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Find in Navigation Pane - New update navigation pane issues?

Anonymous
2025-05-25T05:24:16+00:00

In the last couple of days, I've had display issues with the navigation pane on my word documents (been using 365 for years and this is the first time this has happened). I'm running Windows 10 Home.

I assume it's come about from the latest update, because my CCleaner tools list shows an install date of 23/5/2025 version number 16.0.18827.20092 (updates happen automatically for me so I tend not to even realise they've happened.)

Basically, the document opens up and runs fine (I always use the navigation pane, so it's always left open to key in search terms) but as soon as I edit the document in any way, and then try to key in the search term again, the navigation pane stays blank and won't show any results be it 'search/pages/headings'. I can click through the up/down arrow buttons to go to the next search result, but I can't jump to a specific result because it doesn't show them.

Left is it initially working; then right is it after making edits to the document then trying to use the search term again:

I tried to see if I could 'repair' 365 from the CCleaner tools list, but there wasn't an active button for it, only a greyed out unclickable repair button.

I'm wondering if this issue is just happening to me or is it a bug from the latest update to be resolved in the next one?

The only thing I haven't tried is uninstalling Microsoft 365 and reinstalling it, but I thought if it was a known issue, and a bug from the latest update, that the issue would still be there when reinstalled.

Posting this here more for reporting, and seeing if others are having this issue too, than anything else.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-06-08T04:45:08+00:00

    I experienced the same issue — the Navigation Pane would randomly go blank in Word, even with proper heading styles.

    I tried rebuilding Normal.dotm and deleting the 1033 folder (resetting Word’s template and building block files), but that didn’t solve the problem permanently.

    What does work consistently is simply dragging the edge of the Navigation Pane to expand it — as soon as it’s widened, all headings and search results reappear.

    It’s clearly not a permanent fix, but it’s a reliable workaround that takes seconds and works every time.

    This issue seems to have begun after the Version 2505 (Build 18827.20128) update. Hopefully Microsoft can address this in a future release.

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  2. Stefan Blom 342K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2025-05-27T19:55:19+00:00

    Are you saying that the Navigation pane isn't working when you search in any document, under the circumstances you described, or is this document-specific?

    P.S. In most cases, you don't need to use third-party "cleaning" software such as CCleaner. I haven't tested that particular product in years, but my experience is that they generally cause more damage than they fix.

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-05-28T02:13:12+00:00

    This is happening for me too.

    If it continues to occur (i.e. Microsoft doesn't fix this bug), I may just ditch Microsoft Word entirely and start using a free alternative...

    Some information that may help debug:

    -For me, it appears to happen on a document-by-document basis; it may be ok in one document but broken in another that I have open at the same time. Closing and reopening the document does not seem to fix it.

    -When this happens, the blue underline also gets stuck on "Results". Clicking on "Headings" or "Pages" makes that text bold-and-blue and "Results" not, but the underline does not move.

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  4. Anonymous
    2025-05-27T19:36:01+00:00

    Hello HRolston,

    Thank you for participating in the community forum!

    I understand that you're experiencing issue with the navigation pane in Word after the recent update. It maybe happened because of some glitch. To address this problem, you can try the following troubleshooting steps:

    • Update Office and Windows: Make sure you have the latest updates installed for Microsoft 365 and Windows.
    • Reset Word settings: You can try resetting Word settings to default by going to File > Options > Advanced > scroll down to the "Show document content" section > check the box for "Show Navigation Pane" > click OK.
    • Repair office: You can repair office installation by following the steps given in this link: Repair an Office application - Microsoft Support. Don't use any third-party application to repair office.

    I hope this helps to resolve your navigation pane issues in Microsoft Word.

    If everything is resolved, feel free to mark this topic as answered and helpful. If not, let me know if there's anything else I can do to help.

    Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

    Sincerely,

    Sam | Microsoft Community Moderator.

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