How to fix Microsoft word

Question

I cannot move my Microsoft Word from the Print Layout, which is too small, The maximise-minimise bar on the bottom right is stuck at 73% an at the top the VIEW tab is greyed over and does not respond

Answer 1

Hi daniel mccormick,

Good day. I'm Jhun an independent advisor. In regards with your Word View issue, this usually points to Word being in a restricted state rather than just a zoom setting. Here are other options and checks you can try, and see what can fix the problem.

A. Check if Word is in Read Mode. Sometimes Word switches to Read Mode, which disables parts of the ribbon.

1. Look at the bottom-right corner of Word: Click the Print Layout icon (the middle page icon) Or press Esc on your keyboard
2. If that works, you’re back in editing mode.

B. Document might be in Protected view. If the document was downloaded or opened from email, Word may open it in Protected View.

1. Look near the top of the document for a yellow bar that says, Protected View.
2. If you see it, click Enable Editing.
3. This often restores the View tab and zoom controls.

C. Ensure Word Is not in Full Screen Focus mode.

1. In newer versions of Microsoft Word, Press Alt + V.
2. Then press U for Focus mode toggle.
3. Or check the top right for a Focus button and turn it off.

D. Reset the zoom via keyboard shortcut.

1. Even if the slider is stuck, try to Hold Ctrl and scroll your mouse wheel
2. Or press Ctrl+Alt+P, this forces Print Layout view.

E. Check if the document is shared or restricted.

If the file is opened from:

1. OneDrive
2. SharePoint
3. Dropbox (especially preview mode)

To check if this is due to virtual storage issue, try to save the file locally on your PC first, then try to open it on Word, then check.

F. Test Word in safe mode. This will check if an Add-in is causing the problem.

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type: winword /safe.
3. Press Enter.
4. If zoom and View work normally in Safe Mode, an add-in is causing it.

G. Repair your Microsoft 365.

1. Press Windows+R.
2. Type, appwiz.cpl
3. Find Microsoft 365.
4. Click Change.
5. Try Quick Repair.
6. If needed, try Online Repair.

H. Try changing the display scaling. If Windows display scaling is unusual (like 125% or 150%), Word can behave strangely.

To Check:

1. Right-click Desktop
2. Display Settings
3. Scale should ideally be 100% or 125%
4. Then restart Word.

I hope this works.

Regards,
Jhun

Answer 2

The zoom level and view mode in Word are controlled separately. Since the View tab is greyed out and the zoom slider is stuck, adjust the page movement setting, which can disable zoom, and then change the zoom back to normal.

1. In Word, go to the View tab on the Ribbon.
2. In the Page Movement group, click Vertical (instead of Side to Side or another option).
3. After switching to Vertical, use either:
   • The zoom slider at the bottom-right of the Word window to move from 73% back to around 100%, or
   • On the View tab, in the Zoom group, choose 100% or another zoom level.

Once Vertical page movement is enabled, zoom controls should work again and the document will no longer appear “stuck” at 73%.

---

References:

• How do you fix zoom disabled in Word
• Some characters missing or cut off when displayed on screen in Word
• A Formatting Question .. HELP! - Microsoft Q&A