2 Simple Ways to Remove Tabs in Microsoft Word

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Perhaps you're writing a document and set tabs in your Word document, but they are now not what you need. This wikiHow will show you how to remove tabs in Word using Windows and macOS. The mobile app and browser versions of Word do not have the functionality to edit tabs, so you'll have to use a computer.

Quick Steps

  1. Click the Home tab.
  2. Click Tabs .
  3. Click Clear or Clear All .
  4. Click OK .
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Using Windows

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    You can open your document within Word by going to File>Open or you can right-click the file in File Explorer, select Open With and Word .
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/91\/Remove-Tabs-in-Word-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Remove-Tabs-in-Word-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/91\/Remove-Tabs-in-Word-Step-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Remove-Tabs-in-Word-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":545,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You'll see this in the editing ribbon above your document.
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  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/bf\/Remove-Tabs-in-Word-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Remove-Tabs-in-Word-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/bf\/Remove-Tabs-in-Word-Step-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Remove-Tabs-in-Word-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":348,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":551,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    " This will open the paragraph dialogue box. [1]
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/fe\/Remove-Tabs-in-Word-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Remove-Tabs-in-Word-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fe\/Remove-Tabs-in-Word-Step-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Remove-Tabs-in-Word-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":548,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You'll find this at the bottom of the pop-up window.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a0\/Remove-Tabs-in-Word-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Remove-Tabs-in-Word-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a0\/Remove-Tabs-in-Word-Step-5.jpg\/v4-728px-Remove-Tabs-in-Word-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":547,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    All the tabs in your document will disappear as soon as you click this.
    • If you want to remove one tab, you can click that tab to select it, then click Clear to remove it. [2]
  6. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8b\/Remove-Tabs-in-Word-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Remove-Tabs-in-Word-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8b\/Remove-Tabs-in-Word-Step-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Remove-Tabs-in-Word-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":547,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    As soon as you click OK , your document will update to reflect your changes.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Using macOS

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    You can open your document within Word by going to File>Open or you can right-click the file in Finder, select Open With and Word .
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    You'll see this in the menu along the top of your screen.
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    A new window will pop-up.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/37\/Remove-Tabs-in-Word-Step-10.jpg\/v4-460px-Remove-Tabs-in-Word-Step-10.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/37\/Remove-Tabs-in-Word-Step-10.jpg\/v4-728px-Remove-Tabs-in-Word-Step-10.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":348,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":550,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    All your tabs will disappear.
    • If you want to remove one tab, you can click that tab to select it, then click the minus button (-) to remove it. [3]
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/aa\/Remove-Tabs-in-Word-Step-11.jpg\/v4-460px-Remove-Tabs-in-Word-Step-11.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/aa\/Remove-Tabs-in-Word-Step-11.jpg\/v4-728px-Remove-Tabs-in-Word-Step-11.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":348,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":550,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Once you click OK , your document will update to reflect your changes.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.office.com/en-us/article/insert-or-add-tab-stops-06969e0f-2c81-4fe0-8df5-88f18087a8e0#ID0EAABAAA=Windows
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-9VOLxiA48
      3. ↑ https://support.office.com/en-us/article/insert-or-add-tab-stops-06969e0f-2c81-4fe0-8df5-88f18087a8e0#ID0EAABAAA=macOS

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open your document in Word.
      2. Click the box with an arrow pointing out of it next to "Paragraph."
      3. Click Tabs .
      4. Click Clear All .
      5. Click OK .

      Did this summary help you?
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 60,837 times.

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