Little black boxes in word

Some users have experienced that numbering, headings, or styles in their Microsoft Word documents turn into black boxes when they created the table of contents, headings, or subheadings using the Multilevel List feature. This issue interferes with the numbering style in a Word document by converting some heading numbers into black rectangular boxes. Hence, it causes a lot of trouble for the users. If you are experiencing such an issue in your Word document, this article may help you fix it.

How to get rid of black squares or boxes in Word

If you see black boxes in Numbering, Line, Heading styles, Paragraph formatting, Page break, erc. in Word documents on your Windows 11/10 PC, use these tips to fix the corrupted styles:

  1. Reapply the formatting style
  2. Recreate the Multilevel List
  3. Change the formatting style to None and then reapply the numbering format
  4. Run a macro in your Word document

Let’s see all these solutions in detail.

1] Reapply the formatting style

This problem interferes with the numbering style in a Word document. Therefore, you can try reapplying the formatting style and see if it fixes the problem.

The steps to reapply the formatting style are written below:

  1. Place the blinking cursor just after the black box.
  2. Press the left arrow key in order to select the black box completely. When you select the black box, it should turn gray.
  3. Now, press Ctrl + Shift + S keys. This will bring up the style popup window.
  4. Click Reapply.

Now, check if the issue is fixed.

2] Recreate the Multilevel List

Another solution to fix this problem is recreating the Multilevel List. The steps to do this are listed below:

  1. Place the blinking cursor just before the first heading.
  2. Click on the Home tab.
  3. Now, click on the Multilevel List drop-down under the Paragraph section and select the format you want.

This should fix the issue. If it does not work, repeat the first 2 steps and then click on the Multilevel List drop-down. After that, click Define New Multilevel List and customize your Multilevel List.

3] Change the formatting style to None and then reapply the numbering format

Change the formatting style of the black box to None. This will remove the numbering. After that, you can apply the numbering format again. The following instructions will help you with that:

  1. Place the blinking cursor just next to the blacked box and hit the left arrow key. This will select that black box.
  2. Press the Ctrl + Shift + S keys. This will open the Apply Styles popup window.
  3. Click Modify.
  4. Now, click on the Format button on the bottom left side and select Numbering. This will open the Numbering and Bullets window.
  5. Select None under the Numbering tab and click OK.
  6. Click OK again to close the Modify Style window.

This will remove the numbering format. Now, you can apply the numbering format again. To do so, go to the Home tab, click on the Multilevel List drop-down, and select the format under the Current List or select another format as per your requirement. If it causes disturbance in spacing, you can adjust it by moving the slider on the scale.

Read: Fix WINWORD.EXE Bad Image error.

4] Run a Macro in your Word document

If none of the above solutions work for you, running a Macro in Word may help. A lot of people found this solution helpful. You should also try this. To type a Macro in Word, first, you should enable the Developer tab. The following instructions will guide you on this:

Open Microsoft Word and go to “File > Options.”

Enable Developer tab in Word

Select the Customize Ribbon category from the left pane and then select the Developer checkbox. Now, click OK.

create Macro in Word

Now, select the Developer tab and click Macros. A Macro popup window will appear. Now, type the name of Macro and then click on the Create button. This will open the Microsoft Visual Editor.

Type a Macro in Word

In the Microsoft Visual Editor window, copy and paste the following code as shown in the above screenshot:

For Each templ In ActiveDocument.ListTemplates
For Each lev In templ.ListLevels
lev.Font.Reset
Next lev
Next templ

After typing the Macro, click on the Save button. Now, close the Microsoft Visual Editor window and open the affected document. Select the View tab and click on the Macros drop-down. Now, select the Macro that you have just created and then click on the Run button.

This should fix the problem.

Read: Fix Word experienced an error trying to open the file error.

Why is my numbering blacked out in Word?

This problem occurs when the font characteristics in Microsoft Word are corrupted. To fix this issue, you can reapply the formatting style. But according to some users, the problem reoccurs when they open the Word document again. Running a Macro in Microsoft Word can permanently fix this issue.

