Office Settings & Configuration

How to Remove Automatic Borders and Text Boundaries in Microsoft Word

Ayan Masood Oct 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to remove automatic page-width lines and boxes that appear around text in their document.

How to Remove Automatic Borders and Text Boundaries in Microsoft Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Editing or viewing a document where unwanted lines continuously wrap around text areas and paragraphs.
Observed behavior: Page-width lines and boxes automatically display around paragraphs, which are actually visual text boundaries rather than applied border formatting.

Before you start

Verify that you are using the desktop version of Microsoft Word, as the advanced options required to toggle text boundaries may not be available in the web version.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable Text Boundaries in Advanced Options

This is the primary method to turn off the visual lines and boxes surrounding your text paragraphs.

In Microsoft Word, text boundaries are visual guides that outline text areas, margins, and paragraphs. They are not actual borders and will not print, but they can be visually distracting if turned on by mistake.

Open Word Options

Launch Microsoft Word and click on 'File' in the top-left corner, then select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.

Navigate to Advanced Settings

In the Word Options dialog box, click on the 'Advanced' tab on the left-hand side.

Clear Show Text Boundaries

Scroll down to the 'Show document content' section. Locate the checkbox labeled 'Show text boundaries' and uncheck it.

Apply and Save

Click the 'OK' button at the bottom of the window to apply the changes. The unwanted boxes around your paragraphs should now disappear.

Disable Text Boundaries in Advanced Options

Missing Option: If you do not see the 'Show document content' section, check your application version. This feature is fully supported in the installed desktop subscription versions of Word but may be missing in web or simplified versions.

Manage Layouts Seamlessly

Easily Manage Text Boundaries and Formatting with WPS Office

If you find Microsoft Word's settings difficult to navigate, try WPS Office. It provides a clean, intuitive interface to easily toggle layout guides like text boundaries while offering excellent compatibility with all Word documents.

1. Open WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open your Word document in the Writer application.
2. Access the Options Menu: Click the 'Menu' button in the top-left corner and select 'Options' from the drop-down list.
3. Go to View Settings: In the Options dialog box, click on the 'View' tab located in the left pane.
4. Toggle Text Boundaries: Under the formatting marks or layout settings, check or uncheck 'Text boundaries' based on your preference.
5. Save Changes: Click 'OK' to instantly apply a clean, distraction-free view to your document.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word formats (.doc, .docx)Free, lightweight, and fast-loading office suiteIntuitive settings menu for managing layout guides and borders effortlessly

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do lines appear around every single paragraph in Word?

This happens when the 'Show text boundaries' option is enabled. In newer versions of Word, text boundaries wrap around each individual paragraph rather than the page margins, resulting in multiple horizontal lines and boxes.

Why can't I find the 'Show text boundaries' option in my settings?

The option might be missing if you are using Word for the Web or an unsupported mobile version. Text boundary settings are fully accessible in the standalone desktop versions of Microsoft Word.

Will text boundaries show up when I print my document?

No. Text boundaries are purely visual layout guides designed to help you see the limits of your text areas while editing on screen. They will not appear on the printed page.

How do I know if it is a text boundary or a page border?

Text boundaries typically show as dotted lines strictly around text paragraphs and won't appear in Print Preview. Page borders are actual formatting applied to the document layout and will display in Print Preview and on the printed page.

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