Fix: SmartArt Graphics Not Displaying in Word

O problema

Your SmartArt organizational chart, process diagram, or other SmartArt graphic isn’t displaying. You see only a placeholder or icon. The SmartArt was visible yesterday but disappeared. You can’t click or interact with the SmartArt. SmartArt shows in outline view but not in normal view. The graphic renders incorrectly with missing shapes or text.

Correção rápida

Atualize Office immediately:

1. Open any Office app (Word, Excel, etc.)
2. Vá para Arquivo > Account
3. Clique Atualize Options
4. Clique Atualize Agora
5. Wait for updates to complete
6. Reinicie your computer
7. Open your document
8. SmartArt display problems are often fixed by updates

If SmartArt still doesn’t display, proceed to Solução passo a passo.

Solução passo a passo

Step 1: Verifique if SmartArt is Set to Display as Icon

SmartArt hidden behind icon display mode.

1. Clique com o botão direito the SmartArt (even if you only see placeholder)
2. Selecione Object or SmartArt Properties
3. Procure “Display as icon” checkbox
4. Uncheck it if checked
5. Clique OK
6. SmartArt should now display as graphic instead of icon

Step 2: Access SmartArt Design Ferramentas

Ative SmartArt tools to verify it’s active.

1. Clique the SmartArt or its placeholder
2. If properly selected, SmartArt Ferramentas tabs appear in ribbon
3. Procure Design and Formato tabs
4. Clique Design tab
5. You should see SmartArt layout options
6. If these tabs don’t appear, SmartArt may be corrupted

Step 3: Change SmartArt Layout

Sometimes changing layout forces redraw.

1. Clique the SmartArt
2. Vá para SmartArt Ferramentas > Design tab
3. In Layouts group, select a different layout
4. The SmartArt redraws with new layout
5. If it now displays, you can switch back to original layout if desired
6. Or keep new layout if it works better

Step 4: Verifique SmartArt Rendering Settings

Word has graphics rendering options that affect SmartArt.

1. Vá para Arquivo > Opções
2. Clique Advanced in left sidebar
3. Scroll to Display section
4. Procure graphics-related options:
   • Uncheck “Desative hardware graphics acceleration” (if checked)
   • Or check it (opposite approach) if SmartArt shows as black/corrupted
5. Clique OK
6. Reinicie Word
7. Tente SmartArt again

Step 5: Verify SmartArt is Not Hidden

SmartArt might be present but hidden behind other objects.

1. Clique com o botão direito near where SmartArt should be
2. Procure “Bring to Front” option—if present, SmartArt is there but behind something
3. Clique Bring to Front
4. SmartArt moves forward and becomes visible

Alternatively:

1. Selecione all content in document (Ctrl+A)
2. Vá para Arrange or Página Layout > Arrange > Send to Back
3. Then click the SmartArt and go to Arrange > Bring to Front
4. This ensures SmartArt layers are correct

Step 6: Exclua and Reinsert SmartArt

If SmartArt is corrupted, delete and recreate.

1. Clique com o botão direito the SmartArt placeholder or object
2. Press Exclua
3. Vá para Inserir > SmartArt (or Inserir > SmartArt Graphics)
4. In the SmartArt dialog:
   • Choose a category on the left (e.g., “Process,” “Hierarchy”)
   • Choose a layout in the center
   • Clique OK
5. SmartArt is reinserted and should display properly
6. Enter your text and customize

Step 7: Change Exibir to Force Redraw

Sometimes changing view and back refreshes display.

1. Vá para Exibir tab
2. Clique Outline view
3. You should see the SmartArt text structure in outline
4. Go back to Exibir > Print Layout or Normal
5. Return to normal view
6. SmartArt may now display properly

Step 8: Copie SmartArt as Imagem

If SmartArt won’t display but you need it:

1. Clique com o botão direito SmartArt
2. Selecione Copie
3. Clique com o botão direito in a blank area of document
4. Selecione Cole Special
5. Choose Picture or Bitmap
6. Clique OK
7. SmartArt is now converted to image (static, can’t edit SmartArt style, but displays)
8. Exclua original SmartArt if desired

Step 9: Verifique for Compatibility Mode

Old document formats can cause display issues.

1. Vá para Arquivo > Info
2. Procure “Compatibility Mode” warning
3. If document is in compatibility mode, click Convert
4. This upgrades to modern Word format
5. SmartArt may display properly now

Step 10: Desative SmartArt Optional Features

Some advanced features cause display problems.

1. Clique SmartArt
2. Vá para SmartArt Ferramentas > Design tab
3. Procure Text Pane button—click to toggle it off if on
4. Procure Change Cors or Change Estilo buttons
5. Clique these to apply different styles (sometimes forces redraw)
6. See if any style makes it display

Por que isso acontece

1. Office graphics rendering bug — Outdated Office version has SmartArt display bug
2. Corrupted SmartArt object — SmartArt data in document is damaged
3. Graphics card driver issue — GPU driver conflicts with SmartArt rendering
4. Display as icon setting — SmartArt configured to show only icon
5. Object layering — SmartArt hidden behind other objects
6. Compatibility mode — Document in old Word format
7. Missing fonts — SmartArt using fonts not installed
8. Theme colors incompatible — Cor scheme conflicts cause rendering failure

Como evitar

1. Keep Office updated — SmartArt bugs fixed in updates
2. Atualize GPU drivers — Keep graphics card drivers current
3. Avoid old document formats — Save as .docx (modern format)
4. Test SmartArt immediately — After inserting, verify it displays
5. Don’t use excessive SmartArt — Many SmartArt objects can slow display
6. Stick with standard layouts — Custom/experimental layouts more likely to fail
7. Backup before major edits — Save copy before making extensive changes
8. Use standard fonts — Use common fonts (Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri)

Ainda não funciona? Soluções alternativas

1. Replace with table — For org charts, use table structure instead
2. Use Visio instead — Visio diagrams are more reliable for complex structures
3. Inserir as image — Create SmartArt elsewhere (Excel, PowerPoint), export as image, insert
4. Use shapes directly — Inserir > Formas to create similar diagram manually
5. Save as PDF — Export document to PDF (SmartArt converts to image automatically)
6. Reinstale Office — Uninstall completely, download fresh, install
7. Create in PowerPoint — Design SmartArt in PowerPoint, copy to Word
8. Contact Microsoft Support — Provide document and system info for technical help

Pontos-chave

• Atualize Office (Arquivo > Account > Atualize Options > Atualize Agora) fixes most SmartArt issues
• Uncheck “Display as icon” if SmartArt aparece only as icon
• Changing SmartArt layout can force it to redraw and display
• Desative hardware graphics acceleration if SmartArt aparece corrupted/black
• Exclua and reinsert if SmartArt severely corrupted
• Copie SmartArt as image (Cole Special) as workaround for display issues
• Show formatting marks to verify SmartArt object exists even if not visible
• Keep Office and GPU drivers updated for reliable SmartArt rendering