Table of Content

• What Causes WordPress Missing Color And Underline Font Options?
• How to Fix WordPress Missing Color & Underline Font Options?
  • Try Classic Editor
  • Check User Permissions
  • Install Formatting Plugins
  • Explore Potential Plugin Conflicts
  • Update WordPress & Plugins
  • Clear Cache & Cookies
  • Inspect Custom CSS
  • Check for JavaScript Errors
  • Seek Help from WordPress Experts
• FAQs Related to WordPress Missing Color and Underline Font Options
• To Summarize

When creating and launching a Wordpress website, you have to take care of even the tiniest of details. And sometimes, that includes the underlining and coloring the written content. But WordPress missing color and underline font options can be a little concerning.  

Yeah, you can have a cool design and advanced features with the themes and plugins in WordPress. But the text content won’t pop out without the missing color and underline options. What to do then?

Although it looks simple, this error can be significant. So, with the help of our WordPress developers, I have done extensive research to understand the potential causes of WordPress missing color and underline font options. Plus, we’ve come up with the best ways to fix this issue permanently. 

So, without further ado, let’s dive in.

What Causes WordPress Missing Color And Underline Font Options?

WordPress offers options for changing the font color and underlining text in both the classic Editor and the Gutenberg block editor. These options are often accessible through the editor’s formatting toolbar. 

But if you’re not seeing the font color and underline options in WordPress, there may be several reasons behind it:

Editor Type

The availability of formatting options can vary depending on whether you’re using the classic editor or the Gutenberg block editor. 

Classic Editor: This traditional website and content editor has been a part of the WordPress ecosystem for years. With it, you get a word processor-like interface where you create and format content within a single text box. Typically, you have a toolbar above the text box that offers various formatting options, including font color and underline.

• In the Classic Editor, you have a toolbar above the text box.
• The toolbar includes icons for formatting text, including font color (a paint bucket icon) and underline (a “U” with a line beneath it).
• You select the text you want to format and then use these icons to apply the desired formatting.

Gutenberg Block Editor: Unlike the classic one, Gutenberg is a more modern approach to creating content on WordPress, introduced in its Version 5.0. Instead of a single text box, content is composed of individual “blocks”. Each block can be a paragraph, heading, image, video, or other content elements. Formatting options in the WordPress block editor are provided within the block settings and in the block’s toolbar.

• To change the font color or underline text in a paragraph block, you would select the block and look for these options in the block settings. They appear on the right-hand side of the editor.
• You may also find these options in the block’s toolbar, which appears above the block when you select it.

The availability and location of formatting options like font color and underline can vary between these two editor types and other WordPress page builders as well. So make sure you understand the editor and customize the color and underline font accordingly. 

Editor Customizations

Sometimes, WordPress websites are customized or modified to suit specific needs, which can impact the availability of formatting options. If your website has been heavily customized or uses a custom theme or editor interface, the options may be hidden or disabled intentionally.

WordPress themes can come with custom styling and functionality for the editor. WordPress development experts may modify the editor’s appearance and available features to create a more cohesive user experience.

WordPress missing color and underline font options may be due to the user role permissions. They affect what formatting options are available to different users. Some user roles may have access to advanced formatting features. However, others may be limited to basic options to maintain content consistency.

Another reason behind the missing color and underline font options in WordPress may be the custom CSS styles or JavaScript code added to the themes. These customizations can alter the appearance and behavior of the editor. If custom CSS or JavaScript code is affecting your editor, it could potentially hide or override the font color and underline options.

The availability and visibility of formatting options, such as font color and underline, can vary based on these customizations. If you find any customizations or conflicts affecting the editor, you can adjust or disable them to restore the missing formatting options.

Plugin or Theme Conflicts

Plugins and theme conflicts tend to be one of the common denominators with most of the errors and issues, including WordPress missing color and underline font options. 

Plugin conflicts occur when multiple plugins installed on your WordPress site do not work well together and interfere with each other’s functionality. On the other hand, theme conflicts happen when your WordPress theme interferes with the functionality or behavior of plugins or core WordPress features.

