Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Removing the Box from a Text Box.

Removing the Box from a Text Box

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated September 10, 2016)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003

When you insert a text box in your document, Word automatically places a border around it. This is great for some document designs, but you may prefer to remove the border. To remove the border from a text box, follow these steps:

Either click on the border of the text box or position the insertion point within the text box. (If you click on the text box itself, handles appear around the perimeter.)
Select the Text Box option from the Format menu. Word displays the Format Text Box dialog box.
Click on the Colors and Lines tab, if necessary. (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1. The Colors and Lines tab of the Format Text Box dialog box.

In the Color drop-down list, select No Line.
Click on OK.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1785) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Removing the Box from a Text Box.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. Learn more about Allen...

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What is six more than 1?

2023-02-24 11:23:52

Steve

Thanks this helped me get rid of the text box line border!

2022-10-31 02:55:13

Innocent udoh

Thanks. I was struggling with this problem for days until I see your article. Problem resolved. Now I can remove Text box from my Documents. Kudos

2022-08-30 12:58:48

R. L. Chandler

My color dropdown list does not contain "no line" option. Now what??

2019-08-27 17:14:12

Allan

Step 4. In the Color drop-down list, select No Line.
In Word 2007 there is no 'No Line' option. Must choose 'No Color'.

2019-08-15 18:16:07

Fiona

This needs to be updated

2018-09-07 07:56:34

Fiona

I have word on iPad and still can't work out how to remove the text box outline, tips please, I'm trying to make wedding invitations. Thanks

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