Office Settings & Configuration

How to Remove or Hide Bookmark Markers in Word

Maira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to remove or hide specific symbols, identified as bookmark markers, that are appearing throughout a Word document.

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Cleaning up the document display by hiding structural markers that clutter the text.
Observed behavior: Unwanted symbols or grey brackets, which serve as bookmark markers, are visible throughout the document text on the screen.

Before you start

Before proceeding, determine whether you need to keep the bookmarks for document navigation or cross-referencing; if they are still needed, you should only hide the markers rather than delete them.

Solution 1Recommended

Hide Bookmark Markers via Word Options

Change Microsoft Word's advanced display settings so that the bookmark symbols are no longer visible on your screen, keeping the actual bookmarks intact.

This method is highly recommended if your document relies on bookmarks for cross-references, tables of contents, or hyperlinks. By hiding the markers, you clean up the screen without breaking any document functionality.

Open Word Options

Click on 'File' in the top-left corner of the Word interface, then select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu to open the Word Options dialog box.

Navigate to Advanced Settings

In the left pane of the Word Options window, click on 'Advanced'.

Disable the Bookmarks Display

Scroll down to the 'Show document content' section. Uncheck the box next to 'Show bookmarks', then click 'OK' at the bottom of the window to apply the changes. The grey brackets will instantly disappear from your document.

Bookmarks Successfully Hidden: Your bookmark markers are now hidden. They will not print or display on your screen, but the background bookmark links will continue to function normally.

Solution 2

Search and Delete Unwanted Bookmarks

Permanently remove bookmarks from the document if they are outdated or no longer serve a purpose.

Efficient Document Editing

Easily Manage and Hide Bookmarks with WPS Writer

WPS Writer provides a streamlined, intuitive interface for managing document formatting and references. You can easily insert, view, or hide bookmarks exactly as you do in Microsoft Word, making document editing completely hassle-free.

1. Open your Document: Launch WPS Office and open your text document using WPS Writer.
2. Access the Options Menu: Click on 'Menu' in the top-left corner and select 'Options' from the drop-down list.
3. Hide Formatting Marks: Go to the 'View' tab in the Options window, uncheck the 'Bookmarks' option under the Formatting marks section, and click 'OK'.

Seamlessly compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) documents and formatting.Intuitive and easy-to-use interface to manage bookmarks, hyperlinks, and references.Lightweight, fast, and entirely free to use for your daily office needs.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What do bookmark markers look like in Word?

In Microsoft Word, bookmark markers typically appear as large, grey square brackets `[` and `]` enclosing the bookmarked text. If a bookmark was inserted without selecting text, it will look like a thick grey I-beam icon.

Will hiding bookmark markers delete the actual bookmarks?

No. Hiding the markers via the Advanced Options menu only changes how the document is displayed on your screen. The underlying bookmarks remain fully active and can still be used for cross-referencing.

Do bookmark markers appear when I print the document?

No, bookmark markers are non-printing characters. Even if the 'Show bookmarks' setting is enabled and you can see them on your screen, they will not appear on the printed pages or in a finalized PDF export.

Can I hide bookmarks only for specific pages?

No, the 'Show bookmarks' setting in Word applies globally to the entire document. You either show all bookmark markers in the file or hide them all simultaneously.

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