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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →If symbols in Word appear as empty boxes, boxes with question marks, or unrelated characters, the box is a symptom—not a diagnosis. The cause is usually a font that lacks the character, an incorrect text encoding, or a Word/software rendering issue. Start by checking whether only a few characters are affected, then whether the file is imported text or a Word document, and finally whether the problem matches a known Word issue.
What the different symptoms can tell you
A missing character can look similar across different causes, so appearance alone cannot identify the problem. The Unicode Consortium groups these display failures into three broad categories: incorrect text encoding, a software limitation or bug, or a font limitation or bug. Use the scope of the problem and the file type to decide what to check first.
- One or a few symbols are missing: Check whether the current font contains those characters.
- Most characters are replaced by boxes or dots: The document may rely on a font that is not installed, or the text may have been decoded using the wrong encoding.
- Text from an imported file is garbled: Test the encoding used to open that text file.
- The same characters fail across different fonts: A Word or other software limitation becomes more plausible, although it is not conclusive.
Unicode’s display guidance explains the three categories at Unicode character display problems.
Fix a small number of missing symbols by changing the font
Fonts do not all contain the same characters. If only a few symbols are affected, select the affected character or passage and try a font that supports it. Microsoft identifies Segoe UI Symbol as a font with a large collection of Unicode symbols, but it is not guaranteed to contain every character or script.
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- Select the affected symbol or text in Word.
- On the Home tab, choose a font such as Segoe UI Symbol from the font list.
- Check whether the character displays correctly. If not, try another font known to support that symbol or script.
You can also locate symbols through Word’s Insert > Symbol picker, choosing a font and browsing its available characters. Microsoft’s guidance on fonts and symbols is at Insert a symbol in Word.
If nearly every character is missing, changing a few selections is unlikely to solve the underlying problem. The document may use a font that is not installed on your system; Microsoft Learn discusses missing fonts as one cause of different Word display in its missing-fonts guidance. That article describes a Windows 10 upgrade scenario, so it does not establish that every broad missing-character problem has the same cause.
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Reopen garbled imported text with a different encoding
Use this procedure for an encoded text file that opens with garbled characters—not as a universal repair for damaged characters in a native DOCX document. The encoding controls how bytes in the text file are interpreted as characters. A wrong choice can turn readable text into nonsense or replacement symbols.
- In Word, open File > Options > Advanced.
- Under General, select Confirm file format conversion on open, then select OK.
- Close the file and reopen it. In the conversion prompt, choose Encoded Text.
- Choose Other encoding and inspect the preview. Select a candidate encoding only if the preview shows readable text.
- Keep an untouched copy before converting or saving. If the text is still garbled, cancel and try another plausible encoding rather than saving over the original.
Microsoft’s instructions and cautions about encoded text are in Choose text encoding when you open or save files. Word uses Unicode by default when saving text unless another encoding is selected. Microsoft warns that a narrower encoding may not preserve every character; characters with no equivalent in the chosen encoding can be saved as question marks.
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The Unicode Consortium advises explicitly declaring the encoding and using a Unicode encoding form such as UTF-8. That guidance is relevant when preparing or exchanging text files; it does not by itself repair a file already opened with the wrong encoding.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check for a Word rendering issue when fonts and encoding do not explain it
If the same characters remain wrong after testing suitable fonts, and the file is not an imported text file with a questionable encoding, check whether Word has a matching known issue. Update Office through its available update controls and consult Microsoft Support if the fault persists. A software issue is more plausible when the problem continues across fonts from different vendors, but that pattern alone does not prove the cause.
Specific EUDC blank-square issue in Word for Microsoft 365
Microsoft Support’s notice dated July 1, 2026 describes a narrowly scoped issue: EUDC characters could appear as blank squares in Word for Microsoft 365 after version 2603, build 19822.20180 or newer. Microsoft says it is fixed in version 2606, build 16.0.20131.20090 and later. This applies to that EUDC issue only; it is not an explanation for unrelated missing symbols. See Microsoft’s EUDC issue notice.
Quick Recap
Choose the next check based on the file and symptom
| What you see | What to check first | Why |
|---|---|---|
| One or a few symbols are boxes | Try a font with the relevant character; inspect Insert > Symbol. | Fonts differ in character coverage. |
| Most text is boxes or dots | Check for a missing font; if it is imported encoded text, test the opening encoding. | A font dependency or decoding problem can affect many characters. |
| Imported text is readable only under a different encoding preview | Reopen using the encoding that produces readable text, then preserve an original copy. | The text may have been interpreted using the wrong encoding. |
| EUDC characters are blank squares in an affected Microsoft 365 build | Check whether the Word version is within the affected range and update to the fixed version or later. | Microsoft documents a specific version-related EUDC rendering issue. |
| The fault persists across fonts and does not fit an encoding or known-issue case | Check for Word updates and contact Microsoft Support. | A software limitation or bug is possible but not established by the symptom alone. |
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