Printing Problems

How to Stop Hidden Text from Printing in Microsoft Word

Emma Brown Sep 30, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to prevent hidden text from appearing on printed documents when it is invisible during the editing process.

How to Stop Hidden Text from Printing in Microsoft Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Printing a Word document that contains formatted hidden text.
Observed behavior: Hidden text does not show up on the screen while editing but unexpectedly appears on the printed paper.

Before you start

Before adjusting your print settings, ensure you have saved a copy of your document to prevent any unintended formatting changes while modifying visibility options.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable the Print Hidden Text Setting

Word manages the screen visibility and the printing of hidden text separately. You must turn off the specific print setting to prevent it from appearing on paper.

By default, Microsoft Word may be configured to print hidden text even if you have toggled it off in your document view. Modifying the global print preferences will resolve this.

Open Word Preferences

Launch Microsoft Word and navigate to Word > Preferences in the top menu bar.

Access Print Settings

Select 'Print' from the preferences menu to open the printing options window.

Disable Hidden Text Printing

Locate the option labeled 'Hidden text' (or 'Print hidden text') and clear the checkbox.

Check Print Dialog Options

Alternatively, open the Print dialog (Ctrl+P or Cmd+P), expand the Word Options section, and ensure the setting to print hidden text is unchecked.

Verification: Once unchecked, hidden text will no longer appear on your printed documents or exported PDFs.

Solution 2

Show Hidden Text on Screen for Review

Before printing, it is helpful to see exactly what hidden text exists in your document so you can review, modify, or delete it.

Seamless Print Control

Use WPS Writer to Effortlessly Control Document Printing

WPS Office provides an intuitive and user-friendly interface for managing text formatting, including hidden text and advanced print settings. It allows you to easily edit, review, and print without unexpected surprises.

1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document containing the hidden text.
2. Access Options: Click on the main 'Menu' at the top left corner and select 'Options'.
3. Navigate to Print Settings: In the Options dialog box, select the 'Print' tab from the left sidebar.
4. Disable Hidden Text: Uncheck the 'Hidden text' option under the 'Include with document' section.
5. Print Document: Click 'OK' to save your settings and proceed to print your document normally.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formats.Clear and accessible print settings to easily toggle hidden text printing.Free, lightweight, and fast document processing.Familiar interface makes migration and onboarding seamless.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does hidden text exist in my Word document?

Hidden text is often used for confidential information, alternative document versions, or notes left by other authors. It remains part of the underlying document file even if it is not actively visible on your screen.

How do I permanently delete hidden text from my document?

First, make it visible by clicking the paragraph mark on the Home tab. Then, use the Find and Replace tool (Ctrl+H), click 'More', select 'Format' > 'Font', check the 'Hidden' box, and replace it with an empty field.

Does hidden text affect document pagination?

If hidden text is not displayed on your screen, it will not affect the on-screen pagination. However, if your print settings are configured to print hidden text, the final printed pages may paginate differently than what you see on the screen.

Document & File Issues