Recommended Free Tools
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Free scan · under a minute
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
Free scan · Windows 10 & 11
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
Free scan · exact hardware match
ThatPainter is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More
If you want one part of a Word document to look like another, use Format Painter. It copies the source formatting, including color, to your selected destination. If you want to copy only the letters’ color, use Font Color instead. For a colored background behind text, use Text Highlight Color.
The instructions below apply mainly to desktop Word. Word for the web, Mac, and mobile apps use similar tools, but their menus and selection controls can differ.
First identify which “color” you want to copy
Word uses several different formatting features that can look like color:
#1 Best Overall
- 【Dual-Head Rhinestones Picker Tool】 Sticky wax tip grabs rhinestones instantly — no glue needed. The metal tip on the other end helps you push, adjust, or remove rhinestones. Dip it in clay for an even stronger hold on rhinestones.
- 【8 Extra Tips and 8 Clay Refills】 You get 8 spare wax tips and 8 clay refills right in the box. That means fewer interruptions and more crafting time — no last-minute runs to the store.
- 【4 Trays to Sort Colors Without the Mess】 Load different rhinestones into each organizer tray, give the tray a gentle shake, and they will automatically flip flat-side down. They line up neatly so you can pick them faster and keep your workspace clean.
- 【Curved Precision Tweezers】 The curved tips give you a clear view of what you are placing, and the fine points let you grab even the smallest items with ease. Use them for rhinestones, nail charms, lashes, or any tiny detail work.
- 【Sparkling Crystal Pen Barrel Design】 The transparent pen barrel is filled with shimmering rhinestones that catch the light with every turn. This elegant detail not only looks beautiful in your hand, but also turns each project into a more enjoyable, refined experience.
- Font color: changes the color of the letters, such as red or blue text.
- Text highlight: adds a marker-like background behind selected words.
- Paragraph or table-cell shading: colors the area behind a paragraph or inside a table cell.
- Object fill or outline: changes the inside or border of a shape, text box, or other drawing object.
- Complete formatting: copies several properties together, such as color, font, size, bolding, borders, and paragraph settings.
This distinction matters. Choosing Font Color will not copy a yellow highlight, and Format Painter may copy much more than the color itself.
The easiest method: use Format Painter
Use Format Painter when you want the destination to resemble the source as closely as possible.
- Select the text or Word object that already has the appearance you want.
- Open the Home tab.
- In the Clipboard group, select Format Painter.
- Your pointer changes to a paintbrush. Select or drag across the destination text, or select the destination object.
- Press Esc when you are finished.
Microsoft describes Format Painter as copying formatting such as color, font style, font size, and border style. It does not copy only the color. If the destination suddenly becomes bold, changes font, or gains a border, undo the change and use the specific color control instead. See Microsoft’s Format Painter instructions.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Apply the formatting to several destinations
A single click on Format Painter normally applies the formatting once. To use the same source formatting in several places, double-click Format Painter, then select each destination in turn. Press Esc to stop the repeated mode.
On Windows, Microsoft also documents these formatting shortcuts:
- Alt+Ctrl+C — copy formatting
- Alt+Ctrl+V — paste formatting
How to copy only the font color
Use this method when the destination’s font, size, bolding, spacing, and other formatting must remain unchanged.
Rank #2
- Rhinestone Picker Set: you will get 2pcs rhinestone applicator; 4pcs replacement wax tips (No need to worry about running out of wax tips), come with delicate purple metal box easy to store and carry. It is also the preferred gift for nail lover and professional nail salons.
- Double Head Rhinestone Picker: The nail rhinestone picker tool has double head design, the wax tip is for pickup rhinestones, and the other tip is used to move the rhinestone or gems into place and press it against the nail surface, meet with all your DIY nail crafts needs.
- High Quality Materials: The rhinestone picker is made of premium stainless steel and acrylic,smooth surface for comfortable grip,filled with rhinestones,reusable,no need to worry about deformation or damage,rhinestone tool set comes with a metal box to avoid damage to the during transportation.
- Save Your Time: Effortlessly tackle diamond art painting crafting with our self-adhesive rhinestone picker pen, saving you valuable time while seamlessly integrating diamonds into your artwork.
- Widely Usage: The pick up pencil is suitable for picking nail rhinestones, crystal, studs, gems, beads jewel, diamond, stones, sequins. It is also suitable for making a variety of craft projects, such as nail art work, cell phone beautification, diamond painting, clothes, shoes, cell phone cases, card making and more.
- Select text that already has the desired font color.
- Open Home.
- In the Font group, select the arrow beside Font Color.
- Choose the matching color from the palette.
- Select the destination text.
- Open Font Color again and choose that same color.
If the color is not visible, choose More Colors. Word may offer standard and custom color controls. For the closest match within the same document, use the document’s theme or recent-color choices when they are available. Microsoft’s instructions are in Change the font color in a Word document.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallCrashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePicking a color that merely looks similar may not reproduce a custom color exactly. Themes, document settings, and the destination document can affect how a color appears. If an exact match inside the same Word document is the priority, Format Painter is usually safer—but remember that it brings other formatting with it.
