Free Word formatting check
Find out why your Word formatting keeps changing.
Choose a .docx file. We look for the saved settings that make Word change fonts, spacing and headings by itself. If we find them, you can download a copy with them turned off.
DOCX only, up to 25 MB. The check runs in this browser. Your file is not uploaded and the original is not changed.
Choose a file to check it.
What we found
Download a copy with auto-update turned off
The copy turns off "Automatically update" on every style and turns off "Automatically update document styles". Text, styles and layout are not changed. Your original is not changed.
Your file stays in this browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
Did this help you find why your formatting changes?
Thanks for your feedback.
Follow the troubleshooting steps in Word
The link opens this tool. It does not include your document or results. Tool link
Other causes to check in Word
- Paste with Keep Text Only (Ctrl+Shift+V in recent versions of Word) so pasted text takes your styles.
- If every new document has odd formatting, your Normal template may have changed. Search for Normal.dotm and rename it while Word is closed. Word makes a new one.
- If formatting changes only on another computer, the fonts you used may be missing there. Embed fonts in File, Options, Save.
- In File, Options, Advanced, turn on Keep track of formatting and Mark formatting inconsistencies to see text that does not match its style.
Supported files and limits
This check reads the styles, settings and body text of a standard .docx file. It does not check headers, footers, text boxes or your Normal template on your computer. Encrypted, signed and macro-enabled files are not supported.