┌─ FILE ANALYSIS ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ┐
│ DEVELOPER : Microsoft
│ CATEGORY : Font
│ MIME TYPE : application/x-msdownload
└ ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ┘
What is a FON file?
FON is a Windows font resource file that contains one or more bitmap (raster) fonts. Unlike TrueType or OpenType fonts, FON fonts are rendered from pre-drawn pixel patterns at specific sizes, meaning they cannot be smoothly scaled. FON files use the Windows NE (New Executable) format and were standard in Windows 3.x through XP.
How to open FON files
- Windows Font Viewer (Windows) — Double-click to preview
- Windows Fonts folder — Install by copying to C:\Windows\Fonts
- FontForge (Windows, macOS, Linux) — Free font editor
- Resource Hacker (Windows) — Extract font resources
Technical specifications
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Bitmap/raster font |
| Container | NE (New Executable) resource |
| Scaling | Fixed sizes only |
| Hinting | Pixel-level rendering |
| Character Sets | ANSI, OEM, Symbol |
Common use cases
- Legacy systems: Windows XP and earlier UI fonts.
- Terminal emulators: Fixed-size console fonts.
- Retro computing: Classic Windows font rendering.
- Embedded displays: Low-resolution fixed-size text.