How to copy a text highlight color
If the color appears behind the letters like a marker, it is a highlight, not font color.
- Select text that has the desired highlight.
- Go to Home > Text Highlight Color.
- Open the arrow beside the control and choose the highlight color.
- Select the destination text.
- Apply the same highlight color.
To remove a highlight, select the affected text, open Text Highlight Color, and choose No Color. For Microsoft’s instructions, see Apply or remove highlighting.
What about paragraph, table, and shape backgrounds?
A gray or colored area may not be text highlighting. It could be paragraph shading, table-cell shading, or an object fill. In those cases, select the paragraph, cell, or object and use Format Painter if you want to reproduce its broader formatting. For a shape or text box, select the object itself rather than just the words inside it.
Format Painter works with text, graphics, shapes, and pictures, but it is not a universal color sampler. Copying from a photograph does not extract an arbitrary pixel color. It may copy formatting associated with the Word picture—such as a picture border—rather than the color visible inside the image.
Rank #3
- Complete 32PCS Rhinestone Picker Kit: Includes 4 rhinestone picker pens (black/white/pink/purple), 12 wax tips (4 colors × 3 each), 3 nail art brushes, 2 tweezers (straight/curved), 8pcs useful clay, 2 diamond trays, and 1 storage box; everything you need for nail gems, crystals, and diamond painting in one package
- Dual-ended Picker Pens: Each rhinestone picker pen features a self-adhesive wax tip to effortlessly pick up small gems, rhinestones, crystals, and nail charms easily. There is also a precision steel head that needs to be used with clay together to adjust the rhinestone and press it onto the nail
- Multi-Purpose Nail Art Brushes & Tweezers: 3 pink nail art brushes (liner/flat/angled) help with nail drawing, detail painting, gem placement and dot painting; 2 tweezers (straight blue/curved pink) allow precise adjustment of rhinestones, ideal for both beginners and professional nail artists
- Convenient Accessories for Better Workflow: 8pcs reusable clay helps secure steel head and adjust gem placement; 2 diamond trays keep rhinestones organized; transparent storage box keeps all tools tidy, portable, and easy to carry, preventing loss of small parts
- Widely Used for Nail Art & DIY Crafts: This rhinestone picker tool set is perfect for nail art decoration, diamond painting, jewelry making, phone case decoration, delicate art painting, model painting, and other DIY craft projects. A great gift for nail lovers, hobbyists, and craft enthusiasts
Select carefully: text formatting versus paragraph formatting
When using Format Painter, selecting only part of a paragraph generally targets text formatting. Selecting the entire paragraph, including its paragraph mark, can also copy paragraph formatting.
This explains why the destination may unexpectedly change its alignment, indentation, spacing, or other paragraph behavior. If you only want the letters’ appearance, select the text characters rather than the whole paragraph. If you want the entire paragraph to match, include the paragraph as appropriate. Microsoft explains this selection behavior in its Format Painter guidance.
Using ordinary copy and paste
Ordinary copy and paste can preserve formatting when you copy text within Word, but it also copies the words themselves and may affect layout. Use it when you want both the content and its appearance.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →When available, choose a paste option that keeps the source formatting. Avoid Paste Text Only when you need to retain color: text-only paste deliberately removes formatting such as color, bold, and italics. For Word for the web, Microsoft describes these paste choices and their limitations in Copy and paste in Office for the web.
Word for the web
In Word for the web, use Format Painter or the Home-tab color controls when possible. Browser-based copying can preserve formatting, but it may not behave exactly like desktop Word, especially when the source comes from another application or when you select a text-only paste option.
If pasted text loses its color, undo the paste if necessary and reapply the appearance with Format Painter, Font Color, or Text Highlight Color. Make sure the document is open in editing mode rather than read-only mode.
Rank #4
- What you will get: You will receive 20 pieces of goods, including 8 yellow core water drill crayons, 8 white core water drill crayons and 4 diamond finishing trays, so that you can place different colors or sizes of diamonds. The use of water drill crayons can help you easily point diamonds on your works. Enough to support you and your family and friends to create great works together.
- Self adhesive: these nail pick pens are made of quality waxy materials, which are strong and durable. The water drill pick pen can easily pick up water drill and beads. Tasteless, safe to touch, not easy to break, no harm to fingers or hands.
- Wide use: they are very suitable for professional nail, family, personal DIY or salon use. They can also be applied for manicure, diamond painting, mobile phone case, accessories and other occasions that need water drill. They will greatly improve your work efficiency.
- Save your time: in the process of creation, diamond lovers often encounter some thorny problems. For example, the drill is too small to clamp the tweezers, so you can try our self-adhesive point drill pen. It's easy to glue the diamond together and put it in your diamond painting. This will save you a lot of time.
