Formatting Issues

How to Delete an Unselectable Horizontal Line in Word

Khadija Khan Sep 28, 2026 873 views

Question details

The user needs to remove a persistent horizontal line in a Word document that cannot be clicked or selected directly.

How to Delete an Unselectable Horizontal Line in Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to clean up document layout by deleting an unwanted horizontal line that appears below text and cannot be removed using standard selection or backspace methods.
Observed behavior: The line cannot be selected directly, but highlighting the text above it also highlights the line. It prints with the document and is not a header, footer, or endnote separator.

Before you start

Determine if the line prints with your document. If it prints, it is most likely a formatting element like a paragraph border; if it does not print, it might be a visual text boundary setting.

Solution 1Recommended

Remove Auto-Generated Paragraph Borders

Most unselectable lines in Word are actually bottom paragraph borders automatically applied when typing three dashes and pressing Enter.

Word's AutoFormat feature often turns specific characters (like hyphens or underscores) into full-width paragraph borders. Because these lines are attached to the paragraph itself rather than existing as standalone objects, they cannot be clicked or deleted normally.

Place your cursor

Click anywhere inside the paragraph of text immediately above the stubborn horizontal line.

Open the Borders menu

Navigate to the 'Home' tab on the top ribbon and locate the 'Borders' icon in the Paragraph group.

Select No Border

Click the drop-down arrow next to the Borders icon and select 'No Border' from the list. The line should disappear immediately.

Prevent Future Auto-Borders: To stop Word from creating these lines automatically, go to File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options > AutoFormat As You Type, and uncheck 'Border lines'.

Solution 2

Use the Selection Pane for Hidden Objects

If the line is a drawn shape placed behind text, you can locate and delete it using the Selection Pane.

Solution 3

Disable Text Boundaries

If the line does not show up when printing the document, it might be a text boundary meant only for layout guidance.

Easy Formatting Management

Easily Remove Unwanted Formatting with WPS Writer

WPS Writer offers a highly intuitive interface for managing document formatting. Removing auto-generated paragraph borders or selecting hidden objects is straightforward, helping you keep your document layouts clean and professional.

1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document containing the unselectable line.
2. Select the paragraph: Click your cursor into the paragraph of text located directly above the unwanted horizontal line.
3. Remove the border: Navigate to the 'Home' tab, click the 'Borders' dropdown icon in the formatting ribbon, and choose 'No Border' to clear the line.

Seamlessly compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formats.Intuitive paragraph formatting and border management tools.Clear Selection Pane for easily managing hidden or unselectable objects.Free, lightweight, and fast to launch on any operating system.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did a horizontal line appear automatically when I was typing?

This is caused by the AutoFormat As You Type feature. When you type three dashes (---), underscores (___), or asterisks (***) and press Enter, the word processor automatically converts them into a full-width paragraph border.

What if the line is actually an endnote or footnote separator?

If the line is situated above footnotes at the bottom of a page, switch your document to 'Draft' view, go to the 'References' tab, click 'Show Notes', and select 'Footnote Separator' from the dropdown menu to delete or modify the line.

Can a page border be mistaken for an unselectable horizontal line?

Yes. If a page border is only applied to the bottom edge of the page, it might look like a standard line inserted into the text. You can remove it by navigating to Design > Page Borders and selecting 'None'.

Document & File Issues