To remove a content control in Word but keep its text, right-click the control and choose Remove Content Control. If you don’t see that option, turn on Developer > Design Mode first, or open the control’s Properties and untick Content control cannot be deleted. To delete the control and its contents, select it and press Delete.
Quick Answer
Right-click the control > Remove Content Control (keeps text). To remove everything, select the control and press Delete.
Steps to Remove a Content Control
- Show the Developer tab if needed: File > Options > Customize Ribbon > tick Developer.
- Click Developer > Design Mode to see the control’s start and end tags.
- Right-click inside the control and choose Remove Content Control. The text stays as normal text.
- Turn off Design Mode.
If the Control Won’t Delete
- Click the control and choose Developer > Properties.
- Under Locking, untick Content control cannot be deleted and Contents cannot be edited.
- If the document is protected, go to Review > Restrict Editing > Stop Protection (you may need the password from whoever set it).
Remove Many Controls at Once
| Goal | Method |
|---|---|
| Keep text, remove all controls | Select all, then remove one by one in Design Mode, or use a short macro |
| Remove controls and text | Select the area and press Delete |
| Convert a form to plain text | Copy all and Paste Special > Keep Text Only into a new document |
Troubleshooting
- Remove Content Control is greyed out: The control is locked or the document is restricted. See the steps above.
- Controls come from a template: Edit the template to stop new documents getting them.
- Building a form instead? See drop-down lists in Word and check boxes and check marks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a content control?
A box that holds a type of content, such as text, a date picker, a drop-down or a check box, often used in forms and templates.
Does this work on a Mac?
Yes. Turn on the Developer tab in Word > Preferences > Ribbon & Toolbar, then use the same options.
Will removing controls break the template?
Only the current document changes. The template stays the same.
Summary
- Turn on Developer > Design Mode.
- Right-click the control and choose Remove Content Control.
- Unlock it in Properties if needed.
- Stop protection for restricted documents.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
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