Formatting Issues

How to Remove Highlighting That Keeps Returning in Word

Algirdas Jasaitis Oct 1, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to permanently remove text or table highlighting that automatically reappears after applying the No Color option.

How to Remove Highlighting That Keeps Returning in Word

Product: Microsoft Word (Desktop and Web)
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to remove unwanted background colors or highlights from specific text or tables in a document.
Observed behavior: The highlighting continues to return even after the user explicitly selects No Color.

Before you start

Before troubleshooting, ensure you have a stable internet connection if using Word for the web, as syncing delays can sometimes cause formatting changes to revert to their previous state.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Clear All Formatting Tool

Clearing all formatting completely strips the selected text of hidden styles, background colors, and highlights that might be causing the issue.

Sometimes, highlighting is tied to complex styles or copied formatting rather than the basic highlight tool. Clearing the format resets the text to its default state.

Select the text

Highlight the specific text or click inside the table where the stubborn highlighting appears.

Clear formatting

Navigate to the Home tab on the ribbon and click the 'Clear All Formatting' button (usually indicated by an 'A' with a pink eraser icon).

Reapply necessary styles

Once the unwanted highlighting is permanently removed, reapply your desired fonts, bolding, and text sizes manually.

Formatting Cleared: This method is highly effective for removing persistent background colors tied to text copied from websites or other documents.

Solution 2

Paste Content Using the Keep Text Only Option

If clearing formatting fails, pasting the text without its original formatting will leave the stubborn highlights behind.

Solution 3

Test Across Different Word Versions

Determining whether the glitch is specific to a corrupted document or the Word platform (web vs. desktop) can help bypass the issue.

Clear Formatting Easily

Use WPS Writer to Fix Stubborn Word Formatting

If Microsoft Word continues to glitch with returning highlights, open your document in WPS Writer. As a lightweight and fully compatible alternative, WPS Writer allows you to permanently clear unwanted formatting and edit your documents smoothly without web syncing errors.

1. Open your document in WPS Writer: Download and install WPS Office, then open your existing Word document containing the stubborn highlights.
2. Select the affected content: Highlight the specific text, paragraph, or table that contains the returning background color.
3. Clear the formatting: Go to the Home tab and click the 'Clear Formatting' icon, or click the 'Text Highlight Color' dropdown and choose 'No Color'.
4. Save the file: Press Ctrl+S to save the document. The formatting changes will be permanently applied to your .docx file without reappearing.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word formats (.docx, .doc)Easily clear text highlighting and background shading in one clickFree, lightweight, and fast to load for quick edits

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the highlight color reappear in Word for the web?

In Word for the web, sync delays or browser cache issues can cause formatting changes to fail to save and revert to their previous state. Opening the file in the desktop app usually resolves this sync issue.

Is there a difference between text highlighting and paragraph shading?

Yes. Text highlighting only colors the background directly behind the letters, while paragraph shading fills the entire block of space behind the text line. If selecting 'No Color' on the highlight tool fails, the color might be paragraph shading, which must be removed via the Borders and Shading menu.

How can I report a persistent formatting bug in Word?

If the highlighting continues to return across both web and desktop versions after troubleshooting, you can report the issue to Microsoft by clicking Help > Feedback in the Word desktop app. Be sure to provide details about the specific document behavior and the Word version you are using.

Document & File Issues