How do I get rid of the black box Numbering in Word?

To get rid of the black box Numbering in Word, you can reapply the formatting style or recreate the Multilevel List. If these solutions do not work for you, try running a Macro in Word. This solution has fixed the issue for many users. We have explained the process to run a Macro above in this article.

Hope this helps.

Read next: Microsoft Word keeps crashing on Windows.

How to fix repeating black boxes that appear in a row on Microsoft Word. What causes them and how to stop them from happening.

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Some users have experienced that numbering, headings, or styles in their Microsoft Word documents turn into black boxes when they created the table of contents, headings, or subheadings using the Multilevel List feature. This issue interferes with the numbering style in a Word document by converting some heading numbers into black rectangular boxes. Hence, it causes a lot of trouble for the users. If you are experiencing such an issue in your Word document, this article may help you fix it.

how to, microsoft, windows, microsoft

If you see black boxes in Numbering, Line, Heading styles, Paragraph formatting, Page break, erc. in Word documents on your Windows 11/10 PC, use these tips to fix the corrupted styles:

    Reapply the formatting styleRecreate the Multilevel ListChange the formatting style to None and then reapply the numbering formatRun a macro in your Word document

Let’s see all these solutions in detail.

1] Reapply the formatting style

This problem interferes with the numbering style in a Word document. Therefore, you can try reapplying the formatting style and see if it fixes the problem.

The steps to reapply the formatting style are written below:

    Place the blinking cursor just after the black box.Press the left arrow key in order to select the black box completely. When you select the black box, it should turn gray.Now, press Ctrl + Shift + S keys. This will bring up the style popup window.Click Reapply.

Now, check if the issue is fixed.

2] Recreate the Multilevel List

Another solution to fix this problem is recreating the Multilevel List. The steps to do this are listed below:

    Place the blinking cursor just before the first heading.Click on the Home tab.Now, click on the Multilevel List drop-down under the Paragraph section and select the format you want.

This should fix the issue. If it does not work, repeat the first 2 steps and then click on the Multilevel List drop-down. After that, click Define New Multilevel List and customize your Multilevel List.

3] Change the formatting style to None and then reapply the numbering format

Change the formatting style of the black box to None. This will remove the numbering. After that, you can apply the numbering format again. The following instructions will help you with that:

    Place the blinking cursor just next to the blacked box and hit the left arrow key. This will select that black box.Press the Ctrl + Shift + S keys. This will open the Apply Styles popup window.Click Modify.Now, click on the Format button on the bottom left side and select Numbering. This will open the Numbering and Bullets window.Select None under the Numbering tab and click OK.Click OK again to close the Modify Style window.

This will remove the numbering format. Now, you can apply the numbering format again. To do so, go to the Home tab, click on the Multilevel List drop-down, and select the format under the Current List or select another format as per your requirement. If it causes disturbance in spacing, you can adjust it by moving the slider on the scale.If none of the above solutions work for you, running a Macro in Word may help. A lot of people found this solution helpful. You should also try this. To type a Macro in Word, first, you should enable the Developer tab. The following instructions will guide you on this:Open Microsoft Word and go to “File > Options.”

how to, microsoft, windows, microsoft

Select the Customize Ribbon category from the left pane and then select the Developer checkbox. Now, click OK.

how to, microsoft, windows, microsoft

Now, select the Developer tab and click Macros. A Macro popup window will appear. Now, type the name of Macro and then click on the Create button. This will open the Microsoft Visual Editor.

how to, microsoft, windows, microsoft

In the Microsoft Visual Editor window, copy and paste the following code as shown in the above screenshot:

For Each templ In ActiveDocument.ListTemplates For Each lev In templ.ListLevels lev.Font.Reset Next lev Next templ

After typing the Macro, click on the Save button. Now, close the Microsoft Visual Editor window and open the affected document. Select the View tab and click on the Macros drop-down. Now, select the Macro that you have just created and then click on the Run button.

