Fix Word Line Numbers Appearing on the Right on Mac
Question details
The user needs to move line numbers in Microsoft Word from the right side of the document back to the standard left side on a Mac.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Adding line numbers to a Word document results in them displaying on the incorrect margin.
- Observed behavior
- Word line numbers appear on the right side of the page because macOS or Word incorrectly detects a right-to-left language (like Hebrew) layout setting, even if no foreign-language pack was intentionally installed.
Ensure you save your current document and fully close Microsoft Word before attempting to change your Mac system language settings or clear the application cache.
Adjust macOS Language and Region Settings
Remove any unintentional right-to-left (RTL) language settings from your Mac to restore standard document layouts in Word.
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select 'System Settings' (or 'System Preferences' on older macOS versions).
Scroll down the sidebar and click on 'General', then select 'Language & Region' on the right panel.
Look under 'Preferred Languages' for any right-to-left languages, such as Hebrew or Arabic. Select the language and click the minus (-) button to remove it.
Restart your Mac, open Microsoft Word, and check if the line numbers have returned to the left side of the document.
Clear the Microsoft Word Cache
Corrupted preference or cache files can cause layout glitches like reversed line numbers. Clearing the cache forces Word to generate a fresh configuration.
Reinstall Microsoft Word
If language adjustments and cache clearing fail, completely reinstalling the application ensures all underlying files are restored to their standard state.
Try WPS Office for a Flawless Mac Document Experience
If Microsoft Word continues to display frustrating formatting glitches like reversed line numbers, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, entirely free, and highly compatible alternative for macOS, ensuring your documents look exactly as intended without complex troubleshooting.
- 1. Download for Mac: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the macOS installation package.
- 2. Install the Application: Open the downloaded file and drag the WPS Office icon to your Applications folder.
- 3. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Writer and seamlessly open your existing Word documents to continue editing with standard formatting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my line numbers in Word suddenly move to the right side?
This typically occurs when your Mac's system settings or Word's internal configurations detect a right-to-left (RTL) language, such as Hebrew or Arabic. Word automatically adjusts the overall document layout to match this language direction, pushing standard margin elements like line numbers to the right.
How do I turn on standard line numbers in Word for Mac?
To add standard line numbers, open your document, navigate to the 'Layout' tab on the ribbon, click 'Line Numbers', and select 'Continuous' (or your preferred style). By default, they should appear on the left margin.
Will clearing the Microsoft Word Container delete my saved documents?
No, clearing the 'Microsoft Word' folder from ~/Library/Containers only removes application preferences and cache files. Your personal saved documents are stored safely in user folders (like Documents or Desktop) and will remain completely unaffected.
