How to Fix Visual Glitches in Microsoft 365 Apps
Question details
The user is experiencing persistent graphical artifacts and screen distortion across Microsoft 365 applications that are not resolved by standard settings adjustments.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook)
- Device & OS
- Windows (Surface and Dell computers)
- Scenario
- Opening and using standard Office documents for daily work tasks.
- Observed behavior
- Word, Excel, and Outlook display persistent visual glitches and screen rendering issues, even after turning off hardware graphics acceleration and disabling subpixel positioning.
Ensure your Windows operating system and dedicated graphics drivers are fully updated before attempting to reinstall or repair your Microsoft 365 applications.
Temporarily Reset Your Windows Graphics Driver
Use a built-in Windows keyboard shortcut to instantly refresh the graphics driver without restarting your computer.
Sometimes, the communication between your system's graphics driver and Microsoft Office breaks down, resulting in visual artifacts. A quick driver reset can clear momentary rendering issues.
On your keyboard, press the Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B simultaneously.
Your screen will briefly go black and you will hear a system beep. This indicates the graphics driver is restarting.
Return to your open Word, Excel, or Outlook windows to check if the visual glitches have cleared.
Perform a Clean Reinstallation of Microsoft Office
Completely remove corrupted installation files and switch bit-versions to resolve persistent graphical glitches.
Experience Glitch-Free Document Editing with WPS Office
If Microsoft 365 continues to display visual glitches and screen artifacts on your Dell or Surface computer, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly stable experience without putting excessive demands on your system's graphics drivers.
- 1. Download the software: Visit the official WPS website and download the free WPS Office installer for Windows.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the setup file and follow the quick installation prompts.
- 3. Open your files: Double-click your existing Office documents to securely open and edit them without any graphical glitches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Outlook and Word flicker or show graphical artifacts?
Visual glitches are typically caused by misconfigured graphics drivers, corrupted Office installation files, or conflicts with the hardware graphics acceleration settings in Microsoft Office.
Will reinstalling Microsoft 365 delete my saved documents?
No. Uninstalling and reinstalling Microsoft Office programs only removes the application files. Your saved Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and locally stored files will remain safe on your hard drive.
Should I install the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Office to prevent display issues?
It is highly recommended to use the 64-bit version on modern PCs, including Dell and Surface computers. The 64-bit version manages system memory more efficiently and is generally less prone to performance-related display artifacts.
