Formatting Issues

Fix Word Background Colors That Change After Saving

WPS Editor Oct 9, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is experiencing unexpected formatting changes where Microsoft Word document background and text colors appear different after saving, closing, and reopening the file.

How to Fix Word Background Colors That Change After Saving

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Setting custom background colors, text styles, or customizing default document templates in Microsoft Word.
Observed behavior: Formatting changes, particularly background and text colors, revert or display incorrectly when the saved document is reopened.

Before you start

Ensure that hidden files and folders are set to visible in your File Explorer, as the AppData folder containing the necessary Word templates is hidden by default in Windows.

Solution 1Recommended

Modify the Default Normal.dotm Template

Edit the global Normal.dotm template file to ensure that background and text color changes are saved as the permanent default for all newly created documents.

When you customize background colors or text styles, Word may revert these changes upon reopening if they conflict with the default template. Modifying the Normal.dotm file directly ensures your specific formatting preferences are respected and permanently applied to all documents you create in the future.

Navigate to the Templates folder

Open File Explorer and enter C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates in the address bar. Be sure to replace <user name> with your actual computer account name.

Open the Normal.dotm file

Right-click the Normal.dotm file and select 'Open'. Do not double-click the file, as this will create a new blank document based on the template instead of opening the template itself.

Apply your formatting changes

Once the template is open, navigate to the Design tab to apply your desired Page Color, or use the Home tab to adjust default text colors.

Save and close the template

Click the Save icon or press Ctrl + S, then close Microsoft Word. Your customized background colors and formatting rules will now act as the default for all future documents.

Applies to New Documents Only: Changes made to the Normal.dotm template will only affect documents created in the future. Existing documents will retain their original formatting unless manually updated.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my Word page background color disappear when I printed the document?

By default, Microsoft Word does not print background colors or images to conserve printer ink. To enable background printing, go to File > Options > Display, and under the 'Printing options' section, check the box for 'Print background colors and images'.

Can I apply a background color to just one specific page in a Word document?

Word's 'Page Color' feature automatically applies to the entire document. To color a single page, navigate to the Insert tab, draw a rectangular Shape over the entire page, change its Shape Fill color, and select 'Send Behind Text' so it acts as a background.

How do I reset the Normal.dotm template back to its original settings?

Make sure Microsoft Word is completely closed. Navigate to C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates and either rename or delete the Normal.dotm file. The next time you open Word, it will automatically generate a fresh, default Normal.dotm template.

Why can't I find the AppData folder to locate the Normal.dotm file?

The AppData folder is hidden by Windows by default. To make it visible, open File Explorer, click the 'View' tab at the top of the window, and check the box next to 'Hidden items' in the Show/hide group.

Document & File Issues