Printing Problems

How to Keep Word Highlights but Prevent Them from Printing

Nimra Malik Oct 1, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to retain text highlight formatting in a Word document for digital reference but needs to print the physical document without the highlight colors showing up on the page.

How to Keep Word Highlights but Prevent Them from Printing

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Printing a physical copy of a document that contains highlighted text while keeping the printed page clean of highlight marks.
Observed behavior: By default, text highlights are printed along with the document text. The user needs to suppress the highlights during printing without permanently deleting the formatting.

Before you start

Ensure your printer is properly connected and loaded with paper so you can print a quick test page after adjusting your document display settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Hide Highlighter Marks in Word Display Options

Adjust Microsoft Word's display options to hide highlighter marks. This temporarily removes them from your screen and prevents them from printing, while preserving the formatting within the document file.

Microsoft Word links the visibility of text highlights on your screen to whether they will be printed. By turning off the display of these marks, you guarantee they will not be passed to the printer spooler.

Open Word Options

Click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner of the Microsoft Word ribbon, then click 'Options' at the bottom of the menu to open the Word Options dialog box.

Navigate to Display Settings

In the left-hand navigation pane of the Word Options window, click on 'Display'.

Disable Highlighter Marks

Locate the 'Page display options' section. Uncheck the box labeled 'Show highlighter marks'.

Apply and Print

Click 'OK' to save your changes. The highlights will disappear from your screen. You can now safely print your document without the highlights appearing on the paper.

Hide Highlighter Marks in Word Display Options

Restoring Your Highlights: Because disabling this setting hides the highlights on your screen as well, you will need to return to File > Options > Display and recheck the 'Show highlighter marks' box to view your highlights again after printing.

Advanced Printing Controls in WPS Office

Manage Document Printing Easily with WPS Office

WPS Office provides highly compatible, intuitive print and display settings for your text documents. You can easily manage your formatting visibility and print perfectly clean documents without losing your digital notes.

1. Open Your Document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open your .docx document that contains the highlighted text.
2. Access the Options Menu: Click the 'Menu' button in the top left corner, then select 'Options' from the drop-down list.
3. Modify View Settings: In the Options dialog, click on 'View' in the left pane, then uncheck the 'Highlight' box under the Formatting marks section.
4. Print the Document: Click 'OK' to apply. Press Ctrl + P to open the Print dialog and print your clean document without the highlights.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formats and features.Intuitive display settings to toggle highlight visibility quickly.Free, lightweight, and fast office suite for Windows, Mac, and Linux.Tabbed interface allows managing multiple printing tasks effortlessly.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off highlighter marks delete the highlights permanently?

No. Unchecking the 'Show highlighter marks' option only hides the colors from your screen and printer. The original highlight formatting remains securely saved within the document file.

Can I hide highlights on the screen but still print them?

No, in Microsoft Word, the visibility of highlights on your screen is directly tied to printing. If they are hidden on the screen, they will not print. To print the highlights, they must be visible on your display.

Why are my highlights still printing after unchecking the display option?

If colors are still printing, the formatting used might actually be 'Shading' or 'Page Background Color' rather than the Text Highlight Color tool. You will need to check the 'Borders and Shading' menu under the Home tab to remove paragraph shading.

Document & File Issues