Dealing with stubborn border lines in Microsoft Word can be a real pain. We’ve all been there, caught in a moment of frustration, trying to delete that pesky line that just won’t budge. It doesn’t have to be this hard.

To remove a border line from any paragraph, shape, or table, simply go to the “Borders” option in the “Design” tab and select “No Border.” Trust me, once you know this trick, it feels like unlocking a secret power in Word. From cleaning up your document to making your text flow better, removing borders can bring that extra bit of polish to your work.
We’ve all felt that little thrill when something finally works the way it should, right? It’s like when you find the right key to open a locked door after countless attempts. Whether you’re working on an important project or just tidying up a document, being able to handle borders with ease keeps things smooth and stress-free. Let’s dive into how we can make our Word documents spotless and professional.
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How to Remove Border Line in Word
Removing borders in Microsoft Word can feel like cracking a safe without the code, but we’ve got you covered!
To start, open your Word document. If you’re using Microsoft 365, Word 2019, Word 2021, or Word 2016, the steps are pretty similar.
Steps to Remove Paragraph Borders
- Highlight the paragraph with the unwanted border.
- Navigate to the “Home” tab.
- Click on the “Borders” button in the Toolbar.
- Select “No Border” from the dropdown menu.
Removing Page Borders
Page borders can be a bit trickier but are still manageable.
- Click the “Design” tab.
- Look for the “Page Borders” button in the Page Background section.
- Once the Borders and Shading box opens, click the “None” option.
Table Borders? No Problem!
Tables are a whole other beast, but we’ve got this.
- Select the table you want to edit.
- Go to the “Table Design” tab.
- Click “Borders” in the Table Styles group.
- Choose “No Border” to clear all borders.
Note: Always make sure to save your document before making multiple changes to familiarize yourself with the different options available.
Taking a moment to tweak the settings can go a long way in making your Word document look neat and professional. Feel free to experiment with these tools and see what works best for you!
Locating the Border Line Options
Finding the border line options in Microsoft Word involves navigating through a few specific menus. The main options are in the Design tab and within the Borders and Shading dialog box.
Using the Design Tab
To start, we should go to the Design tab. It’s one of the primary tabs on the ribbon. This tab is home to a range of settings, but for our purpose, we’ll focus on Page Borders.
In the Design tab, look for the Page Background group. This is where we find the Page Borders option. By clicking on Page Borders, a new dialog box called Borders and Shading opens up. This box has multiple tabs for different types of borders. From here, selecting the Page Border tab allows us to see the different border styles. Opting for “None” will remove any existing border.
Accessing Borders and Shading
If we need to get more detailed, we move to the Home tab. Here, we find a section for Paragraph tools. Clicking on the Borders button in this section opens a small menu. From this menu, we can select Borders and Shading.
When the Borders and Shading dialog box appears, it has three tabs: Borders, Page Border, and Shading. The Page Border tab is what we’re interested in. Under Setting, choose “None” to remove borders. Use the Apply To dropdown if it’s specific pages we’re dealing with.
By following these steps, we can effectively locate and adjust border settings in a Word document. This ensures our document looks exactly how we want it.
Step-by-Step Guide to Removing Borders
Removing borders in Microsoft Word is simple. Let’s walk through the process together.
To start, open the Word document where you want to remove a border.
Use your cursor to click on the text, table, or picture with the border.
Go to the Design tab. Click on Page Borders for page borders, or use the Borders drop-down in the Home tab for text or paragraph borders.
In the Borders and Shading box, select None to remove the chosen border.
Select the table or picture, go to Table Design or Picture Format. Click Table Borders or Picture Border and choose No Border.
Click “OK” to apply your changes. Check the preview to ensure the border is gone.
Follow these steps, and your document should be border-free! Easy as pie! 😊
Troubleshooting Common Issues
When removing border lines in Word, we may encounter issues like invisible borders or borders that persist even after removal. Let’s address these common problems and how to fix them.
Border Line Not Visible
Sometimes, border lines might not be visible. This can happen if the border is set to an underscore that is the same color as the background. To check:
- Go to the Home tab.
- Click Show/Hide ¶ to reveal formatting symbols.
- Check if there’s an underlined space or line where the border should be.
If we still can’t see it, it might be hidden by other formatting elements. To fix:
- Highlight the text and border area.
- Open the Borders menu and select No Border.
If this doesn’t work, ensure AutoFormat or AutoCorrect features haven’t applied a border automatically.
Persistent Border Line After Removal
Removing border lines doesn’t always work perfectly. If the border remains after we click No Border, it might be due to AutoFormat settings. Try these steps:
- Click Undo to reverse recent changes.
- Check the sidebar for any active formatting rules.
If the border still doesn’t disappear:
- Select the paragraph above and below.
- Open the Borders menu again and pick No Border.
Additionally, if border lines appear every time we press Enter, they are likely set by AutoCorrect. Disable this feature:
- Go to File > Options.
- Navigate to Proofing.
- Click AutoCorrect Options.
- Turn off any settings that add borders automatically.
Using these methods, we can typically resolve any issues with stubborn or invisible border lines.