How to fix Office format errors with Apple IPad

Dear @Atwell, Will,

Good day! Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum.

We apologize for any inconvenience you may encounter when using our services/ products. To help you with the issue, we need more specific information from you:

• At which stage did the issue occur? Was it during the initial creation of the document?
• Is this issue happened on many Office apps (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint,...) or just one a specific one?

In the meantime, try the following steps:

Update Your Apps and iOS

Ensure both your iPad’s operating system and the Office apps are up to date:

• Go to the App Store > Updates tab and install any available updates for Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
• Update your iPad’s iOS via Settings > General > Software Update.

Use Compatible Fonts

Stick to fonts that are pre-installed on iPad (e.g., Arial, Times New Roman). Avoid custom fonts unless you’ve installed them using apps like iFont, and even then, printing or exporting may still cause issues.

Embed Fonts via Desktop

If you need to use specific fonts:

• Open the document on a desktop version of Word.
• Go to File > Options > Save, and enable “Embed fonts in the file”.
• Save and upload the file to OneDrive, then open it on your iPad.

Use Paste Format Trick

If a font is used elsewhere in the document:

• Copy the text with the desired font.
• Select the target text and tap Paste Format to apply the same styling.

Reinstall the App

If formatting tools are missing or malfunctioning:

• Delete the Office apps.
• Restart your iPad.
• Reinstall Office apps from the App Store.

Here is a reference: How the iPad substitutes fonts - Microsoft Support

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