What is an EOT file?
EOT stands for Embedded OpenType. It was created by Microsoft and first released in 1997. EOT was Microsoft's web font format for Internet Explorer, from version 4 onwards. It wraps a TrueType font with a list of sites allowed to use it. Every other browser went with WOFF, so EOT only matters for sites that still support old Internet Explorer.
| Type | font |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless |
| In a browser | loads only in Internet Explorer, through CSS; no current browser or operating system uses it |
| Common uses | web fonts for old versions of Internet Explorer |
| MIME type | application/vnd.ms-fontobject |
Which format should you convert EOT to?
- EOT to WOFF to use the font on a website.
- EOT to TTF to install the font on a computer.
How to open an EOT file
Whether an EOT file opens with a double click depends on the device. Here is what works on each, without buying software:
| Windows | Double-click a TTF or OTF to preview and install it. WOFF files are for websites and do not install. |
|---|---|
| Mac | Double-click a TTF or OTF to open Font Book and install it. |
| iPhone and iPad | Fonts install through apps or configuration profiles; the Files app can preview some. |
| Android | Most phones cannot install system fonts; apps with custom font options can use the file. |
| Web browser | EOT loads only in Internet Explorer, through CSS; no current browser or operating system uses it. |
EOT compared with other font formats
How EOT stacks up against the formats people most often convert it to or from:
| Format | Compression | Usually contains | Released | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EOT | Lossless | a TrueType font, optionally compressed, with a list of the websites allowed to use it | 1997 | web fonts for old versions of Internet Explorer |
| TTF | Lossless | glyph outlines drawn with quadratic curves | 1991 | installing fonts on a computer and embedding them in documents |
| OTF | Lossless | glyph outlines, usually cubic PostScript curves, plus typographic features | 1996 | professional typography, ligatures and design work |
| WOFF | Lossless | the tables of a TrueType or OpenType font, each compressed | 2009 | fonts served by websites |
How to use the EOT converter
- Choose the format you want in the Convert to menu.
- Drop your EOT files on the box, or press Choose EOT files. Several files can go in at once.
- Adjust the settings if you need to; the defaults suit most people.
- Press Convert and save each file with its Download button. The file is converted on our server and deleted as soon as the result is sent back.
Tips for converting EOT files without losing anything
Converting an EOT file is lossless: every glyph, kerning pair and feature is copied exactly, and only the packaging changes.
- Check the licence before converting a font for the web: many desktop licences do not allow web embedding.
- Serve WOFF (or WOFF2) to browsers and keep TTF or OTF for installing on computers.
- Converting between TTF, OTF, WOFF and WOFF2 keeps the design of every glyph; only a change between TrueType and PostScript outlines redraws the curves, with no visible difference.
- Subsetting a font to the characters you use is the biggest saving for web pages.
- Test the converted font in a browser page before rolling it out, to confirm every weight and style is linked in your CSS.
- Keep one family per folder with clear file names such as Brand-Bold.woff, so the right weight is always loaded.
- Variable fonts convert the same way; the axes and named instances travel with the font tables unchanged.
Convert EOT files from the command line
eot2ttf does the same on your own computer:
eot2ttf input.eot output.ttfConverting on your own computer keeps the file entirely local, which is worth it for very large or very sensitive documents. For everything else, the converter on this page does it without installing anything.
EOT converter FAQ
What is an EOT file?
EOT stands for Embedded OpenType, a font format created by Microsoft in 1997. EOT was Microsoft's web font format for Internet Explorer, from version 4 onwards. It wraps a TrueType font with a list of sites allowed to use it. Every other browser went with WOFF, so EOT only matters for sites that still support old Internet Explorer.
How do I open an EOT file?
EOT loads only in Internet Explorer, through CSS; no current browser or operating system uses it. If the program you need will not open it, convert it to a more widely supported format above.
What is the most common EOT conversion?
EOT to TTF is the conversion people search for most. eot2ttf unpacks the TrueType font inside the EOT on our conversion server.
Does converting EOT files here upload them?
Yes. EOT conversions need eot2ttf, FontForge and eot-utils, open-source programs that cannot run in a browser, so they run on our conversion server. The file is uploaded, converted, and deleted together with the result as soon as the result has been sent back to you. Nothing is kept.
Is the EOT converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no watermark. Conversions that use our server accept files up to 25 MB, with a fair-use limit per hour. The site is supported by advertising.
Can I convert EOT files on iPhone or Android?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, or in Chrome on Android, choose your EOT files and download the results to your Downloads folder.
Can I convert several EOT files at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like; they are converted one after another, each with its own download button.