- Beads sorting tray: when you are in manicure or handicraft activities, these triangular trays can easily classify beads of different colors or sizes, and facilitate the arrangement of rhinestones or any other DIY decorations. Enjoy your drill time.
Word on Mac and mobile
Word for Mac has the same basic concepts—Format Painter, Font Color, and Text Highlight Color—but the ribbon layout and shortcuts can differ from Windows. Look on the Home tab for the relevant controls.
In Word on a phone or tablet, select the text, open the formatting toolbar or expanded menu, and choose the font-color or highlight icon. On iPad, Microsoft documents a Paste Format option in the paste menu, which can apply formatting separately from ordinary text pasting. Mobile controls and available options can vary by device and app version. Microsoft’s general mobile guidance is available in Format your Word document.
Troubleshooting common problems
Format Painter copied too much
That is expected: Format Painter copies a formatting package, not just a color. Undo the change and use Font Color or Text Highlight Color if the rest of the destination must stay the same.
The color is close but not identical
The source may use a theme color, a shade, or a custom value. The destination may use a different theme, or you may have selected a visually similar palette color. Try Format Painter within the same document, or use More Colors if you know the required color values. Do not assume that every Word version exposes hex entry in the same way.
The background did not copy
Check whether the source uses highlighting, paragraph shading, table-cell shading, or an object fill. Font Color changes the letters only.
Recommended Free Tools
Format Painter stopped after one use
A normal single click is one-use mode. Double-click Format Painter for multiple destinations, then press Esc to stop.
Best Value
- Multi-Tips Rhinestone Picker Tools Set: The bedazzling tools kit includes 3 acrylic rhinestone picker handles, 6 replaceable tips in different sizes (6 sizes total), 5 rhinestone trays for sorting colors, 3 foam pencil grips designed to reduce hand fatigue and enhance comfort during use, 12 diamond painting wax, 1 tweezers. This bedazzling pens kit includes everything you need to do diamond art, perfect for a small group to make together
- Multi-Size Replaceable Tip Design: This bedazzling kit tools set includes 3 detachable multi placer diamond painting pens, with 6 interchangeable tips (sizes 1, 3, 6, 9). Suitable for both fine detailing and large-area embellishment. The rhinestone applicator tips can be freely removed and combined to meet various creative needs. Made of sturdy, durable material that won’t break
- Bedazzling Trays & Strong Adhesion Diamond Art Waxs: 5 Diamond painting trays let you use multiple colors at once. Raised lines align diamonds with gentle shake.The Y-shaped spout lets you pour and store excess diamonds without waste. Remove film from strong adhesion diamond painting waxs, press tip in,then easily pick up rhinestones
- Comfortable Grip: Our diamond art pens come with soft foam pencil grips that are comfortable to hold, making it easy to place the diamonds with precision. The foam pen grip is made from soft, lightweight foam that is gentle on hands and reduces fatigue.
- Wide Usage: This diamond art wax pen tools is widely used for nail art, diamond painting, and various craft projects. Whether for fun home crafting activities or professional use in nail salons, this decorative rhinestone applicator tools perfectly meets a variety of creative DIY needs
Formatting disappeared after pasting
You may have selected Paste Text Only, or Word for the web may not have preserved some source formatting. Reapply it through Format Painter or the appropriate color control.
Paragraph spacing or alignment changed
The source selection may have included the paragraph mark. Undo the change, select only the text characters, and apply the formatting again.
You cannot find Format Painter
- Confirm that the document is editable.
- Open the Home tab.
- Look in the Clipboard group.
- Select text first if you need the contextual formatting toolbar.
- On mobile, open the expanded formatting menu or Font controls.
Exact labels and locations can vary among Microsoft 365, Word 2024, Word 2021, Word 2019, Word 2016, Mac, web, tablet, and phone editions.
Quick decision guide
| What you want | Use | Important caution |
|---|---|---|
| Make new text look like existing text | Format Painter | Copies more than color. |
| Change only the letters’ color | Font Color | You must select the matching color. |
| Copy a marker-like background | Text Highlight Color | Highlight is separate from font color. |
| Repeat formatting in several places | Double-click Format Painter or Windows formatting shortcuts | Stop repeated mode with Esc. |
| Copy text and its appearance | Copy and paste with source formatting | You may also copy unwanted text or layout. |
Frequently asked questions
Can I copy a color from a picture in Word?
Not with Format Painter as a general image color sampler. It copies formatting from the selected Word object; it does not automatically identify an arbitrary pixel’s RGB or hex value.
How do I remove a copied font color?
Select the text, open Font Color, and choose the document’s default or automatic color. The exact label can vary by Word version.
How do I remove a highlight?
Select the highlighted text, open Text Highlight Color, and choose No Color.
Why can the color look different when printed?
On-screen colors and printed colors can differ because displays, printers, paper, and color-management settings reproduce color differently. If print consistency matters, check a printed proof rather than relying only on the screen.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Quick Recap
