Cannot change text color in Microsoft Word, version 16.107.1, 365 Subscription.

Question

I'm using Microsoft Word for Mac, version 16.107.1, 365 Subscription, but cannot change text color, it seems to be frozen on 'black' as default

Answer 1

Hi, I'm John!

To help narrow down the issue:

1. Are you able to change font size or style, or is it only the color that’s stuck?
2. When you highlight text and click the Font Color (A icon), does anything happen at all?
3. Is this happening on all documents or just one file?

Is your text using a style (like Normal, Heading)? Try clearing it: Home > Clear Formatting (eraser icon)

Another possible cause:

• The text might be set to Automatic color, which can appear black depending on theme
• Or the document could be in Compatibility Mode / restricted formatting

Try creating a new blank document and test there. If it works, the issue is with that specific file

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Let me know how it goes.

Click "Add comment" to let me know.

Regards,

John J.D.

Answer 2

In Word for Mac, text color can be changed per selection, and a new default color can be set via the font settings. For Word for the web, only per-document color changes are possible and no default can be stored.

To change the color of existing text (Mac):

1. Select the text whose color should change.
2. On the Home tab, in the Font group, select the arrow next to Font Color.
3. Choose the desired color. If the desired color is not shown, select More Colors and pick a color on the Standard or Custom tab.

To change the default text color for new documents (Mac):

1. Open a document based on the template whose default settings should change (for most cases, a blank document based on Normal).
2. Go to Format > Font > Font (or press and hold Command + D).
3. Select the arrow next to Font color, and choose the desired default color.
4. Select Default, then select Yes to apply this change to all new documents based on that template.
5. Select OK.

If color still appears locked to black after these steps, verify that the change is being made in the Font dialog (not only on the toolbar) and that Default is confirmed for the template. If the UI itself appears stuck in a particular appearance (for example, dark/light), adjust the app theme in Word > Preferences > General under Personalize, but this affects interface appearance, not text color.

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References:

• Change the default text color (font color) in Word
• Change the font color in a Word document
• Change the look and feel of Microsoft 365