Word changes paragraph with equations spacing and overlaps equation lines in existing documents. 16.114.4 (26110224) displays the same files correctly.

Question

Word changes paragraph with equations spacing and overlaps equation lines in existing documents. 16.114.4 (26110224) displays the same files correctly.

Petro Publications 0

After Word updated to version 16.115 (26110837) on November 10, 2026, my existing .docx files display with the wrong layout. This includes old files I haven’t edited since before the update. Spacing after paragraphs is reduced, and equations (fractions and multi-line equations) overlap the paragraph that follows them. The equation box runs into the next line of text.

The problem appears in 2 to 3, and sometimes 4, locations on a page, and my documents are about 3,500 pages long, so the result is unusable. The files are stored on OneDrive, and their version history shows no recent changes, so the files themselves haven’t been altered.

To test, I uninstalled Word and installed 16.114.4 (26110224). The same files display correctly there. I have attached one page marked up to show both versions side by side.

Word version with the problem: 16.115 (26110837)
Word version that works: 16.114.4 (26110224)
macOS: 26.6.2 (25G83)
iPad: latest Word for iPad shows the same files [correctly / incorrectly. Delete this line if you haven’t tested].

This affects my business work, large technical books, and I can’t use the latest Word for it. I’ve turned off automatic updates and stayed on 16.114.4 for now. Please confirm whether this is a known issue and when a fix will be released.

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Answer 1

Hi,

Based on your findings, this appears to be a relatively new issue introduced in Word version 16.115 (26110837), as the same documents display correctly in version 16.114.4 (26110224). Since the affected files have not been modified and the behavior is reproducible across existing documents, the issue is likely related to changes in Word's document rendering rather than the document content itself.

At this stage, I would recommend submitting feedback directly through the Word · Community. Please include the details you've shared, such as the affected Word versions, the paragraph spacing changes, the equation overlapping behavior, and the fact that reverting to version 16.114.4 resolves the issue. If possible, attach a sample document and screenshots comparing the two versions.

I have also started finding similar reports from other users describing comparable behavior, which suggests this may not be an isolated case. Submitting your feedback will help ensure the issue is captured and reviewed by the product team.

For example: subscript font-size error · Community

Customer feedback and diagnostic information are reviewed by Microsoft's engineering teams and can help raise awareness of newly introduced issues, particularly those affecting document rendering and compatibility.

Once you've submitted your feedback, feel free to share the link here in the comments. I’ll be happy to upvote it to help bring more visibility.

Additionally, since many other users have expressed similar concerns but may not know where to submit feedback, if my response has helped you better understand the situation and guided you toward a possible next step, please mark it as the “Accepted Answer.” Your action will help pin this post to the top, making it easier for others in the community who are experiencing the same issue to find your feedback and support it.

In the meantime, if your workflow permits, continuing to use version 16.114.4 may be the best temporary workaround while the issue is investigated further.

Thank you again for your time and for raising this important concern.

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