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Maximize/restore down button will not restore down to have a smaller screen. I have this problem when it is a new document or one that I retrieve.

Anonymous
2010-08-04T01:56:48+00:00

I cannot get the restore/Maximize button to work. It will not restore down so that my window is smaller. It works on all the other office product, just not word 2007. I don't know if I did something or if it has been that way as I usually minimize it not restore down. Can you tell me what I need to do or where I need to look to see if the settings are correct? I did use the menu tab "View" and used the arrange all button to see two documents at the same time. Could this have anything to do with it? Also, how do I deselect the arrange all button under the View tab and make it go back to one document? I usually just close one document and then it will let me use the maximize button for a full screen, that is the only time the maximize button works. What do I need to do to fix the problem?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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  1. Suzanne S Barnhill 277.2K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2010-08-05T04:12:49+00:00

    When you click the Restore button, do your choices change to Maximize and Minimize? If so, then perhaps you just have the window sized to fill the screen; you can resize it with the mouse.

    If the issue is that the document disappears when you Restore, then very likely it is opening offscreen and you can bring it back by opening another window (any window), right-clicking an empty area of the Taskbar, and choosing Cascade Windows or one of the Tile options. This should bring the window back in view; move and size it to your preference, then close Word, When you reopen Word, the window should be where you left it.

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  1. Anonymous
    2010-10-01T13:32:22+00:00

    Actually I found that the problem can also be caused by a window getting a size of zero or one pixel in height or width. Then you will only be able to see the window "maximized". Anything else makes the window effectively disappear - although it is in the middle of the screen.

    And to get around THAT, the only way I found was to get to a "size" command and then not use the mouse, but rather use the right, left, up, down keys. Magically the window reappears!

    Now - theoretically it is impossible to get a window that small - but it happened to me - and it happened immediately after I downloaded (windows automatic download) an upgrade to my NVIDIA graphics driver. This latter thing may be completely unrelated.

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-12-05T15:29:57+00:00

    Thank you for sharing this!  Taking out of tablet mode solved the issue!

    3 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2010-08-05T03:37:59+00:00

    I found how to get to KB 921541. I think it has something to do with the arrange all button under the View Menu tab then under the Window section. When I was comparing some paperwork to each other, instead of doing side by side, I did arrange all and it was one on top of the other. Ever since I did that, I have not been able to restore down/Maximize. When I did the WinWord/a and the 2nd document came up, I could restore down/Maximize. But if I hit the arrange all, it would not restore down/Maximize just like document 1. However, when I close document 2 and do the winword/a again, it will let me restore down/maximize again. It will not do that for document 1. How do you deselect the arrange all button. I have tried to click on it again, that doesn't work. It is not a hugh issue, but it bugs me because I have to remember that the maximize/restore down does not work with  word 2007.

    3 people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2010-08-04T15:26:25+00:00

    What is the version of Windows on the computer?

    Try the steps below and check if you can minimize/maximize without any issues.

    1)   Press ‘Windows + R’ on the keyboard together

    2)   In the open window, copy and paste the content below:

                      WinWord /a

    3)   Press Enter

    If you’re able to work with word then try the steps mentioned in the article KB 921541.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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