Live preview: Mangal font
Preview shown in Noto Sans Devanagari, a free open-source font similar to Mangal (SIL Open Font License). Mangal itself is not included here.
Noto Sans Devanagari: The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
рднрд╛рд░рдд рдореЗрд░рд╛ рджреЗрд╢ рд╣реИред рд╣рд┐рдВрджреА рдЯрд╛рдЗрдкрд┐рдВрдЧ
Mangal font is Microsoft's Unicode Hindi font for the Devanagari script, and it has come with Windows since the Windows XP days. Because it is Unicode, text typed in Mangal stays proper Hindi everywhere: in WhatsApp, Gmail, websites and Google search.
That is also why many government offices and Hindi typing tests now use Mangal instead of old fonts like Kruti Dev. The preview above uses Noto Sans Devanagari, a free open-source Unicode font that looks similar, because Mangal itself is Microsoft's licensed font.
Mangal Font Download: Do You Need It?
On a Windows PC, usually not. Mangal is already part of Windows, from Windows 7 to Windows 10 and Windows 11. Open Word, type Mangal in the font box, and it should be there.
Mangal is Microsoft's licensed font. It is not free to share, so sites that rank for searches like Mangal hindi font download or Mangal font hindi download, or that offer a "Mangal font free download", are passing around Microsoft's file without permission, and some bundle unwanted software. Skip them. If Mangal does not show up:
- Add Hindi as a language in Windows Settings (Time and Language, then Language). This often brings the Hindi fonts and keyboard in.
- On Windows 10 and 11, check Settings, Apps, Optional features for Devanagari supplemental fonts.
- Use Nirmala UI, which is the default Indian-script font on Windows 8 and later.
- On a Mac or Linux, use a free Unicode Devanagari font such as Noto Sans Devanagari from fonts.google.com.
Since all of these are Unicode, text typed in one will open correctly in the others. Only the look changes.
Nirmala UI Font vs Mangal
Nirmala UI is Microsoft's newer font for Indian scripts. Since Windows 8 it is the default font Windows uses for Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil and other Indian languages in menus and apps. It comes in regular and bold, and like Mangal it is part of Windows, so you do not need a separate Nirmala UI font download.
Mangal is still installed, and many exams and offices still name it. Both are Unicode, so the same Hindi text works in either. Pick Mangal if your exam or office asks for it, and Nirmala UI if you just want clean, modern Hindi on Windows.
Mangal Font Keyboard: Set Up Hindi Typing on Windows
Mangal is only the font. The keyboard layout decides which key gives which letter. To start Mangal font Hindi typing on Windows 10 or 11:
- Open Settings, then Time and Language, then Language (or Language and region).
- Click Add a language and choose Hindi.
- Open Hindi's options and add the keyboard you want.
- Use the language switcher on the taskbar to move between English and Hindi.
- In Word, select Mangal as the font and start typing.
Your keyboard choices:
| Layout | How it works | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Inscript (Hindi Traditional) | Standard Indian layout built into Windows. Vowels on the left, consonants on the right. | Typing tests that ask for Inscript, fast long-term typing |
| Remington (GAIL) | Old typewriter key positions, but output is Unicode | People who learned on Kruti Dev or a typewriter |
| Phonetic | Type the sound in English letters, like bharat, and get рднрд╛рд░рдд | Casual typing, emails, chats |
The Remington (GAIL) layout is not one of the standard Windows keyboards, so it usually needs an extra keyboard tool. Get it from your exam body, typing institute or another trusted source, not a random download page.
Mangal font shortcut key: to switch between English and Hindi, press Windows key + Space, or Left Alt + Shift. A printed Inscript or Remington key chart, or a Mangal font typing book from a trusted publisher, helps a lot in the first weeks.
Hindi Typing Test Mangal Font: Typing Test Tips
- Read the official notice first. It says which font and layout are allowed (for example Mangal with Inscript or Remington GAIL, or Kruti Dev). Practise only on that setup.
- When you take an online typing test in Hindi Mangal font, use the same layout you will get in the exam hall. Switching layouts late wastes weeks.
- Pick an online typing test Mangal font practice site that lets you choose Inscript or Remington, and shows both speed and mistakes.
- Hindi typing Mangal font speed gets better once you learn the half letters and matras, so learn them early. Most mistakes in Hindi typing come from conjuncts like рдХреНрд╖, рддреНрд░ and рдЬреНрдЮ.
- In any Mangal font typing test, check accuracy before speed. Many tests count full mistakes and half mistakes.
- Keep your posture and finger positions fixed. Look at the screen, not the keys.
Mangal vs Kruti Dev: Unicode vs Legacy
Kruti Dev is a non-Unicode font. It stores Hindi as English character codes, so without the font, рднрд╛рд░рдд shows as Hkkjr. Mangal stores real Hindi characters, so the text works on any device.
If you have old files in Kruti Dev and want to convert to Mangal font, paste the text into our Kruti Dev to Unicode converter, then set the result to Mangal in Word. For a wider comparison of Hindi and English fonts, see the popular fonts list. Want stylish Hindi with symbols for a bio or status instead? Try the Hindi font style tool.
Common questions
Is the Mangal font free download?
Mangal comes free with Windows, but it is Microsoft's licensed font, so it is not meant to be shared on download sites. On Windows it is already installed. On other systems, use a free Unicode font like Noto Sans Devanagari.
Which keyboard is used for the Mangal font typing test?
It depends on the exam. Most allow Inscript, and many also allow Remington (GAIL), which keeps typewriter key positions while typing in Unicode. Check the official notice and practise on that layout.
What is the Mangal font keyboard shortcut to switch languages?
On Windows, press Windows key + Space or Left Alt + Shift to switch between English and Hindi keyboards. You must add Hindi as a language in Settings first.
Is Nirmala UI the same as Mangal?
No. They are two different Microsoft fonts, but both are Unicode. Nirmala UI is newer and is the default for Indian scripts since Windows 8. Text typed in one works in the other.
How do I convert Kruti Dev text to Mangal?
Paste the Kruti Dev text into the converter on our Kruti Dev font page to get Unicode Hindi. Paste that into Word and select Mangal. Simply changing the font in Word without converting will turn the text into English letters.
Can I use Mangal hindi font for Marathi?
Yes. Marathi uses the Devanagari script, which Mangal supports. Add Marathi as a language in Windows to get a Marathi keyboard.