SharePoint 2019 Bold Text Issue After May 2025 Patches
Introduction
SharePoint 2019 on-premises users have reported an issue where the bold text formatting in modern pages appears to be malfunctioning after the installation of the May 2025 patches. Specifically, paragraphs within the text web part, when viewed on screens with a minimum width of 1024 pixels, are rendered with a font-weight of 300, effectively negating the bold styling. This article delves into the details of this issue, its potential causes, and possible solutions or workarounds.
Understanding the Problem: Font Weight and CSS
To fully grasp the problem, it's essential to understand how font weight is controlled in web design. Font weight refers to the thickness or boldness of text. In CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), the font-weight property is used to specify the weight of a font. Common values include normal (equivalent to 400), bold (equivalent to 700), and numerical values ranging from 100 to 900, with higher numbers indicating bolder text. When text is intended to be displayed in bold, the font-weight is typically set to 700 or bold. However, if a lower font-weight is applied, such as 300, the text will appear lighter and may not be easily distinguishable as bold.
The issue in SharePoint 2019 arises because the default CSS for the text web part, specifically under the @media screen and (min-width: 1024px) condition, is setting the font-weight to 300. This means that on larger screens, any text within the text web part that is marked as bold may not render correctly, as the 300 font-weight overrides the intended bold styling. This can lead to inconsistencies in text formatting and make it difficult to emphasize important information on your SharePoint pages.
The underlying cause is likely an unintentional change introduced in the May 2025 patches. Software updates, while intended to improve functionality and security, can sometimes inadvertently alter existing styles or introduce new CSS rules that conflict with previous settings. In this case, it appears that a CSS rule was added or modified, setting the font-weight to 300 for paragraphs within the text web part on larger screens. This change affects the visual appearance of text and can impact the overall user experience on SharePoint sites.
Investigating the Cause: May 2025 Patches and CSS Overrides
The primary suspect behind this issue is the set of May 2025 patches released for SharePoint 2019 on-premises. These patches, like any software update, contain a collection of changes, including bug fixes, security updates, and potentially new features or modifications to existing functionalities. While the patches are designed to enhance the system, they can sometimes introduce unintended side effects. In this case, it appears that the patches have altered the CSS rules applied to the text web part, specifically affecting the font-weight property.
To confirm that the May 2025 patches are indeed the cause, it's crucial to examine the changes included in the update. Microsoft typically provides release notes or documentation detailing the modifications introduced in each patch. Reviewing these notes may reveal if any changes were made to the CSS or styling of web parts. Additionally, comparing the CSS files before and after the patch installation can help pinpoint the exact changes that are causing the bold text issue. This involves accessing the SharePoint server's file system and comparing the relevant CSS files, a task that may require administrative privileges and technical expertise.
Another factor to consider is the potential for CSS overrides. SharePoint allows administrators and developers to customize the look and feel of sites by applying custom CSS styles. These custom styles can override the default styles provided by SharePoint, potentially leading to conflicts or unexpected behavior. If custom CSS has been applied to the SharePoint environment, it's possible that these styles are interfering with the intended bold text rendering. To investigate this, you would need to review any custom CSS files or style settings applied to the site or page in question. This can be done through SharePoint Designer or by examining the site's master pages and style sheets.
Solutions and Workarounds for the Bold Text Issue
Several approaches can be taken to address the bold text issue in SharePoint 2019 on-premises. The most effective solution will depend on the specific cause and the level of customization desired.
1. CSS Override:
One of the simplest workarounds is to apply a custom CSS override to specifically target the affected text and set the font-weight to bold. This can be achieved by adding a CSS snippet to the page or site's style settings. The CSS snippet should target the paragraph elements within the text web part and apply the font-weight: bold !important; style. The !important declaration ensures that this style overrides any other conflicting styles. For example:
@media screen and (min-width: 1024px) {
.ms-rtestate-field p {
font-weight: bold !important;
}
}
This code snippet targets paragraph elements (p) within the Rich Text Editor field (.ms-rtestate-field) on screens with a minimum width of 1024 pixels and sets the font-weight to bold. This ensures that the text appears bold as intended.
2. Master Page Modification:
For a more global solution, the master page can be modified to include the CSS override. This ensures that the bold text issue is resolved across the entire site. Modifying the master page requires administrative privileges and a good understanding of SharePoint's master page structure. The CSS snippet mentioned above can be added to the master page's <head> section or to a linked CSS file. This approach is suitable for organizations that want to ensure consistent bold text rendering across their SharePoint environment.
3. JavaScript Solution:
Another workaround involves using JavaScript to dynamically apply the bold style to the affected text. This can be done by adding a script to the page that iterates through the paragraph elements within the text web part and sets the font-weight to bold. This approach is more flexible as it can be applied selectively to specific pages or web parts. However, it requires JavaScript coding knowledge and may have a slight performance impact.
4. Rollback Patches (Use with Caution):
If the issue is definitively linked to the May 2025 patches, a temporary solution might be to roll back the patches. However, this should be done with caution, as rolling back patches can reintroduce security vulnerabilities and other issues that the patches were intended to address. This approach should only be considered as a temporary measure while a more permanent solution is being developed. It is crucial to carefully assess the risks and benefits before rolling back patches.
5. Contact Microsoft Support:
If none of the above solutions work, or if you are unsure about implementing them, it's best to contact Microsoft Support. They can provide expert assistance and may have specific solutions or hotfixes for this issue. Microsoft Support can also help identify the root cause of the problem and provide guidance on the best course of action. When contacting support, be sure to provide detailed information about the issue, including the SharePoint version, the patches installed, and any troubleshooting steps taken.
Best Practices for SharePoint Updates and Customization
To prevent similar issues from occurring in the future, it's essential to follow best practices for SharePoint updates and customization.
1. Test Updates in a Staging Environment:
Before applying updates to the production environment, always test them in a staging environment. This allows you to identify any potential issues or conflicts before they impact your users. A staging environment is a replica of your production environment where you can safely test updates and customizations without affecting live data or users.
2. Review Patch Release Notes:
Carefully review the release notes for each patch before installing it. The release notes provide information about the changes included in the patch, any known issues, and potential compatibility concerns. This helps you anticipate potential problems and plan accordingly.
3. Document Customizations:
Maintain thorough documentation of all customizations made to your SharePoint environment. This includes custom CSS, JavaScript, master page modifications, and any other changes made to the default SharePoint configuration. Documentation helps you understand the impact of customizations and makes it easier to troubleshoot issues.
4. Use a Version Control System:
Use a version control system, such as Git, to track changes to your SharePoint files, including CSS, JavaScript, and master pages. This allows you to easily revert to previous versions if necessary and helps you manage customizations more effectively.
5. Regularly Review Customizations:
Regularly review your customizations to ensure they are still necessary and compatible with the latest SharePoint updates. Over time, customizations can become outdated or conflict with new features or updates. Regular reviews help you identify and address potential issues proactively.
Conclusion
The bold text issue in SharePoint 2019 on-premises after the May 2025 patches is a frustrating problem for users who rely on text formatting to emphasize content. By understanding the cause of the issue and implementing one of the solutions or workarounds described in this article, you can restore the intended bold text rendering and ensure a consistent user experience. Furthermore, by following best practices for SharePoint updates and customization, you can minimize the risk of similar issues occurring in the future.