Formatting Issues

How to Fix Lost Word Table Formatting When Pasting into SharePoint

Amos Gikunda Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users are experiencing a loss of formatting, such as numbered lists and font colors, when pasting a table from Microsoft Word into a SharePoint page.

How to Fix Lost Word Table Formatting When Pasting into SharePoint

Product: Microsoft Word / SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Pasting a complexly formatted Word table into a SharePoint Text web part.
Observed behavior: Table formatting, font colors, and numbered lists are stripped or broken upon pasting because Word generates hidden, nonstandard markup that web browsers cannot interpret correctly.

Before you start

Ensure you have the original Microsoft Word document saved locally or in OneDrive, and verify that you have edit permissions for the target SharePoint site.

Solution 1Recommended

Embed the Document Using the File and Media Web Part

Instead of pasting text directly into a Text web part, embedding the actual Word document ensures that all complex table formatting, font colors, and lists remain exactly as they appear in Word.

Pasting directly from Word copies nonstandard HTML markup that web browsers struggle to read. Using SharePoint's native File and Media web part bypasses the clipboard entirely, preserving your exact document design.

Upload the document

Upload your Microsoft Word document to your SharePoint site's Document Library or to your OneDrive.

Edit the SharePoint page

Navigate to the SharePoint page where you want the table to appear and click the 'Edit' button in the top right corner.

Add a new web part

Hover over the section where you want to add the document and click the '+' icon to open the web part menu.

Select File and Media

Search for and select the 'File and Media' (or 'Document') web part, then select your recently uploaded Word document to embed it perfectly onto the page.

Embed the Document Using the File and Media Web Part

Formatting Preserved: Any future edits made to the Word document in the document library will automatically update and reflect correctly on the SharePoint page.

Solution 2

Paste as Plain Text and Reformat in SharePoint

If you strictly need to use the SharePoint Text web part rather than embedding a file, you can strip Word's broken markup and recreate the table natively in SharePoint.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Lightweight Document Experience

If you frequently encounter formatting translation errors and heavy application overhead with Microsoft Office, WPS Office offers a streamlined, user-friendly alternative. It provides excellent compatibility with Word documents and ensures a smooth editing experience.

1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS Office website to download and install the free software suite.
2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing .docx files to review your tables and formatting.
3. Edit and Save: Easily edit your tables, font colors, and lists, then save your work seamlessly in standard Microsoft Office formats.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word formats (.doc, .docx).Generates cleaner document formatting for easier cross-platform management.Free to use with a familiar, easy-to-learn user interface.Lightweight application footprint with lightning-fast loading times.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Word table formatting break when pasting into SharePoint?

Microsoft Word adds complex, nonstandard hidden HTML markup to its clipboard data when you copy text. When pasted into SharePoint's web-based Text web part, most modern web browsers cannot interpret this specific markup correctly, resulting in lost font colors and broken numbered lists.

Can I configure the SharePoint Text web part to accept Word formatting?

Currently, there is no direct setting to make the SharePoint Text web part perfectly interpret all Microsoft Word markup. It is recommended to use the File and Media web part to embed the document instead.

Does this pasting issue affect other web applications besides SharePoint?

Yes. Because the issue originates from the complex clipboard data generated by Microsoft Word itself, pasting heavily formatted tables into other browser-based WYSIWYG editors may also result in lost or corrupted formatting.

Document & File Issues