Conky does not use instructed font with "can't load Xft font" error

I poked around on this, and with my environment, I had some different issues.

I'm using Unity with Compiz. My Lua Rings weren't working, and neither were my fonts. My Lua Rings were just in the wrong directory.

I had changed the font to Ubuntu. However, the format was wrong as indicated in this thread. However, my format didn't match any of the ones listed here in previous comments.

I'm attaching a sample of some of my properly formatted text from the memory section of my Seamod that works with my environment:

${offset 90}${font Ubuntu:bold:size=10}${color5}MEM

So for me, I had to find and replace:

font Ubuntu:size=10,weight:normal

with

font Ubuntu:bold:size=10

Instead of

Ubuntu:size=8,weight:normal

try

font = 'Ubuntu:normal:size=8'

This assumes you are using Conky version 1.10.

Conky 1.10 configuration file use a new syntax ! Usually, it can convert old file "on the fly" but it seems that the version of 16.04 have some issue.

I had the same problem as you since I updated my machine. After a lot research, it seems that you must convert your configuration file to the new format.

To help you, there is a script located in :

/usr/share/doc/conky-all/convert.lua

see here : Convert to new 1.10 syntax

You must install "lua5.2" first and then make the script executable (as root)

Then, from ~/.conky where your config file should be located :

/usr/share/doc/conky-all/convert.lua <your_conkyrc>

Pay attention :

• the configuration file should be in the "old" format
• the conversion script overwrite the old version ! Make a copy before if needed

Then, you will still have the problem with the font, but if you convert as explained by DK Bose, it should work (it worked for me)

{font Ubuntu:bold:size=7}

(no '=' after 'font')

Good luck