Formatting Issues

Fix Invisible Underlines in Word Dark Mode (Pages DOCX Export)

Chanuka Geekiyanage Oct 16, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to make text underlines visible when viewing DOCX files exported from Apple Pages in Microsoft Word with Dark Mode enabled.

Fix Invisible Underlines in Word Dark Mode for Pages Documents

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Opening and viewing a DOCX document that was exported from Apple Pages while using Microsoft Word's Dark Mode.
Observed behavior: Underlines appear black against the dark background of the document canvas, making them practically invisible to the reader.

Before you start

Before applying compatibility changes, make sure to save a separate copy of your original DOCX file to prevent any permanent loss of Apple Pages formatting.

Solution 1Recommended

Save the Document in Word Compatibility Mode

Saving the document in Compatibility Mode strips the conflicting formatting tags generated by Apple Pages, allowing underlines to render correctly in Dark Mode.

By forcing Microsoft Word to save the document in an older, more standardized format, you bypass the rendering glitch that occurs with newer XML formatting tags exported from third-party applications like Pages.

Open the Document

Launch Microsoft Word and open the problematic DOCX file.

Navigate to Save As

Click on 'File' in the top-left corner of the ribbon, then select 'Save As' from the left-hand menu.

Enable Compatibility Mode

Choose your save destination. In the Save dialog box, check the option for 'Maintain compatibility with previous versions of Word', or explicitly select an older Word 97-2003 Document (.doc) format.

Accept Formatting Warning

Click 'Save'. A warning prompt may appear stating that some formatting might be lost; click 'OK' or 'Continue' to accept and apply the changes.

Save the Document in Word Compatibility Mode

Formatting Restored: Your text underlines should now adapt properly to the Dark Mode text color adjustments.

Solution 2

Disable Document Page Color Changes in Word

You can force Word to keep the document canvas white even when the interface is in Dark Mode, which ensures black underlines remain fully visible.

Solution 3

Install the Latest Office Updates

Microsoft has patched several Dark Mode rendering issues in newer versions of Office (such as Word 2021 version 2304). Updating your software may resolve the glitch automatically.

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1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS website to download the free WPS Office suite and install it on your device.
2. Open WPS Writer: Launch WPS Writer, the free word processing application included in the suite.
3. View Your Document: Drag and drop your Apple Pages-exported DOCX file into the workspace to view it with perfectly preserved formatting.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do underlines disappear in Word's Dark Mode?

When Word's Dark Mode is active, specific document formatting code—especially from third-party exports like Apple Pages—can inadvertently force underlines to render in strict black. Against a dark application background, these black lines become indistinguishable.

Will saving in Compatibility Mode ruin my document?

Saving in Compatibility Mode ensures structural integrity but strips out newer, unsupported formatting tags. While basic text, layouts, and underlines will be preserved, some advanced or proprietary Apple Pages features may be simplified.

Does turning off the page color change completely disable Dark Mode?

No. Selecting 'Never change the document page color' keeps all of the application menus, ribbons, and borders in Dark Mode. It simply renders the actual document canvas in standard white, ensuring standard black text and underlines are visible.

How can I prevent this when exporting from Apple Pages?

To minimize formatting conflicts, ensure your Apple Pages application is fully updated before exporting. You can also try stripping complex custom underlines in Pages before exporting to DOCX, or export the file as a PDF if editing in Microsoft Word is not required.

Document & File Issues