Office for Mac Issues

Fix Word for Mac Screen Turning Gray and Text Disappearing

Maira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user experiences a recurring display issue in Word for Mac where the screen temporarily turns gray, hiding the mouse pointer and newly typed text until another key is pressed.

Product: Microsoft Word for Mac
Device & OS: macOS 12.7.6 (2015 MacBook Air)
Scenario: Typing text into a document, which affects both small files and complex documents like theses with tables and custom fonts.
Observed behavior: The screen temporarily flashes a gray background, the mouse pointer disappears, and typed text remains invisible until triggered to reappear by a subsequent keystroke.

Before you start

Ensure your Mac is connected to a stable power source and save all open documents to avoid data loss during the troubleshooting process.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable Third-Party Add-ins

Conflicting add-ins like Grammarly or Mendeley can interfere with Word's display rendering and cause screen glitches.

Third-party integrations that actively scan or modify your document as you type often consume significant resources. Temporarily disabling them helps isolate the cause of the gray screen bug.

Access Add-ins Menu

Open Microsoft Word on your Mac. Click on the 'Insert' tab in the top ribbon, then select 'Get Add-ins' or 'My Add-ins'.

Remove or Disable Add-ins

Locate Grammarly, Mendeley, or any other third-party extensions currently active. Select them and choose the option to remove or disable the add-in.

Restart and Test

Quit Microsoft Word completely by pressing 'Command + Q'. Reopen your document and type a few sentences to see if the gray screen issue persists.

Solution 2

Clear Word Preferences and Cache

Corrupted preference files can cause unusual interface behavior, including flashing screens and disappearing text.

Solution 3

Validate Custom Fonts

Corrupted or incompatible custom fonts used for headings can disrupt Word's text rendering engine.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Stable Typing Experience on Mac

If Microsoft Word continues to crash or display gray screen glitches on your Mac, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and free alternative that ensures a smooth and uninterrupted writing experience.

1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS Office website to download the free installation package for macOS.
2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Office and drag your existing Word document directly into the application.
3. Resume Work Uninterrupted: Continue typing and editing your documents without experiencing display glitches or gray screens.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx) formatsLightweight performance optimized for older Mac modelsFree to use with a familiar, easy-to-navigate interfaceSeamless migration of documents with complete formatting preservation

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Word screen turn gray while typing on a Mac?

This display glitch is typically caused by software conflicts with third-party add-ins (like Grammarly or Mendeley), corrupted preference files, or rendering issues associated with unsupported custom fonts.

Will deleting the com.microsoft.Word.plist file delete my documents?

No, deleting or moving the preferences file only resets Word's interface and default behavioral settings. Your personal documents and saved files remain completely untouched.

How can I test if a Mac application or add-in is causing Word to malfunction?

You can boot your Mac into Safe Mode by holding the 'Shift' key during startup. Safe Mode prevents background apps and add-ins from loading. If Word works perfectly in Safe Mode, an active add-in or background program is likely the cause.

What should I do if Font Book finds errors in my custom fonts?

If Font Book flags a custom font with errors, select the font and choose to 'Remove' or 'Disable' it. Restart Word, select your text, and change it to a standard, universally supported font like Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica to restore stability.