How to Remove Text Shading or Background Color in WPS Writer with a Shortcut
Question details
The user wants a keyboard shortcut to remove background color or highlighting from text in a Microsoft Word document.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- The user is editing a Word document and wants a quick keyboard shortcut to remove text shading or background highlight without manually opening a formatting dialog.
- Observed behavior
- Word does not provide a dedicated built-in shortcut specifically for removing highlighting, so the user needs an alternative shortcut or workflow.
Open the affected document in WPS Writer and check whether the shading appears on selected text, an entire paragraph, or as part of a style. This helps you choose the fastest removal method.
Use Ctrl+Spacebar to Clear Direct Text Shading and Font Formatting
Best when the background color was applied as direct font formatting or a text effect, not as a paragraph style.
Ctrl+Spacebar removes character-level formatting such as font, size, color, and some text effects, but it does not clear text highlighting applied with the Highlight Color tool or paragraph shading.
Open the document in WPS Writer and select the text that shows the unwanted shading or background color.
Press Ctrl+Spacebar on your keyboard. This clears direct character formatting and many text effects from the selection.
If the background color remains, it is likely text highlighting or paragraph shading and requires the next solution.
Remove Highlight or Background Color from the Home Tab
Use this when the shortcut clears font formatting but the highlight color or paragraph shading remains visible.
Modify the Style When Shading Comes from a Paragraph Style
Use this when the color returns after applying shortcuts because the style itself defines shading.
Remove Text Shading and Background Color in WPS Writer
Open your Word document in WPS Writer and use Ctrl+Spacebar, the Text Highlight Color menu, and the Shading menu to remove unwanted background color without manually reformatting the document.
- 1. Select the shaded text: In WPS Writer, select the text or paragraph that has unwanted shading or background color.
- 2. Clear direct formatting: Press Ctrl+Spacebar to remove direct font formatting and many text effects.
- 3. Remove highlight color: If the color remains, go to Home > Text Highlight Color and choose No Color.
- 4. Remove paragraph shading: For whole-paragraph background color, open Home > Shading and set the fill to No Color.
- 5. Save the document: From the File menu, save the cleaned document in .docx format to keep it compatible with Word.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Ctrl+Spacebar remove all background color in Word?
Ctrl+Spacebar clears direct character formatting only. If the background color is applied as text highlighting or part of a paragraph style, it will remain until you use the highlight or shading commands.
How do I create a custom keyboard shortcut for removing highlighting in Microsoft Word?
In Word, go to File > Options > Customize Ribbon > Keyboard shortcuts, choose the clear formatting or highlight command, assign a key combination, and save. In WPS Writer, you can use Ctrl+Spacebar for direct formatting and the Home tab for highlight color.
Can WPS Writer open a Word document and remove shading without losing formatting?
Yes, WPS Writer supports .docx files. Open the file, select the shaded text, use Ctrl+Spacebar or Home > Text Highlight Color > No Color, then save it back as .docx.
Why does the background color still appear after I choose No Color?
The color may come from paragraph shading or a style. Select the paragraph, open the Shading menu on the Home tab, set the fill to No Color, or modify the style to remove the shading.
