Fix Text Deleted When Removing Content Controls in Microsoft Word
Question details
The user needs to remove Plain Text Content Controls in Word while retaining the text they contain.
- Product
- Microsoft Word and Microsoft Power Automate
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- A source DOCX template contains controls that are populated by an automation process to produce another DOCX file.
- Observed behavior
- Removing some content controls also removes their placeholder or populated text, while other controls leave the text behind.
Identify the source DOCX template and a document generated from it. Make sure the Developer tab is visible in Word so you can check Design Mode and insert replacement controls.
Recreate affected content controls with Design Mode turned off
Use this approach when controls created in Design Mode appear to delete their contents when removed.
In the reported case, controls created with Design Mode on behaved differently from controls created with it off. This is a document-specific finding, not a guarantee that Design Mode is the cause in every file.
Open the source DOCX in Word, select the Developer tab, and turn off Design Mode if it is enabled.
Select an affected control and replace it using Developer > Plain Text Content Control. Restore the control's required settings and placeholder text for the automation process.
Enter test text in the replacement control, then right-click it and select Remove Content Control. Check that the entered text remains.
Restore the tested control if necessary, save the source DOCX, and run the automation process. In the generated DOCX, right-click the populated control and select Remove Content Control to verify that its text remains.
Compare working and faulty controls in a blank Word document
Use a blank document to isolate controls that behave differently before replacing them in the source template.
Edit Word documents with WPS Writer
WPS Office is a free, lightweight alternative with a familiar interface for opening and editing Word documents. It supports common Office formats for an easier transition, although it does not fix Word-specific content control or automation behavior.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I remove a content control without deleting its text?
In Word, right-click the control and select Remove Content Control. Normally, entered content remains; if it disappears, test the control in a blank document and consider recreating it with Design Mode off.
Where can I find Design Mode in Word?
Open the Developer tab and look for Design Mode in the controls area. If the Developer tab is hidden, enable it through Word's ribbon customization settings.
Why does placeholder text disappear when I remove a control?
Placeholder text may be treated differently from ordinary entered text. Test the control with actual text and, if automation is involved, with text populated by the automation process.
Should I test the source template or the generated document?
Test both. Remove a control in a test of the source DOCX, then run the automation and repeat the removal test in the generated DOCX.
Can WPS Writer fix this Word content control issue?
WPS Writer can open and edit DOCX files, but it does not fix the Microsoft Word-specific control behavior or the automation process. Use Word to test the controls and verify any replacement template.
