted folder. Press to select all font files. Right-click on any highlighted file.

Close and restart Microsoft Word or your design software completely after installing new fonts so the application can refresh its library.

: Ensure your document encoding is set to Unicode if you are using modern ISM Unicode fonts.

Google's Noto font family includes excellent Malayalam support. Noto Serif Malayalam and Noto Sans Malayalam are designed for clean, consistent rendering across all platforms. They include multiple weights and hundreds of glyphs for complete Malayalam script support.

ISM fonts are a set of ASCII-based Malayalam fonts designed by (Graphics and Intelligence Script Technology). Unlike modern Unicode fonts, which allow text to be displayed across any device, ISM fonts require the font file to be installed on the system to be readable. They are particularly popular for: Pre-press and printing jobs.

You need both. Enable the Malayalam keyboard in your system's language settings (Windows: Settings → Time & Language → Language → Add Malayalam, macOS: System Preferences → Keyboard → Input Sources, Linux: Settings → Region & Language → Input Sources).

Whether you are digging through an old archive, working in a legacy DTP center, or simply want to see old emails correctly, this guide will walk you through finding the ISM Malayalam fonts zip file and successfully installing it on .

Just installing the fonts will let you read ISM documents, but to type in Malayalam using the ISM layout, you need the companion software or a mapped keyboard layout.