Deactivating plugins one-by-one and switching to a default WordPress theme can help identify if a conflict is causing the issue.

Editor Settings

Check the settings within your WordPress editor. There might be options or settings that hide or disable specific formatting choices. These settings can influence the functionality and appearance of the editor, including the availability of formatting options like font color and underline. Explore the editor settings to ensure that these options are not toggled off.

Here’s how certain editor settings may cause these options to appear missing or hidden:

• User Profile Settings: Each user in WordPress can have their own profile settings, which can include an option to enable or disable the Visual Editor. If you have disabled the Visual Editor in your profile, you’ll only see the Text Editor. That does not offer formatting options like underline and font color. 
• Screen Options: In the WordPress editor, there’s a “Screen Options” tab usually located at the top right corner of the screen. There, if the “Colors” or “Underline” options are unchecked, they won’t appear in the editor toolbar.
• Editor Mode: In the Gutenberg Block Editor, there are different editing modes like “Visual” and “Code” (HTML). If you are in the “Code” mode, you won’t see the same formatting options available in the “Visual” mode. So, ensure you are in the appropriate mode for your formatting needs.
• Editor Template & Styles: Some WordPress installations use custom editor templates or styles to enforce specific content structures or styles. These templates can restrict or modify the available formatting options. Check if your editor is using a custom template that affects the availability of font color and underline options.

If you don’t understand the editor settings mentioned here and more, it might be time to seek a consultation with a WordPress development company while developing the website. Their experts know exactly what settings are to be set for your website. 

By adjusting these settings, you should be able to restore the missing font color and underline font options in your WordPress editor.

User Permissions

WordPress employs a role-based access control system, where each user is assigned a specific role. And each role has a predefined set of permissions and capabilities, which determine what users can and cannot do on the website. Understanding user permissions is crucial for managing user roles effectively and maintaining security and content integrity on your WordPress site.

User Roles: WordPress has several built-in user roles, each with its distinct sets of permissions. That includes A few of the user roles are as follows:

• Administrator: Administrators have full control over the website, including the ability to install themes and plugins, create, edit, and delete content, and manage other users.
• Editor: Editors can publish, edit, and delete their content as well as the ones created by other users. They can also moderate comments.
• Author: Authors can create, edit, and publish their content, but they cannot edit or delete content created by other users.
• Contributor: Contributors can write and submit posts for review by an editor or administrator, but they cannot publish posts themselves.
• Subscriber: Subscribers have the most limited access and can only view content and manage their own profiles.

Custom User Roles: In addition to the built-in user roles, WordPress lets you create custom user roles with particular capabilities. This is useful when you need to define unique access levels for users with specific responsibilities or needs. So, some may not be able to change the text color or access certain formatting options. 

User permissions determine what actions each user role can perform. That may include customization options like font styles, colors, text underlining, and even font sizes. 

Browser Issues

Sometimes, a WordPress editor may experience problems and inconsistencies in the display or functionality due to the browser being used to access the website. These issues can sometimes affect the availability of features like font color and underline font options in the WordPress editor.

Here are a few scenarios where the issue of missing color and text underline may arise due to the browsers:

• Browser compatibility: Browser compatibility issues can arise if a particular browser is not fully compatible with certain WordPress themes, plugins, or customizations. Some WordPress features and styling may not display correctly or may not function as expected in certain browsers.
• Cache & Cookies: Issues related to cached content or cookies can sometimes lead to inconsistencies in how WordPress behaves. This can include issues with editor functionality and appearance. Sometimes, that means missing features like font color and underline text. 
• Mobile Browsing: When accessing WordPress on mobile devices, the browser’s display capabilities and available features may differ from those on a desktop browser. This can affect the rendering and behavior of the WordPress editor.

So, try to use the best browsers for WordPress development and make sure to keep them updated to their latest versions. Also, make sure to clear the cache and cookies to avoid any unnecessary formatting issues.

