Adjusting Word window default size?

Chris Hansen 31

Hoping this isn't a dumb question but:

Is there a way to set the window size when you open Word?

It seems like the window always opens wider and shorter then I'd like it so I'm always adjusting it to be narrower and taller to better fit the size of the document. I'm pretty sure it wasn't always like this, I started noticing it a few years ago.

Thanks

Shannon Lawson 11 Reputation points

2022-10-12T19:44:41.613+00:00

This is what I did:

Used the Windows + arrow key to move the Word program to the side of the screen where I wanted it to optimally open each time. Used the mouse to manually resize the Word window just ever so slightly. Then held down the Alt key and clicked X on the Word window. When I reopened the program the next time, it appeared exactly where I wanted it.

I'm using Windows 11 and Word 16.

Good luck. It is very frustrating when your software doesn't behave in predictable ways.
M. V. Pereira 0 Reputation points

2023-02-18T00:05:45.5766667+00:00

Greetings all. I experienced the same frustration. I work with multiple documents open concurrently and on multiple displays. This problem is especially frustrating in such environments. Consequently I just finished a lightweight add-in that nicely takes care of it! As @Emily Hua-MSFT said, Word only restores the application's last view parameters. The Deja View add-in retains the last view parameters per document. It is open source and free. If you are interested: https://dejaview.lexem.cc/

Let me know if you like it.

Best regards,

Manny
PM 0 Reputation points

2023-11-16T18:10:40.7033333+00:00

I installed dejaview and it did not work for my version of MS Office 2021 Pro Plus.
Stefan Blom 2,391 Reputation points MVP

2023-11-16T18:18:22.99+00:00

I installed dejaview and it did not work for my version of MS Office 2021 Pro Plus.

PM,

As suggested elsewhere in this thread, you can try Jay Freedman's add-in SaveViewLocMulti which can be downloaded from his web site at https://jay-freedman.info/ .
PM 0 Reputation points

2023-11-16T18:52:30.03+00:00

Thanks Stefan, After trying dejavu I tried J Friedman's add in. I think I was implementing it properly but that one didn't work either. There wasn't clear instructions how to use that particular template.
Stefan Blom 2,391 Reputation points MVP

2023-11-16T20:49:38.23+00:00

Thanks Stefan, After trying dejavu I tried J Friedman's add in. I think I was implementing it properly but that one didn't work either. There wasn't clear instructions how to use that particular template.

At which step did you get stuck with the instructions? Unzip the file and put the *.dotm template in Word's Startup folder. Settings will be saved with individual files (documents and templates).

I am using the template here and I haven't noticed any glitches.
PM 0 Reputation points

2023-11-16T22:06:52.23+00:00

I assumed that the Word's Startup folder was here: %appdata%\Microsoft\Templates

So I unzipped and placed the file there and started word, opened the dotm file and resized the window, type a space bar and saved the template. Closed Word and reopened, and the windows reverted back to the original

I tried something different. Renamed this file in this folder as Normal.dotm to replace the old Normal.dotm. Followed the same procedure above. Still not fixed.
Stefan Blom 2,391 Reputation points MVP

2023-11-17T01:01:17.3433333+00:00

I assumed that the Word's Startup folder was here: %appdata%\Microsoft\Templates

Try %appdata%\microsoft\word\startup which is the default on most Office installations (on Windows). You can find out the exact folder on your system by noting the location for the Startup folder in the File Locations dialog box (File > Options > Advanced > File Locations).
PM 0 Reputation points

2023-11-17T17:47:48.4833333+00:00

Stefan, appreciate the support. I am updating my response. I confirm that the startup location is as you have point out. I tried these instruction And something interesting happened. I noticed that in Windows 11 when using the automatic tab function to shift and order windows on the screen, Microsoft Office products don't remember the last window size. I have to actually manually grab the corner of the window and resize it with my mouse so that it remembers it. Of course I have the J Friedman's add in running in the startup folder. Thanks a million. All sorted out now.
Stefan Blom 2,391 Reputation points MVP

2023-11-17T18:46:02.9633333+00:00

Thanks Stefan, appreciate the support. I confirm that the startup location is as you have point out. I tried these instruction and my version of MS Word just doesn't seem to want to remember the last window size. Maybe it is not in the cards.

