Others

How to Remove White Rectangles Around Text in Windows

Tauseeq Magsi Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users need to remove white backgrounds or rectangular blocks that appear around text in applications on Windows.

Windows Accessibility settings showing Contrast themes turned off

Product: Windows
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Reading or editing documents and navigating software interfaces where text visibility is impaired by solid white backgrounds.
Observed behavior: Text elements are surrounded by solid white rectangles, obscuring the normal page background color and disrupting the visual layout.

Before you start

Ensure you have access to your Windows system settings, as these visual changes are controlled at the operating system level rather than within individual applications.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable the Windows Contrast Theme

Turning off the Windows contrast theme will immediately remove the white background rectangles around text and restore your normal system and application colors.

White rectangles behind text are typically caused by Windows accessibility features, specifically High Contrast or Contrast Themes. Disabling this setting forces applications like Microsoft 365 and other document editors to render text normally.

Open Windows Settings

Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard simultaneously to launch the Windows Settings application.

Navigate to Accessibility

Click on 'Accessibility' (or 'Ease of Access' in Windows 10) from the left-hand menu or the main settings grid.

Access Contrast Settings

Select 'Contrast themes' (or 'High contrast') from the list of accessibility options.

Set Theme to None

Click the dropdown menu for contrast themes, select 'None', and then click the 'Apply' button to save your changes.

Visuals Restored: Your screen will momentarily say 'Please wait' as Windows restores your standard theme. The white rectangles around your text should now be completely gone.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Experience Flawless Document Rendering with WPS Office

If you frequently encounter display glitches or text formatting issues in your current office software, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly compatible, lightweight, and completely free alternative to Microsoft Office, ensuring your documents are always displayed exactly as intended.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package for Windows.
2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded executable file and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup in minutes.
3. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing documents to enjoy a flawless reading and editing experience.

Seamlessly open, edit, and save Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats without compatibility issues.Accurate text rendering that avoids visual artifacts like unexpected background rectangles.Familiar and intuitive user interface ensures zero learning curve when migrating.Lightweight installation that runs swiftly and smoothly on all Windows operating systems.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did white rectangles suddenly appear behind my text?

This usually happens if the High Contrast mode in Windows was accidentally enabled. This can be triggered by pressing a specific keyboard shortcut (Left Alt + Left Shift + Print Screen) or by an unexpected change in your system's accessibility settings.

Will disabling high contrast affect how my document prints?

No. Windows contrast themes only alter how things are displayed on your monitor for accessibility purposes. Your document will still print with its original formatting and background colors, regardless of this setting.

Can I keep high contrast mode but remove just the text background?

High contrast themes intentionally add solid backgrounds to text to maximize readability against the page. However, you can customize the contrast theme in the Accessibility settings to change the 'Text' and 'Background' colors to something less intrusive than pure white.

How do I change the actual page background color in my document?

If you want to change the document's background color rather than a system setting, open your document editor, navigate to the 'Page Layout' or 'Design' tab, and use the 'Page Color' tool to select your preferred background.

Office Quick Solutions