Outdated Software

The four main software associated with WordPress development are the plugins, themes, the browser, and core WordPress itself. Using outdated versions of these software can potentially lead to issues like missing color and underline font options in the WordPress editor.

• Outdated WordPress Core: Using an outdated version of WordPress can result in compatibility issues with newer themes, plugins, and browsers. In some cases, certain features or functions may not work as expected, including those in the editor.
• Outdated Themes: WordPress themes, especially custom or third-party themes, also receive updates to ensure compatibility with the latest version of WordPress.
• Outdated Plugins: Outdated plugins can introduce conflicts, errors, or unexpected behavior in WordPress, including within the editor.
• Outdated Browsers: Newer WordPress features or editor enhancements may not work correctly in older browsers. Some editor functionality, such as formatting options, may not be fully supported in outdated browsers.

Along with these software, make sure to use the latest WordPress development tools. If any of them is outdated, it will result in WordPress missing color and underline font options. 

Custom CSS or Code

One of the significant aspects of WordPress theme design and development services is adding custom CSS or codes. These customizations can impact the appearance and functionality of your WordPress site. That includes the availability of formatting options like color and underline font options in the editor.

• Styling Customizations: Custom CSS allows you to change the visual appearance of elements on your WordPress site. If custom CSS is applied to the WordPress editor or the elements within it, it can override the default styles or hide specific formatting options, making them appear missing.
• Editor Styling: Custom CSS applied to the WordPress editor’s interface can alter the appearance and layout of the editor toolbar, buttons, and content area. 
• Block Editor Customizations: In the Gutenberg Block Editor, custom blocks might not include the same formatting options as default blocks. Or they may have different methods of applying formatting. 

Make sure you consider all these plausible causes for WordPress missing color and underline font options. And by taking the appropriate actions, you can effectively troubleshoot and resolve the issue of missing color and underline font options in WordPress.

Next, we’ll see what these appropriate actions are.

How to Fix WordPress Missing Color & Underline Font Options?

After you have determined the cause behind the problem of missing color and underline, the next step is to fix it. Here are 9 ways to fix WordPress missing color & underline font options:

1. Try Classic Editor

Since WordPress 5.0, Gutenberg has been the default editor in WordPress. But by comparison, the Classic editor offers a more traditional and straightforward interface for content creation, with familiar formatting options for text color and underline font.

Here’s a step-by-step guide for installing and using the Classic Editor.

Step 1: To begin, log in to your WordPress Admin Dashboard by entering your username and password.

Step 2: After logging in, look for the “Plugins” option in the left-hand menu, and access the Plugins section.

Step 3: Then click on the “Add New” button located at the top of the page.

Step 4: Now, search for “Classic Editor” and press enter. (The process is the same as regular WordPress plugin installation)

Step 5: After installing and activating the Classic Editor plugin, configure its settings. First, look for “Writing” in the “Settings” menu. You can choose to use the Classic Editor as the default editor for all users. Or, you can allow users to switch between the Classic Editor and the Gutenberg Block Editor.

In the classic editor, you’ll find the formatting options for font color and underline text more readily available in the toolbar.

2. Check User Permissions

User permissions determine what each user role can and cannot do within your WordPress site. So, if a user isn’t configured for it, they may not be able to see the color and underline font options for formatting the content. 

But you can follow this process to check the user permissions and allow to avail of these formatting options, if necessary:

Step 1: After logging into the WordPress dashboard, look for the “Users” option in the left-hand menu and click on it to access the Users section.

Step 2: In the Users section, you’ll see a list of all registered users on your WordPress site, along with their respective roles. Common user roles are Administrator, Editor, Author, Contributor, and Subscriber.

Step 3: Identify the user for whom the color and underline font options are missing in the editor. Then, click on the username or user profile to edit their settings.

Step 4: Check the user’s assigned role and ensure it grants access to the formatting options in the editor. For comprehensive formatting options, the user should ideally have the role of “Administrator” or “Editor.”

Step 5: If the particular user has a more limited role, you can change it through the “Role” dropdown menu to grant them more permissions.

