How to get horizontal scroll bar larger/thicker at the bottom of Word/Excel, etc? It's so thin it is hard to click on it perfectly when I'm in a hurry! Terrible!

Question

How to get the horizontal scroll bar larger/thicker at the bottom of Word/Excel, etc? It's so thin, it is hard to click on it perfectly when I'm in a hurry and need to get left to right quickly on a PC! Just terrible how skinny it is!

Answer 1

Unfortunately, the thickness of the horizontal scroll bar in Microsoft Word, Excel, and other Office applications is determined by the application's design and the operating system settings. There are no built-in options within Word or Excel to directly adjust the thickness of the scroll bar itself.

However, you can try adjusting your display settings in Windows to increase the size of UI elements, which may help make the scroll bar easier to interact with. Here’s how you can do that:

1. Right-click on the desktop and select Display settings.
2. Under Scale and layout, you can increase the scaling percentage (e.g., 125% or 150%). This will make all UI elements larger, including the scroll bars.
3. After adjusting, check if the scroll bar is easier to use.

If you are using a touch-enabled device, you might also consider using touch gestures to scroll, which can be more convenient than clicking the scroll bar directly.

For more specific adjustments, you may need to look into third-party software that allows for more customization of UI elements, but be cautious as this can sometimes lead to compatibility issues with Office applications.

Answer 2

Dear @Jan Logemann,

Thank you for contacting the Microsoft 365 Q&A forum. I understand that the horizontal scroll bar in Word and Excel feels too thin, making it difficult to click quickly. 

Currently, Microsoft Office apps do not provide a built-in option to adjust the thickness of the scroll bar. The scroll bar size is controlled by Windows display settings rather than Office itself. 

To fix the problem, try the following steps: 

Step 1: Adjust windows scaling 

• Go to Settings > System > Display > Scale & Layout. 
• Increase the scaling percentage (e.g., 125% or 150%). This enlarges UI elements, including scroll bars. 

For detailed information, please see Change your screen resolution and layout in Windows - Microsoft Support 

 

Step 2: Change scroll bar width via Windows settings 

• In Windows Settings > Accessibility > Visual Effects, adjust scroll bar size (available in Windows 11). 
• Set it too Large for easier clicking. 

 

Step 3: Use zoom and navigation alternatives 

• In Word/Excel, use View > Zoom or Ctrl + Mouse Wheel to reduce horizontal scrolling needs. 
• For Excel, use Freeze Panes or Split View to keep key columns visible. 

For reference, here is Microsoft’s official documentation on adjusting display and accessibility settings: Make Windows easier to see - Microsoft Support 

 

Unfortunately, there is no direct Office setting to increase scroll bar thickness, but the above steps are the most effective workarounds. Your feedback is very important because it helps improve the product. Here’s how you can share your suggestion directly with the development team:  

• Visit the Microsoft Feedback Portal: Ideas · Community 
• Submit your idea: Click Send Feedback, describe your proposal in detail. 
• Upvote similar ideas: The more votes an idea receives, the higher its priority for future updates. 

Please note that as community moderators, we cannot change product design, but we can guide you to the right channel, so your feedback reaches the engineering team. I will also monitor for any updates or new workarounds and share them with you if available. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.  

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