Microsoft Word

Question

In previous papers my margins defaulted to 1”on all sides. Now, they are not defaulting to 1” and I can’t seem to get them set.

Answer 1

Verify that the margins are correctly set, for example via Layout tab > Margins > Custom Margins, as suggested by John. If necessary, you can change the default margins via the Set as Default button. This should ensure correct margins in the print preview at File > Print.

To rule out a display issue, make sure that you display your document in Print Layout view. You can click that option on the View tab.

Answer 2

Hi, @Patricia Weiland

To help narrow this down:

1. Are you using the Word desktop app or Word for the web?
2. Does this happen with every new document, or only with a particular existing document?

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In the meantime, you can try resetting the default margins in the Word desktop app:

• Open Word and go to "Layout" > "Margins" > "Custom Margins".
• Set the Top, Bottom, Left, and Right margins to 1".
• Select "Set As Default" and confirm the change.

Open a new blank document to check whether the margins now default to 1 inch on all sides.

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Click “Add comment” to let me know.

Thanks!

Answer 3

Set all four margins to 1 inch and save them as the default so future blank documents inherit that setting from Word’s Normal template.

Word for Windows

1. Open a new blank document.
2. Select Layout → Margins → Custom Margins.
3. Set Top, Bottom, Left, and Right to 1".
4. Set Apply to to Whole document.
5. Select Set As Default, and then confirm the change.

This becomes the default for future documents based on the Normal template.^1^

Word for Mac

1. Open a new blank document.
2. Select Format → Document → Margins.
3. Enter 1" for all four margins.
4. Select Default and confirm.

New blank documents based on the Normal template will use those margins.^2^

Word for the web

In Edit view, select Page Layout → Margins → Custom Margins, enter 1" for each margin, and select OK.^3^

The documented web procedure changes the current document; to establish a persistent default for future blank documents, use the Windows or Mac desktop application.

If only part of a document changes

A document can contain multiple sections, each with separate margin settings. If so, margin changes may affect only the section containing the cursor.^3^ Select the entire document before changing the margins, or update each section.

If the margins are already 1 inch but the page appears to have no top or bottom margin in Print Layout, the white-space display may be hidden. Double-click the boundary between two pages, or enable the white-space display under File → Options → Display.^4^

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References

1. Change margins | Microsoft Support
2. Change the default settings in Word for Mac | Microsoft Support
3. [Windows](https://support.microsoft.com/word/create-custom-margins)
4. Word does not follow margins or spacing of document - Microsoft Q&A