'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
How to Fix Georgian Unicode Characters Displaying as Squares in Office for Mac
Question details
Users are experiencing issues where Georgian Unicode characters fail to render properly and display as missing character squares (tofu) in Microsoft Office applications.
- Product
- Microsoft Office for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS Sequoia
- Scenario
- Typing, pasting, or reading documents containing Georgian text in Excel cells or comment boxes.
- Observed behavior
- Georgian text characters do not display correctly and instead appear as blank square boxes after a recent system update.
Ensure you have saved any open documents and note your exact macOS and Microsoft Office version numbers, as this rendering issue often relates to compatibility mismatches after recent system updates.
Verify Office and macOS Updates
Since this font rendering issue often occurs after a major macOS system update, ensuring Microsoft Office is fully updated to match the new system compatibility can resolve the bug.
Microsoft frequently releases patches for Office on Mac to fix Unicode rendering bugs introduced by new macOS versions like Sequoia. Applying these updates is the primary way to restore normal font display.
Click the Apple menu and select 'System Settings' > 'General' > 'Software Update' to ensure your macOS Sequoia is on the latest available patch.
Open Excel or Word, go to the 'Help' menu at the top, and click 'Check for Updates' to launch Microsoft AutoUpdate.
Close all Microsoft Office applications completely and reopen your document to see if the Georgian characters now render correctly.
Apply a Supported Unicode Font
Sometimes the default font used in Excel cells or Office comments lacks the necessary Georgian glyphs, causing the characters to render as squares.
Experience Flawless Text Rendering with WPS Office for Mac
If Microsoft Office on macOS Sequoia continues to struggle with displaying Georgian Unicode characters correctly, try WPS Office. It provides robust multi-language and Unicode support, ensuring your international documents display perfectly without rendering errors.
- 1. Download the App: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the installation package designed for Mac.
- 2. Install on macOS: Open the downloaded package and drag the WPS Office application into your Applications folder.
- 3. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Office and open your existing Excel or Word file to view the Georgian text flawlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my Georgian characters show as squares in Excel for Mac?
This typically happens when the currently selected font does not contain the specific Georgian Unicode glyphs, or when a recent macOS update disrupts how Microsoft Office renders particular international fonts.
Will installing new fonts fix the square characters issue?
Yes, installing or applying a font that officially covers the Georgian Unicode block, such as Sylfaen or Arial Unicode MS, often resolves the issue inside the affected cells.
Does this Unicode rendering bug affect all Office applications?
While it is most commonly noticed in Excel cells and comment boxes due to how Excel handles default fonts, this rendering issue can occasionally affect Word and PowerPoint depending on the default system fonts in use.
How can I check if my Mac has a specific Georgian font installed?
Open the 'Font Book' application via Spotlight Search on your Mac, use the search bar to look for fonts like 'Sylfaen' or 'BPG', and ensure they are downloaded and not disabled.
