Fix Word for Mac Showing Page Border in the Wrong Color
Question details
The user is experiencing an issue where page borders in their document display in black and white on the screen, even though they print in the correct intended color.
- Product
- Microsoft Word 2016
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Viewing and editing a document that contains colored page borders.
- Observed behavior
- Page borders incorrectly render as black and white within the application interface but output correctly in color when printed.
Ensure you have saved your current document and note down your exact macOS and Word version numbers (found under Word > About Word) before proceeding with troubleshooting.
Test Word in Safe Mode and Clear Corrupted Preferences
Booting your Mac in Safe Mode and resetting Word's configuration files can resolve display glitches caused by corrupted software settings.
Sometimes, the on-screen rendering engine in Word for Mac experiences glitches due to corrupted cache or preference files. Clearing these files forces Word to rebuild them from scratch.
Open Word, click 'Word' in the top Apple menu bar, and select 'About Microsoft Word'. Note your version to ensure you have the latest available update for Office 2016.
Restart your Mac. As it restarts, press and hold the Shift key until you see the login window. Open Word in Safe Mode to see if the border colors display correctly without third-party interference.
Close Microsoft Word. Open a Finder window, press Command+Shift+G, and paste '~/Library/Containers/'. Locate the folder named 'com.microsoft.Word' and drag it to your Desktop. Restart Word to let it generate new preference files.
Upgrade to a Supported Version of Microsoft Office
Because Office 2016 for Mac has reached the end of its support lifecycle, persistent display bugs will not receive official patches.
Use WPS Office to Display and Edit Documents Flawlessly
If your older version of Word for Mac is no longer receiving updates for display bugs, migrating to WPS Office is an excellent, free solution. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative that renders Word documents—including colored borders and graphics—perfectly on your Mac.
- 1. Download and Install: Visit the WPS Office website, download the installer for Mac, and drag the application into your Applications folder.
- 2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer, click 'Open', and select your original Word document that has the border display issues.
- 3. Verify Display Settings: Navigate to the Page Layout tab to adjust or confirm that your page borders are now correctly displaying in full color on your screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my page borders print correctly but look black and white on my screen?
This is typically caused by a known on-screen rendering bug in older versions of Word for Mac (like Office 2016). The print spooler correctly reads the color metadata for printing, but the software's visual interface fails to render it properly on modern macOS screens.
Will reinstalling Word 2016 for Mac fix this display issue?
Reinstalling might help if the issue is caused by corrupted program files. However, if this is an unpatched bug specific to Office 2016's interaction with a newer macOS version, reinstalling will not solve it since the software no longer receives updates.
Are there any temporary workarounds to see the border color?
You can use the 'Print Preview' function or export the document as a PDF to verify the exact colors of your page borders before sending or printing the file.
Can I open my Word document in another program without losing the border formatting?
Yes. Free Microsoft Office alternatives like WPS Office natively support .docx files and will accurately render complex formatting, including colored page borders, without altering your original document.
