How to Get Rid of Borders in Google Docs: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Matthew Burleigh

Got a pesky border in your Google Doc that’s cramping your style? No worries, getting rid of borders in Google Docs is a piece of cake. After reading this quick overview, you’ll be able to remove those unwanted lines with just a few clicks. Let’s dive in!

Step by Step Tutorial on How to Get Rid of Borders in Google Docs

So you’ve got borders in your Google Docs and you want them gone? Whether they’re around text, images, or tables, we’re going to tackle them all. Follow these steps and you’ll have a border-free document in no time.

Step 1: Open your Google Doc

Open the document that has the borders you want to remove.

When you open your document, make sure you’re logged into the correct Google account. This step is crucial because you can’t edit a document if you don’t have the right permissions.

Step 2: Select the bordered area

Click on the text, image, or table that’s surrounded by the unwanted border.

It’s important to click right on the content that’s bordered. If it’s text, highlight it. If it’s a table, click inside one of the cells. For an image, just click on it once.

Step 3: Open the border settings

For text or images, click on ‘Format’ in the top menu, then ‘Borders & lines’. For tables, click on the ‘Border width’ icon in the toolbar.

The ‘Borders & lines’ menu lets you control all sorts of border settings, like color, width, and style. The ‘Border width’ icon for tables looks like a little grid with a pencil.

Step 4: Remove the border

Set the border width to ‘0 pt’ or select ‘None’ from the border options.

By setting the border width to ‘0 pt’ or choosing ‘None,’ you’re effectively telling Google Docs, "Hey, I don’t want any borders here, thanks!"

After completing these steps, the borders in your Google Docs should be gone, leaving you with a clean, uncluttered document.

Tips for Getting Rid of Borders in Google Docs

  • Double-check which section of your document has the border. Is it text, an image, or a table? That’ll determine where you find the border settings.
  • If you can’t find ‘Borders & lines’ under ‘Format’, try right-clicking on the bordered content and looking for border options there.
  • For images, sometimes the border might actually be part of the image. In that case, you’d need to edit the image outside of Google Docs to remove the border.
  • If you’re working with a shared document, make sure you have editing permissions to make changes.
  • Remember that changes are saved automatically in Google Docs, so there’s no need to save your document after removing borders.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I add a border back if I change my mind?

To add a border back, simply reverse the process—select the content and adjust the border settings to your desired style and width.

Can I remove borders from multiple sections at once?

Yes, you can remove borders from multiple sections by selecting all the relevant content before opening the border settings.

What if the border doesn’t go away after setting it to ‘None’?

Ensure you’ve selected the right content and that there are no additional settings applied. If it’s still not working, try refreshing the page.

Is it possible to have different border styles in the same document?

Absolutely! Google Docs allows you to customize borders for different sections however you like.

Can I remove borders from a document on my mobile device?

Yes, you can edit borders in the Google Docs app on your mobile device, though the options might be slightly different from the desktop version.

Summary

  1. Open your Google Doc.
  2. Select the bordered area.
  3. Open the border settings.
  4. Remove the border.

Conclusion

There you have it! Getting rid of borders in Google Docs is as simple as following a few straightforward steps. Whether it’s to give your document a cleaner look, adhere to a specific formatting guideline, or just because you’re not a fan of lines, now you know exactly how to make those pesky borders vanish. Remember, Google Docs is a powerful tool that offers a wide range of formatting options, so don’t be afraid to experiment and make your documents look exactly how you want them to. If you’ve found this guide helpful, be sure to explore other features Google Docs has to offer. Happy border-removing!

Matthew Burleigh

Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech content online for more than ten years. He enjoys writing about Google Docs in addition to many other applications and devices and has cumulatively covered Google’s word-processing application in hundreds of different articles.

He has been published on dozens of popular websites, and his works have accumulated millions of pageviews.
While focused primarily on tutorials and guides for popular electronics like the iPhone and iPad, as well as common applications like Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, and Excel, he covers topics across the entire technology spectrum.

You can read his bio here.

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