Step 6: After adjusting the user’s role, click the “Update User” or “Save Changes” button to save your changes.

Step 7: Log out of the current user account or open an incognito browser window to access your WordPress site. 

Step 8: Log in as the user for whom you made the role adjustments. Access the editor for creating or editing content and check if the color and underline font options are now visible and accessible. 

This method is particularly useful for multi-author websites where different contributors may have varying levels of access. 

3. Install Formatting Plugins

This method is considered among the best for fixing the missing color and underline font options. These plugins extend the capabilities of the editor by adding more formatting features and customization options.

Let’s take a look at the step-by-step guide for installing formatting plugins:

Step 1: Follow the usual WordPress plugin installation process and look for the best plugins with keywords like “formatting”, “rich text editor”, or something similar.

Step 2: Make sure to follow the process of choosing the best WordPress plugin and analyze every option available. Two of the best options in this case would be Advanced Editor Tools and Black Studio TinyMCE Widget. 

Step 3: Install the chosen plugin and activate it on your WordPress website through the stipulated process.

Step 4: Access the plugin’s settings and configure it according to your preferences. That means adding the formatting options you need to the editor toolbar.

Now, when you try to create WordPress pages or posts, you’ll notice the enhanced editor toolbar with options for changing text color and underlining text. If you want more personalized and extensive formatting options, you may opt for our WordPress plugin development services. 

4. Explore Potential Plugin Conflicts

Systematic testing and investigation of the potential conflicts can help you pinpoint the source of the problem. So you can take appropriate steps to resolve it. Here are a few steps to diagnose and resolve plugin or theme conflicts related to WordPress missing font color and underline font options:

Step 1: Deactivate all your plugins temporarily. Check if the font color and underline font options reappear in the editor.

If they do, reactivate your plugins one by one, testing the editor after each activation to identify the conflicting plugin.

Step 2: Temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-One, Twenty Twenty-Two, or Twenty Twenty-Three. Check if the formatting options become visible in the editor.

If they do, it suggests that your theme might be causing the conflict.

Step 3: Ensure that all your plugins and your theme are updated to their latest versions. Update them if they’re not. Outdated software can sometimes lead to conflicts.

Step 4: Examine the plugin settings, especially of those related to the editor or text formatting. Some plugins allow you to enable or disable specific features. These settings might affect the availability of font color and underline options.

Step 5: Verify that your plugins and theme are compatible with the version of WordPress you’re using. Compatibility issues can lead to conflicts.

Step 6: If you identify a specific plugin or theme causing the conflict, reach out to the plugin or theme developers’ support channels for assistance in resolving the issue.

Once you’ve identified the conflicting plugin or theme, you may need to choose an alternative or contact the developer for guidance on addressing the issue. Or you may simply contact a WordPress development agency. Their experts know how to resolve theme and plugin conflicts and restore WordPress to its best. 

5. Update WordPress & Plugins

As mentioned earlier, outdated software can lead to compatibility issues, bugs, and missing features. So here’s the process for updating WordPress and its plugins activated on the website.

Step 1: After logging into the WordPress dashboard, go to the ‘Dashboard’ section and select ‘Updates’. This page offers information about available updates for WordPress core, themes, and plugins.

Step 2: If a new version of WordPress is available, you’ll see a button that says “Update Now.” Click this button to start the automatic update process. 

Step 3: After completing the core WordPress update, check if there are any themes or plugins with updates. There will be a list of the available ones. 

Step 4: Select the checkboxes for the ones you want to update. Then WordPress will automatically download and install the latest versions of the selected themes and plugins.

After completing the WordPress core, plugins, and themes updates, check if the color and underline font options are visible and accessible.

6. Clear Cache & Cookies

Cached content can sometimes interfere with the proper display and functionality of web pages, including the WordPress editor. But by clearing the cache in WordPress, you may be able to fix the missing color and underline text options. 

Step 1: Launch the browser that you use to access your WordPress site.

