How to Fix Maroon Document Display and Highlighter Issues in Word
Question details
The user needs to fix an issue where a Word document displays text in maroon and prevents the normal use of the highlighter tool.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Opening, editing, or attempting to highlight text in a document where formatting behaves unexpectedly.
- Observed behavior
- Document text unexpectedly appears maroon, and the highlighter tool does not function normally, usually due to Track Changes being active or document restrictions.
Check if the issue occurs in just one specific document or in all new documents. This will help determine if the problem is a file-specific formatting setting or a global application issue.
Disable Track Changes and Accept Edits
Track Changes often displays new edits in maroon or red and can restrict standard formatting features like highlights.
When Track Changes is enabled, any new text or formatting you apply is recorded as a revision. By default, Word highlights these changes in a distinct color, such as maroon, to differentiate them from the original text. Resolving these tracked edits will return your text to normal.
Navigate to the 'Review' tab on the ribbon at the top of your Word window.
Look for the 'Track Changes' button and click it to toggle the feature off. It should no longer be highlighted.
To remove the existing maroon text and convert it to standard text, click the drop-down arrow under the 'Accept' button and select 'Accept All Changes and Stop Tracking'.
Remove Document Editing Restrictions
Document protection might restrict your ability to use formatting tools like the highlighter.
Test Word Version and Application Environment
Display glitches might be tied to a specific version of Word, such as a discrepancy between the Desktop app and Word for the Web.
Easily Manage Track Changes and Formatting with WPS Writer
WPS Office provides a highly intuitive interface for managing document revisions, tracking changes, and applying formatting without confusing color glitches. You can seamlessly open your Microsoft Word files and resolve formatting conflicts.
- 1. Open your document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open the Word document that is experiencing the maroon display issue.
- 2. Navigate to the Review tab: Click on the 'Review' tab located in the top menu ribbon to access the document revision tools.
- 3. Accept all changes: Click the 'Accept' button and choose 'Accept All Changes in Document' to merge the edits and clear the maroon text color.
- 4. Disable Track Changes: Ensure the 'Track Changes' button is toggled off to prevent future typing from being recorded as revisions. You can now use the highlighter normally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my Word document suddenly turn all text maroon?
This is typically caused by the Track Changes feature being accidentally enabled. Any new typing or formatting is recorded as a revision, which Word defaults to showing in red or maroon to make edits visible.
Why won't the highlighter tool work on my text?
If document protection is turned on, or if you are editing a restricted section of a tracked document, standard formatting tools like the highlighter will be grayed out or become unresponsive.
Does turning off Track Changes remove the maroon color?
No, turning off Track Changes only stops the program from recording new edits. To revert the existing maroon text back to normal, you must 'Accept' or 'Reject' the previously tracked changes in the Review tab.
How can I tell if the maroon issue is just with one specific file?
Open a brand new, blank document and type some text. If the text appears black and the highlighter works normally, the issue is isolated to the formatting or revision settings of your previous file.