This should fix the problem.

This problem occurs when the font characteristics in Microsoft Word are corrupted. To fix this issue, you can reapply the formatting style. But according to some users, the problem reoccurs when they open the Word document again. Running a Macro in Microsoft Word can permanently fix this issue.

How do I get rid of the black box Numbering in Word?

To get rid of the black box Numbering in Word, you can reapply the formatting style or recreate the Multilevel List. If these solutions do not work for you, try running a Macro in Word. This solution has fixed the issue for many users. We have explained the process to run a Macro above in this article.

Hope this helps.

Read next: Microsoft Word keeps crashing on Windows.

how to, microsoft, windows, microsoft

  • #3

Cheryl, I’m not sure what these are, but how big are they? Do they
appear in both Normal and Page Layout view? Both when you have hidden
characters showing and when you don’t? (By toggling the paragraph-mark
symbol on the toolbar.)

Patty

Hi Patty.

The boxes were solid black and a little bigger than an asterisk. They
were in Normal View. I’m not sure about Page Layout View.

I have now gotten rid of them by following a suggestion from another
writer who uses (and tears her hair out over) Microsoft Word.

First, I did Save As to save the document with the boxes, because I
didn’t want to lose everything I hadn’t saved before the box line
popped up — just in case I might be able to get the boxes out. (At
this point I wasn’t hopeful.)

Then I closed the original — without saving — and quit Microsoft
Word. I waited a few minutes then reopened MSW and the original Not
Saved document. All the boxes were gone — along with the unsaved
work I’d done before they popped up, of course.

In any event, the box line has disappeared and hopefully won’t
reappear. I do wish I knew what I did to get them in the first place
so I don’t have a repeat.

Cheryl

This tutorial is about How to Remove Black Squares or Boxes in Word. Recently I updated this tutorial and will try my best so that you understand this guide. I hope you guys like this blog, How to Remove Black Squares or Boxes in Word. If your answer is yes after reading the article, please share this article with your friends and family to support us.
Table of contents

Check How to Remove Black Squares or Boxes in Word

Microsoft Word is a widely used commercial word processing program developed by Microsoft. Microsoft Word is a component of the Microsoft Office suite, but can also be purchased as a stand-alone product. Microsoft Word was originally released in 1983 and has been revised several times since then. It is available for Windows and Apple operating systems. Microsoft Word is often referred to simply as Word or MS Word.

When you click the “Show Passages” button, you can usually see a page or section break. In this case, however, there was no line indicating a partial or page break while the array was being revealed. In any case, there was a small dark square near the section that was causing the problem. Still, removing this design is not a given. Eventually, however, we managed to handle the problem.

However, to solve the problem, the means are quite simple. This is your specialty. In this article, we will show you how to remove black squares or boxes in Word. Here are the steps:

How to remove boxes or black boxes in Word

  • Put the cursor (the one that blinks) on the title that has a black square where there should be a number.
  • Right click on the right style button (the one related to the current title) let’s call it “Heading 1”.
  • Select “Modify”.
  • Select “Format”
  • Select “Numbering”
  • Click “None” and press the OK button.
  • This will remove all numbers for this title level. Don’t worry, we’ll get them back a little later.
  • Click the OK button in the “Style Modification” dialog box.
  • Repeat the above steps for all heading styles that are not working correctly.
  • Move the cursor (the blinking one) back to the first title.
  • Click the “multilevel list” button and select the style you want, in my case the one with “Title” written on it.

I hope you understand this article, How to Remove Black Squares or Boxes in Word. If your answer is no, you can ask anything via the contact forum section related to this article. And if your answer is yes, please share this article with your friends and family to give us your support.

James Hogan

James Hogan

James Hogan is a senior staff writer at Bollyinside, where he has been covering various topics, including laptops, gaming gear, keyboards, storage, and more. During that period, they evaluated hundreds of laptops and thousands of accessories and built a collection of entirely too many mechanical keyboards for their own use.

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