Step 2: Locate the settings or options menu in your browser. The location of this menu varies based on the browser you’re using. For example, in Google Chrome, you can find it by clicking the “three-dot” menu in the top-right corner.

Step 3: Within the settings, access the ‘Privacy and Security’ or ‘History’ Section. These sections usually include settings related to cache and cookies.

Step 4: Click on the option allowing you to clear browsing data. This might be labeled as “Clear browsing data,” “Clear history,” or something similar.

Step 5: You’ll see a pop-up asking to select the types of data to clear. Typically, you should select “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files”. You can also select “All time” to clear all cached data and cookies.

Step 6: After selecting the data types and time range, click the “Clear data” or “Clear” button to initiate the process.

Step 7: After the process is complete, restart your browser and access the WordPress dashboard. 

Now, see if the color and underline font options are visible and accessible. Going forward, regularly monitor your browser’s cache and cookies. If the issue reoccurs, you may need to clear them again.

7. Inspect Custom CSS

Custom CSS can modify the appearance and behavior of your website, including the WordPress editor. In case of any conflicting or incorrect CSS rules, they may hide or override the formatting options.

But here’s the process to inspect custom CSS to fix the WordPress missing color and underline font options:

Step 1: Log into the WordPress dashboard and look for the Appearance section. Then select Customizer. You may also access the theme options. 

Step 2: After that, look for a section or tab labeled “Custom CSS,” “Additional CSS,” or something similar. Then, you’ll be able to access the custom CSS editor.

Step 3: In the custom CSS editor, you will see any custom CSS code that has been added to your site. Then, you can identify any rules that might be affecting the appearance or behavior of the WordPress editor. 

Pay special attention to CSS rules targeting elements like formatting toolbar or content area.

Step 4: Look for CSS rules that affect text color, text decoration (e.g., underlining), or the visibility of toolbar buttons. These rules could be relevant to the missing formatting options.

Step 5: After identifying the problematic CSS, you have two options. You can either modify the CSS rules to correct the issue or, if you’re not sure about the CSS rules’ purpose, you can comment them out or delete them to see if it resolves the problem.

Step 6: After making any edits to the custom CSS, be sure to save your changes within the Customizer or theme options.

This process lets you pinpoint and rectify any conflicting or problematic styles that may have been hiding the color and underline font options in the WordPress editor.

8. Check for JavaScript Errors

Checking for JavaScript errors is an important troubleshooting step to address the issue of missing color and underline font options in WordPress. If there are JavaScript errors on your site, they can disrupt the functionality of the editor. It leads to issues like missing formatting options.

Here’s how you check for JavaScript errors to fix this issue:

Step 1: Log into your WordPress admin dashboard. 

Step 2: Navigate to the “Posts” or “Pages” section and select the post or page where you want to edit content using the WordPress editor.

Step 3: In your web browser, right-click anywhere on the page and select “Inspect” or “Inspect Element.” This opens the browser’s developer tools.

Step 4: In the developer tools, locate and click on the “Console” tab. That’s where JavaScript errors and messages are displayed.

Step 5: While viewing the “Console” tab, pay attention to any error messages that appear in red text. These messages indicate JavaScript errors on your site.

Step 6: Review the error messages to identify the specific scripts or code that are causing issues. Note any plugins, themes, or custom code mentioned in the error messages.

Step 7: After identifying the source of errors, you can take these actions:

• Update or Reinstall Plugins and Themes: If a specific plugin or theme is causing JavaScript errors, update it to the latest version or consider reinstalling it.
• Disable Problematic Plugins: If you determine that a plugin is causing conflicts, try deactivating it temporarily to see if the editor functions correctly. You can reactivate it later.
• Review Custom JavaScript Code: If you have custom JavaScript code on your site (e.g., added via theme customization or plugins), inspect it for errors. Correct any issues you find.
• Seek Developer Assistance: If you’re unsure how to resolve complex JavaScript errors, consider seeking assistance from a WordPress developer or expert.

Step 8: After addressing the JavaScript errors, go back to the WordPress editor and check if the color and underline font options are now visible.

