Formatting Issues

How to Fix Word 365 Table Styles and Cell Shading Not Applying

Emma Brown Oct 21, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users are unable to apply table styles and cell shading in Word 365; the style shows in the preview but fails to apply to the actual table.

How to Fix Word 365 Table Styles and Cell Shading Not Applying

Product: Microsoft Word 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Formatting a table using built-in table styles and shading options in a Word document.
Observed behavior: The table style preview appears when hovering, but clicking it does not apply the formatting, often leaving only minor border changes visible due to file format restrictions.

Before you start

Check the title bar at the top of your Word window to see if 'Compatibility Mode' is displayed next to the document name, as this mode disables modern table formatting features.

Solution 1Recommended

Convert Document from Compatibility Mode to the Latest .docx Format

Upgrading your document from an older .doc format to the modern .docx format restores full support for Word 365 table styles and shading.

Older file formats (.doc) do not support the advanced table styling engines used in Word 365. When opening these older files, Word enters Compatibility Mode, which restricts features to prevent document layout corruption.

Converting the file to the newest format will unlock all Table Design features.

Open Document Info

Click on the 'File' tab in the top left corner of the Word 365 ribbon, then select 'Info' from the left sidebar.

Convert the Document

Look for the 'Compatibility Mode' section and click the 'Convert' button. A prompt will appear explaining that the document will be upgraded to the newest file format.

Reapply the Table Style

Click 'OK' to confirm the conversion. Return to your document, click anywhere inside your table, navigate to the 'Table Design' tab, and select your desired table style again.

File Extension Updated: If your original file was a .doc, converting it will prompt you to save it as a .docx file. Once saved, all modern shading and styling features will be permanently available.

Solution 2

Enable the Appropriate Table Style Options

Table styles rely on specific toggles to display special formatting for headers, totals, or banded rows. Checking these boxes ensures the style is fully applied.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Use WPS Office to Seamlessly Format and Edit Word Documents

If you frequently encounter compatibility modes and formatting glitches in Microsoft Word, WPS Office offers a highly compatible, free alternative. It smoothly handles .docx files, ensuring that your table styles, cell shading, and layouts display and apply flawlessly.

1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office for free from the official website and install it on your device.
2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your .docx or .doc file directly.
3. Apply Formatting: Select your table, navigate to the Table Tools tab, and easily apply your preferred table styles and shading.

Completely free to download and useFully compatible with Microsoft Word .docx, .doc, and .rtf formatsIntuitive ribbon interface makes applying table styles and cell shading easyLightweight architecture ensures fast loading and smooth editing without lag

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my table style only show up in the preview but disappears when clicked?

This usually happens when your document is in Compatibility Mode or saved as an older .doc format. Word previews the modern style but cannot apply it because the older file format lacks the code structure to support it. Upgrading the file to .docx will solve this.

How do I manually apply cell shading if table styles are not working?

Select the specific cells you want to color. Go to the 'Table Design' tab on the ribbon, click the 'Shading' dropdown (represented by a paint bucket icon), and choose your desired color.

Can custom table styles be saved for future documents?

Yes. After customizing a table's borders, shading, and font, click the 'More' arrow in the Table Styles gallery and select 'New Table Style'. You can name it and choose 'New documents based on this template' to make it available for future use.

Document & File Issues