How to Use Ligatures & Alternate Characters in Canva (Quick Fix Guide)

✅ Instant Answer

Canva does not support ligatures or alternate characters by default. To use them, you can either copy glyphs from a font viewer or use FontCloud by Sensatype to access and copy ligatures instantly.

Does Canva Support Ligatures?

No. Canva does not support ligatures or OpenType features.

Canva currently supports basic font functionality but does not support advanced OpenType features.

Supported in Canva:

• Custom font upload (Canva Pro only)

• Standard characters

Not supported in Canva:

• Ligatures

• Alternate glyphs

• OpenType features

⚡ Method 1 Use Ligatures in Canva (Manual Way)

• Upload your font to Canva (Pro required)

• Open your font in Font Book or Character Map (Windows)

• Find the ligature or alternate character

• Copy the character

• Paste it into Canva

✔ Works everywhere ✘ Slower workflow

🚀 Method 2 Use FontCloud by Sensatype (Recommended)

Instead of manually searching glyphs, you can use FontCloud by Sensatype to access all alternates and ligatures instantly.

How it works:

• Upload your font using drag and drop

• Browse all glyphs visually

• Click any ligature or alternate

• It copies automatically

• Paste directly into Canva

✔ No need to search manually ✔ Faster workflow ✔ Designer friendly experience

💡 Why This Method Is Better

Using a dedicated font tool saves time and removes friction.

Instead of:

• opening Font Book

• searching glyphs manually

• copying one by one

You can:

• see all alternates instantly

• click to copy and paste

This is especially useful for:

• logo design

• branding

• social media content

• packaging design

🔤 How to Upload Custom Fonts in Canva

• Log in to Canva

• Go to Brand Kit

• Click Upload a Font

• Select your .OTF or .TTF file

• Confirm upload

Once uploaded, your font will appear in Canva’s font list.

Note: This feature is only available for Canva Pro users.

⚠️ Why Ligatures Don’t Work Automatically in Canva

Canva focuses on standard text rendering.

Even if your font includes OpenType features, Canva will not automatically activate:

• ligatures

• alternates

• stylistic sets

That’s why using a manual or assisted workaround is necessary.

🔧 How to Fix Ligatures Not Showing in Canva

• Make sure you are using Canva Pro

• Re apply the font after pasting

• Ensure the font uploaded correctly

• Confirm the glyph exists in the font

• Use a proper glyph viewer or font tool

💡 Pro Tips for Better Results

• Use ligatures sparingly for cleaner design

• Choose fonts with strong default characters

• Use alternates mainly for headlines or logos

• Use FontCloud by Sensatype to speed up your workflow

🎯 Want a Faster Way to Use Ligatures?

If you frequently work with fonts in Canva, FontCloud by Sensatype can make the process much easier.

It allows you to:

• upload fonts instantly

• explore all alternates visually

• copy characters with a single click

• paste directly into Canva

This is one of the easiest ways to unlock better typography control inside Canva.

❓ FAQ

Can I upload custom fonts to Canva?

Yes, but only with Canva Pro.

Does Canva support ligatures automatically?

No. Canva does not support OpenType ligatures natively.

What is the fastest way to use ligatures in Canva?

The fastest way is to use FontCloud by Sensatype, where you can upload your font, click a glyph, and copy it instantly.

Why are my ligatures not showing?

Because Canva does not render OpenType features automatically.

Can I use .OTF fonts in Canva?

Yes. Canva supports both .OTF and .TTF fonts.

✨ Final Note

Canva makes it easy to use custom fonts, but advanced typography features still require a workaround.

The good news is that with the right method, or even better with FontCloud by Sensatype, you can use ligatures and alternate characters more easily and create more refined typography inside Canva.