How to Fix Word for Mac Text Display Problems After an Update
Question details
Users experience text rendering issues in Word for Mac where lines of text disappear and reappear while scrolling, typically after installing a recent software update.
- Product
- Microsoft Word for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Scrolling through a document in Word for Mac after updating the macOS system or the Microsoft Office suite.
- Observed behavior
- Lines of text randomly vanish and reappear during scrolling. Clicking on the affected invisible text temporarily forces the screen to redraw and display the text.
Ensure you have saved and backed up your current documents to an external drive or cloud storage before reinstalling software or making system-level changes.
Install Latest macOS and Office Updates
Updating your operating system and Office suite can resolve known rendering bugs introduced in previous versions.
Microsoft and Apple frequently release patches to address graphical glitches and compatibility issues. Ensuring both systems are completely up-to-date is the most effective way to eliminate screen redraw problems.
Open the Apple menu in the top-left corner, select 'System Settings' (or 'System Preferences'), click on 'General', and choose 'Software Update'. Install any available updates.
Open Microsoft Word. Navigate to the 'Help' menu at the top of the screen and click 'Check for Updates' to launch the Microsoft AutoUpdate tool.
If an update (such as version 16.43) displays an orange warning icon or is stuck, wait for it to finish or restart your Mac. Once updated, restart your computer and open a blank document to test the scrolling behavior.
Disable Unusual Fonts and Add-ins
Custom fonts or third-party add-ins can interfere with the text rendering engine in Word for Mac.
Remove and Reinstall Microsoft Word
If updating does not fix the display glitches, performing a clean installation of the Word application can resolve deep-seated file corruption.
Switch to WPS Office to Avoid Mac Display Issues
Tired of dealing with text rendering bugs and update loops in Word for Mac? WPS Office is a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative that provides a smooth and stable document editing experience on macOS without the heavy resource usage.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the macOS version of WPS Office.
- 2. Install the Software: Open the downloaded package and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
- 3. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Office, select 'Writer', click 'Open', and select your existing .docx file to edit without display glitches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does text disappear when I scroll in Word for Mac?
This is typically caused by a graphical rendering bug introduced after a recent macOS or Microsoft Office update. The application temporarily struggles to redraw the text blocks on your screen, which is why clicking the text forces it to reappear.
Will deleting and reinstalling Word for Mac erase my documents?
No. Dragging the Microsoft Word application to the Trash only removes the software executable. Your Word documents (.docx) are saved separately in your Documents folder or cloud storage and will not be affected.
What should I do if the Office update is stuck on downloading?
If the Microsoft AutoUpdate tool displays an orange warning icon or states that a download is already in progress but remains stuck, restart your Mac. This clears the temporary update cache and usually allows the updater to function normally.
How can I tell if a specific document is causing the display issue?
Open Word and create a new blank document. Type several paragraphs of random text and scroll up and down. If the text scrolls normally without vanishing, the issue is likely isolated to the formatting, specific fonts, or corrupted elements within your previous document.
