Formatting Issues

Fix Word Label Document Text and Objects Shifting After Microsoft 365 Update

Elise Williams Oct 19, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users need to correct a layout issue where text, signatures, and other objects in an existing label document shift out of place following a Microsoft 365 update.

Fix Word Label Document Text and Objects Shifting After Microsoft 365 Update

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Opening and printing an existing Word label document or template after applying a recent Microsoft 365 update.
Observed behavior: Text and objects are pushed upward, and formatting marks may reveal unexpected blank pages. The layout shifts due to underlying changes in table-cell formatting and increased bottom cell margins.

Before you start

Before modifying cell properties, press Ctrl+* (or click the Show/Hide ¶ button on the Home tab) to display formatting marks, which will help you identify hidden spacing or structural changes.

Solution 1Recommended

Adjust Table Cell Margins and Vertical Alignment

Use this solution to manually correct the table cell margins that were altered by the update, which is the most common cause of the upward text shift.

Word label templates are essentially constructed using invisible tables. Software updates can sometimes modify default table properties, such as increasing the bottom cell margin, which forces your text and signatures out of their expected positions.

Select the affected cells

Click inside the affected label in your document. To apply the fix to the entire sheet, click the small square icon at the top-left corner of the label grid to select the entire table.

Open Table Properties

Right-click the selected area and choose 'Table Properties' from the context menu.

Modify Cell Margins

Navigate to the 'Cell' tab and click the 'Options' button. Uncheck 'Same as the whole table' if necessary, and reduce any excessive 'Bottom' margin value to allow your text to fit properly.

Center the Vertical Alignment

While still in the 'Cell' tab, ensure the 'Vertical alignment' is set to 'Center' so that your text distributes evenly inside the label borders. Click 'OK' to apply changes.

Adjust Table Cell Margins and Vertical Alignment

Verify Template Dimensions: If the layout still looks incorrect, double-check your page size and printer settings to ensure they still match the specific label template dimensions (e.g., Avery 5160).

Solution 2

Review Object Anchoring and Paragraph Spacing

Check for unintended paragraph spacing or anchored objects that might be displacing your text.

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Prevent Formatting Shifts with WPS Office

If software updates frequently break your carefully formatted label documents, try WPS Office. It handles tables and label templates with exceptional stability, ensuring your documents look exactly the way you designed them.

1. Download WPS Office: Install WPS Office for free on your PC or Mac.
2. Open Your Label Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing .docx label file.
3. Print Without Errors: WPS Writer preserves your original cell margins and object anchors, allowing you to print accurately without manual adjustments.

Maintains strict formatting rules, preventing objects and text from shifting unexpectedly.Highly compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) label templates and table structures.Free, lightweight, and features a familiar user interface for a seamless transition.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my Word label document suddenly develop blank pages after an update?

Blank pages in label documents are usually a symptom of increased table cell margins or altered paragraph spacing caused by the update. The larger margins push content down, forcing Word to generate a new blank page to accommodate the overflow.

Can I fix the layout shift just by deleting the paragraph marks?

No. While deleting excess paragraph marks might seem like a quick fix, it rarely corrects the underlying layout issue because the root cause is usually the table cell's bottom margin or vertical alignment settings.

How do I see if my table cell margins changed?

Right-click inside your label, select 'Table Properties', go to the 'Cell' tab, and click 'Options'. Look at the margin values, specifically the 'Bottom' margin, to see if it has been increased.

Will I have to fix my label margins every time I print?

Once you adjust the table cell properties and save your document, the corrected margins will be preserved for future use. You should only need to perform this fix once per affected template.

Document & File Issues