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AutoCAD: Text missing or does not display in drawings

Technical Support

Issue:

Users reported that after opening a drawing in AutoCAD products, some or all text does not display. The following symptoms have been observed:

  • The text objects may or may not still be selectable, but no lettering or other characters are shown.
  • The preview of certain text styles might be missing from the Style dialog.
  • Only some drawings may be affected.
  • The same text may show correctly on other systems.
  • Text may display in a layout but not in model space.
  • Text may display in model space but not in paper space .
  • Text might display or disappear when zooming in and out.
  • Text disappears right after creation.

Causes:

  • Missing fonts.
  • Corrupted product version.
  • GPU incompatibility.
  • Incorrect settings.
  • Text is contained in a text boundary frame.

Solution:

Below are some common solutions depending on the cause of the issue. After each solution, test to see if the issue is resolved before moving to the next solution. 

Note: If you are not an administrator or you are working in a controlled or secure environment and receive errors while troubleshooting, you may need to contact a member of your IT team to help with the below solutions.

 

Replace missing fonts

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Solution: Try checking/making the following changes for fonts.

  • Check for missing fonts: It's possible the font style is missing and needs to be installed. To do this:
    1. Enter the STYLE command and look through the text styles to see if fonts are missing.
    2. Obtain copies of missing fonts and install: 
    • TrueType (TTF) fonts in the operating system font folder: Path: C:\Windows\Fonts). 
    • Shape Files (SHX) fonts in the AutoCAD font folder: Path: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 20xx\Fonts.
    • Note: A system restart may be necessary for the added font to display in the system folder and AutoCAD.
  • Turn off Use Big Font: Turn off Use Big Font for affected text styles in the Text Styles dialog.
    1. Click Annotate tab > Text panel > Text Style
    2. Or in the Command prompt, enter style.
    3. Text Styles window and untick Use Big Font for affected text styles.

Text Styles Dialog: Use Big Font

  • Check Font Previews are correct: Within the Text Styles window, check if font previews are correctly shown for each text style. If the preview is blank, either:
    • Change the font on the text style to a different one.
    • If the style is using a default SHX font:
      1. Obtain one from a working system from the folder: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 20xx\Fonts.
      2. Copy it to the corresponding folder on the system that shows the issue.
      3. Reboot the system.
  • Add a path to the AutoCAD Fonts folder: This can be done by:
    1. Open Options and click the Files tab.
    2. Under Support File Search Path, add C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Autocad 20XX\fonts, or any other path that contains the necessary SHX files.
  • Change the substitute font: See How to Specify a Default Alternate font.

    Install Updates

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    Solution: Install the latest software update. See Update your software.

     

    Graphic Card Compatibility Check 

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    Solution: Try the following with your graphic settings.

    Annotative Objects

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    Solution: Try the following.

    • Ensure that annotative objects are displayed by setting ANNOALLVISIBLE to 1.
    • Change the Annotation Scale in model space to display missing text that is annotative.
    • Turn off annotation on the text objects:
      1. Use the QSELECT command to select all text.
      2. In Properties, change Annotative to No. See Invisible Text.

     

    Check the settings

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    Solution: Try the following.

    • Reset AutoCAD to defaults: See How to reset AutoCAD to defaults.
    • Text Scale settings: Check the text scale settings. For example text may be too small to be seen. 
    Note: The dialog that warns about missing fonts can be turned off. Check Hidden Messages Settings to be sure it is enabled. See article: How to enable dialog and message prompts that are not displayed anymore in AutoCAD.
     

    Text is contained in a text boundary frame

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    Solution: Try the following.

    1. Go to the Options dialog box > Display tab.
    2. In the display performance, deselect the show text boundary frame only.

    Display dialog: Show text boundary frame only

    1. Click OK.
    2. Enter REGEN on the command line to regenerate the drawing updating the display.
     

    Products:

    AutoCAD for Mac; AutoCAD LT for Mac; AutoCAD Products; DWG TrueView;

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