Office for Mac Issues

Fix Word for Mac Losing Font Formatting When Copying Table Text

Elise Williams Oct 13, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user is experiencing font formatting loss when copying text from a Word table into the main document body, despite selecting Keep Source Formatting.

How to Fix Word for Mac Losing Font Formatting When Copying Table Text

Product: Microsoft Word for Mac (Microsoft 365)
Device & OS: Mac
Scenario: Pasting text from a table into the document body or attempting to apply a single font to a mixed-format selection.
Observed behavior: The original fonts are not retained upon pasting, and bulk font changes fail to apply to every character in mixed-format text selections.

Before you start

Ensure your Mac's clipboard isn't being interfered with by a third-party utility, and update Microsoft 365 to the latest version to rule out known software bugs.

Solution 1Recommended

Test Formatting in a New Blank Document

Determine if the issue is isolated to the current document's styles or a broader Microsoft Word for Mac glitch.

Document corruption or conflicting underlying styles can often prevent 'Keep Source Formatting' from working correctly. Testing in a fresh file helps isolate the cause.

Create a new document

Open Microsoft Word for Mac and press Cmd + N to create a new blank document.

Copy the table text

Return to your original document, highlight a small section of text from the problematic table, and press Cmd + C to copy it.

Paste with source formatting

Go to the new document, click the arrow below the Paste button on the Home tab, and select 'Keep Source Formatting'. If the formatting is retained perfectly, your original document likely contains corrupted styles.

Bypass Corrupted Styles: If the new document works correctly, try copying all content from the old file (excluding the very last paragraph mark) into the new file to continue your work.

Solution 2

Clear Direct Formatting Before Re-Applying Fonts

Resolve the issue of mixed-format selections resisting bulk font changes by resetting the text first.

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Experience Seamless Formatting with WPS Office for Mac

If Microsoft Word for Mac continues to struggle with pasting table text and mixed-format selections, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible environment where copy-pasting retains exactly the formatting you expect, without the frustrating glitches.

1. Download and Install WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free version optimized for Mac.
2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing .docx file directly without converting.
3. Copy and Paste Seamlessly: Copy your table text and paste it into the document body—WPS retains your original font formatting perfectly.

Flawless compatibility with Microsoft Word documents (.docx).Accurate retention of table formatting, fonts, and styles during copy-paste.Free, lightweight, and optimized for macOS performance.Familiar user interface makes switching effortless.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does 'Keep Source Formatting' fail in Word for Mac?

This often occurs due to underlying style conflicts between the table content and the document's Normal template, or it could be a known bug within specific builds of Microsoft 365 for Mac.

How can I force Word to change fonts on a mixed-format selection?

If applying a single font fails on mixed text, select the text, click the 'Clear All Formatting' button on the Home tab to strip hidden conflicting styles, and then reapply your desired font.

Will reinstalling Microsoft Office for Mac fix the table formatting bug?

It might help if the application files are corrupted, but you should first try updating to the latest version of Office or testing the issue in a completely new document, as formatting problems are often file-specific.

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