Drop-down arrows in Word can come from several different features: a drop-down list content control in a form or template, an older legacy form field, the small arrows that collapse headings, or the pop-up Paste Options and AutoCorrect buttons. Each is removed in a different way. This guide shows how to identify yours and get rid of it, keeping your text if you want.
Quick Answer
For a drop-down list in a form, right-click it and choose Remove Content Control. The currently selected text stays as normal text and the arrow disappears. If you don’t see that option, turn on the Developer tab and check whether it’s a legacy form field or a protected form (see below).
Which Drop-Down Arrow Is It?
| What you see | What it is | How to remove |
|---|---|---|
| Box with a ▾ arrow and a list of choices | Drop-down list content control | Remove Content Control |
| Gray shaded field that shows choices only when the form is protected | Legacy form field | Stop protection, then delete the field |
| Small triangle to the left of a heading | Collapse/expand heading | Only appears on hover; can’t be turned off, but doesn’t print |
| Small clipboard or lightning icon after pasting or typing | Paste Options / AutoCorrect Options button | Turn off in Options > Advanced or AutoCorrect |
Remove a Drop-Down List Content Control
- Right-click the drop-down.
- Choose Remove Content Control.
The selected item remains as regular text. To delete the text too, select the control (click its title tab or the edge) and press Delete.
If Remove Content Control is missing or grayed out
- Show the Developer tab: File > Options > Customize Ribbon, check Developer, and click OK.
- Click the drop-down, then Developer > Properties.
- Under Locking, uncheck Content control cannot be deleted and click OK.
- If the document is protected, click Developer > Restrict Editing > Stop Protection (you may need a password from the document’s author).
- Right-click and choose Remove Content Control again.
Remove a Legacy Form Field
- Click Developer > Restrict Editing > Stop Protection if the form is protected.
- Click the gray field and press Delete (or Backspace twice).
- Type any replacement text you need.
Turn Off Paste Options and AutoCorrect Buttons
- Paste Options: go to File > Options > Advanced, and under Cut, copy, and paste, uncheck Show Paste Options button when content is pasted.
- AutoCorrect Options button: go to File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options and uncheck Show AutoCorrect Options buttons.
About the Heading Arrows
The small triangles next to headings let you collapse sections. They only appear when you hover over or click a heading, and they never print. To expand everything at once, right-click a heading and choose Expand/Collapse > Expand All Headings.
Related: Edit a drop-down list in Word.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will removing the drop-down change how the document prints?
No. The chosen text prints the same; drop-down arrows don’t print anyway.
Can I remove all content controls at once?
Not with a built-in button. Remove them one by one, or use a simple macro if there are many.
How do I edit the drop-down choices instead?
Click the drop-down, then Developer > Properties, and use Add, Modify, or Remove under Drop-Down List Properties.
Summary
- Right-click a drop-down list and choose Remove Content Control.
- Unlock it in Developer > Properties or stop protection if needed.
- Delete legacy form fields after stopping protection.
- Turn off Paste Options and AutoCorrect buttons in Word Options.
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.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.