Fix Word 365 Letter Spacing Changes and Lag While Typing
Question details
Users experience unexpected shifting of letter spacing or delayed character rendering while typing in Microsoft Word 365.
- Product
- Microsoft Word 365
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Typing text in long documents across a multi-monitor computer setup.
- Observed behavior
- Letter spacing shifts abruptly or characters appear late on the screen as the user types, creating a distracting and laggy visual experience.
Ensure your computer's graphics drivers are up to date and verify that your monitors are operating at their recommended native resolutions.
Disable Hardware Graphics Acceleration via Office Options
Turning off hardware acceleration resolves many graphics rendering bugs that cause text spacing shifts in Word 365.
Microsoft Office shares graphics settings across its entire suite. Sometimes, disabling this feature in Word directly is not possible or effective, so it is recommended to disable it through Excel to apply the setting globally to Word.
Launch Microsoft Excel on your Windows computer, as modifying the display settings here will automatically apply to Word 365.
Click on 'File' in the top-left corner of the window, then select 'Options' located at the very bottom of the left-hand menu.
Navigate to the 'Advanced' tab in the Options dialog box. Scroll down to the 'Display' section and check the box next to 'Disable hardware graphics acceleration'.
Click 'OK' to apply the changes. Close Excel and open Word 365 to test if the typing delay and spacing shifts have been resolved.
Match Display Resolutions on Multiple Monitors
Mismatched scaling or non-native resolutions between dual monitors can trigger rendering glitches in Word 365.
Experience Smooth Typing with WPS Office Writer
If Word 365 continues to lag or shift letter spacing on your multi-monitor setup, WPS Office provides a lightweight, highly stable alternative for word processing without heavy graphics rendering bugs.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installation package for Windows.
- 2. Install the Software: Run the downloaded installer and follow the simple on-screen instructions to set up the software.
- 3. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing .docx files to continue typing smoothly and seamlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Word 365 lag or change spacing when I type quickly?
Typing lag or shifting spacing in Word 365 is frequently caused by enabled hardware graphics acceleration, outdated graphics display drivers, or mismatched display scaling on multi-monitor setups.
Does disabling hardware acceleration in Excel affect Word?
Yes, the hardware graphics acceleration toggle in Excel acts as a global setting for the entire Microsoft Office suite. Adjusting it in Excel automatically applies the fix to Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Can dual monitors cause Word 365 display issues?
Yes, using multiple monitors with different scaling percentages or running monitors at non-native resolutions can trigger graphics rendering bugs in Word 365, resulting in delayed character display.
How do I know my monitor's native resolution?
Right-click your Windows desktop, select 'Display settings', and click on the 'Display resolution' dropdown menu. The option with '(Recommended)' next to it is your monitor's native resolution.