You may have to repeat this process periodically to check and address the JavaScript errors promptly. This proactive approach helps maintain the proper functionality of WordPress features and prevents issues like missing formatting options from occurring.

9. Seek Help from WordPress Experts

If none of the aforementioned steps have worked on fixing the missing color and underline font options in WordPress, this is where you land. WordPress development experts can provide in-depth troubleshooting and solutions tailored to your specific situation.

Let’s discuss the when and how to seek help from WordPress experts:

When 

• Complex or Persistent Issues: The issue of missing formatting options in the WordPress editor may persist despite your best efforts and standard troubleshooting methods. Then, it may indicate a more complex problem. WordPress experts have the experience and knowledge to tackle challenging issues.
• Custom Code or Customizations: If your site has custom code, custom themes, or complex CSS and JavaScript customizations, it can complicate troubleshooting. Experts can review your customizations and identify conflicts or errors that may be causing WordPress to miss color and underline font options.
• Plugin or Theme Conflicts: Identifying conflicts among multiple plugins or themes can be tricky. Experts can conduct a thorough conflict analysis to pinpoint the source of the issue.
• Security Concerns: Sometimes, issues with missing features can be related to security settings or vulnerabilities. However, the experts can perform extensive audits and recommend WordPress security measures to ensure your site is safe and functional.

How

• WordPress Community Forums: WordPress has an active community of users and developers. Post your issue on the WordPress support forums and seek assistance from experienced users. Be sure to provide detailed information about your problem.
• Hire a Freelancer or Developer: Consider hiring a dedicated WordPress developer or a freelancer who specializes in troubleshooting and customizations. They can work directly on your site to diagnose and fix the issue.
• Managed WordPress Hosting Support: If you’re using managed WordPress hosting, reach out to their support team. They often have WordPress experts who can help with site-specific issues. Also, make sure you choose amongst the best hosting providers for WordPress websites.
• WordPress Consultants or Agencies: WordPress consultants and agencies offer professional services for diagnosing and resolving issues. They can provide tailored solutions for your site.
• Online WordPress Communities: Participate in online WordPress communities, such as forums, Facebook groups, or Reddit communities, where you can seek advice and recommendations from experienced WordPress users.
• WordPress Experts Directory: WordPress.org maintains a directory of professionals who offer services related to WordPress. You can search for experts in your region or area of need.

Now, of course, before you seek consultation and support from WordPress experts, there are some preparations you need to make:

• Document the Issue: Before seeking help, document the problem as thoroughly as possible. Describe the issue, provide error messages, and note any recent changes or customizations you’ve made.
• Share Site Access Securely: If you decide to work with a WordPress expert directly, be cautious when sharing site access. Ensure that the expert follows best practices for site security.
• Ask Questions: Do not hesitate to ask questions and seek explanations from the expert. Understanding the cause of the issue and the solution can help you prevent similar problems in the future.
• Backup Your Site: Before any significant changes or troubleshooting, make sure to create a backup of your WordPress site. That ensures you can restore your site to a stable state if anything goes wrong during troubleshooting.

Seeking help from a WordPress website development company or dedicated experts can save you time and frustration when dealing with complex issues. These experts have the skills and experience to diagnose and resolve issues efficiently. They can ensure your WordPress site functions optimally, including the availability of formatting options in the editor.

To Summarize

Written content is a crucial part of any WordPress website. But if you can’t format the written word with colors and underline font in WordPress, things will look a little bland. So what happens with WordPress missing color and underline font options? And can you do anything about it? Well, you can. Here are a few troubleshooting steps we suggest to overcome this issue:

1. Try classic editor
2. Check user permissions
3. Install formatting plugins
4. Update WordPress & plugins
5. Clear cache & cookies
6. Inspect custom CSS
7. Check for JavaScript errors
8. Explore potential plugin conflicts
9. Seek help from the experts

These steps should be enough to fix missing color and underline font options on WordPress. But if they don’t, we recommend you consult our experts today!