Fix Word Highlight Color Not Working on iPhone & iPad
Question details
Users need to resolve an issue where applying a highlight color to text in Microsoft Word on mobile Apple devices results in an incorrect blue background.
- Product
- Microsoft Word (iOS/iPadOS App)
- Device & OS
- iPhone, iPad (iOS / iPadOS)
- Scenario
- Highlighting text within a document using the Microsoft Word mobile app.
- Observed behavior
- Instead of applying the user's selected highlight color, the app displays a solid blue background over the selected text.
Ensure your iPhone or iPad is updated to the latest iOS or iPadOS version, and save any open documents in Microsoft Word before making changes to your device settings.
Disable 'Increase Contrast' in iOS Accessibility Settings
The primary cause of the blue background instead of the highlight color is the 'Increase Contrast' accessibility feature on your Apple device.
Apple's 'Increase Contrast' setting alters how apps display colors to improve readability. However, it overrides Microsoft Word's default highlight colors, causing them to render as solid blue blocks instead of translucent highlights.
Locate and open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
Scroll down the settings menu and tap on 'Accessibility'.
Tap on 'Display & Text Size' under the Vision category.
Find the 'Increase Contrast' toggle and switch it to the OFF position.
Force close the Microsoft Word app by swiping up from the bottom of your screen, then relaunch it and try applying the highlight color again.
Update or Reinstall Microsoft Word
If adjusting the contrast settings does not work, the issue might be linked to a temporary bug in your specific app version.
Edit and Highlight Documents Seamlessly with WPS Office
Tired of app-specific bugs affecting your mobile workflow? WPS Office offers a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Word. Enjoy reliable text formatting, highlighting, and editing on your iPhone and iPad without unexpected display issues.
- 1. Download the App: Get WPS Office for free from the App Store on your iPhone or iPad.
- 2. Open Your Document: Open your existing Word documents directly within the WPS app without losing any formatting.
- 3. Highlight Seamlessly: Use the robust editing toolbar to select text and apply exact highlight colors effortlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my iPad highlight in blue instead of yellow on Word?
This happens because the 'Increase Contrast' accessibility setting on your iPad overrides Microsoft Word's default highlight colors, causing it to display a solid blue background to enhance visibility. Disabling this setting in iOS Settings restores normal highlight colors.
Does uninstalling and reinstalling Word fix the highlight bug?
Usually, reinstalling the app will not fix this specific issue if the iOS 'Increase Contrast' setting remains enabled. You must disable the accessibility setting first for the highlight feature to function correctly.
Can I keep 'Increase Contrast' on and still use highlight colors in Word?
Currently, Microsoft Word's mobile app struggles to render standard highlight colors when 'Increase Contrast' is active on Apple devices. To see accurate highlight colors, you must temporarily turn off the contrast setting.
How do I change the highlight color in Word for iPad?
Select the text you want to highlight, tap the 'A' (Text Format) icon with a pen next to it in the home ribbon at the top of the screen, and choose your preferred color from the dropdown palette.