This is a bit of a mystery. Using the add-in, things seem to be working at my end (Word 2021, version 2310). I am working with restored windows, and the position & size of those are remembered/saved. I can even save a document for which two windows are displayed and these are reopened as I save, close and reopen the doc.
PM 0 Reputation points

2023-11-17T18:56:09.87+00:00

It is a mystery. I tried it again with the tabs and it does not remember location and size of window after I select the tab at the top right hand corner (see screen capture below) . It only remembers the size/location when I manually grab the corner of a window and drag to resize it. Anyway at least it's working with dragging the window compared to previously when it did nothing before I had the J Friedman's add in. So I still consider it a win. Thanks your your help.
Stefan Blom 2,391 Reputation points MVP

2023-11-17T19:00:13.38+00:00

You may want to start a new thread in which you address add-in creator Jay Freedman directly. For example, you can do that in the Microsoft Community forum at https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/msoffice_word?sort=LastReplyDate&dir=Desc&tab=All .

6 answers

John Korchok 5,466 Reputation points

2022-08-09T15:19:32.58+00:00
This forum is poorly run, my previous answer was deleted for no good reason:

In Word for Windows, the default document view is set by the view saved in Normal.dotm. To open Normal.dotm in Word, open an Explorer window, then paste the next line into the address bar:

%appdata%\Microsoft\Templates

In the window that opens, select Normal.dotm and open it in Word. Double-clicking on Normal.dotm will create a document, so don't do that. The top bar in Word needs to read Normal.dotm, not Document 1.

Set your preferred zoom and window size, then make a small change to Normal, like typing a space character. Save it, then delete the space character and save again. (Document views are not saved unless there is some other change to the file).

Close Word, then reopen and the window size and zoom should be set to your preference.
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11 people found this answer helpful.
Bas de Vries 1 Reputation point

2022-09-15T21:00:21.703+00:00

Double-clicking on Normal.dotm will create a document, so don't do that.

how do I open (Normal.dotm). Every time I try to open it a new document opens (Document2).

John Korchok 5,466 Reputation points

2022-09-16T14:37:05.657+00:00

Right-click on Normal.dotm and choose Open instead of the default New command.

Or start Word and use File>Open to find Normal.dotm and open it.

Chris Knopf 1 Reputation point

2022-12-02T14:54:52.517+00:00

this will likely work great for new documents that i create after making these changes to the template, right? i appreciate that, but i'm looking for a way to get documents that are already created to stop opening up in a window that takes up nearly the whole screen.

others have said 'it should re-open in whatever position and size you had it in when you last saved it' - i agree, it should, but it doesn't.

Stefan Blom 2,391 Reputation points MVP

2022-12-02T15:18:17.68+00:00

this will likely work great for new documents that i create after making these changes to the template, right? i appreciate that, but i'm looking for a way to get documents that are already created to stop opening up in a window that takes up nearly the whole screen.

others have said 'it should re-open in whatever position and size you had it in when you last saved it' - i agree, it should, but it doesn't.

In recent versions of Word, you will have to install Jay Freedman's add-in; it is the only way to store the view and zoom with individual documents or templates.

joetheatre 0 Reputation points

2023-07-06T18:27:21.76+00:00

This worked, John! However, I had to do it twice. For good measure, I did <space>&<save> a few times. I'm saving your answer for use on my home computer...and this work computer if needed again (which will probably be the case.) Many thanks!

Edith Armey 0 Reputation points

2023-08-05T21:15:26.7133333+00:00

Be sure to read entirely and carefully before you follow his steps. I am a long time Word/Microsoft user and I haven't made admin changes for awhile, so I needed to refresh my memory.

Jeffrey Hollow 0 Reputation points

2023-09-07T14:05:04.6466667+00:00

Hi John,

I followed your steps yesterday and it worked for the rest of the documents I opened. However, today I opened a file from an email and it went back to the wrong size.

I intended to repeat your steps again but I accidentally double clicked the Normal file and it opened as the wrong size too. I closed that file and then opened the Normal file the right way and it is now the wrong size. I'm afraid I changed the Normal file to the wrong size. How do I reset it back to the default size? Thank you!

John Christensen 0 Reputation points

2023-10-01T01:09:50.3433333+00:00

You are right. If the admin(s) deleted your previous answer, this forum is indeed poorly run. I wasted a BUNCH of time trying solutions that did not work and reading supposed solutions that weren't even relevant. For what it's worth, I have no idea how normal.dotm got changed. Some sort of corruption I guess. The last-modified date was years ago but this problem is only a few days old. Anyway, thank you much for the correct solution.

JCC

Stanley, Michael 0 Reputation points

2023-11-24T16:10:22.35+00:00

This solution does not last past the current windows session. Is a change possible that lasts beyond the current windows session?

Stefan Blom 2,391 Reputation points MVP

2023-11-24T18:11:15.8933333+00:00

This solution does not last past the current windows session. Is a change possible that lasts beyond the current windows session?

Michael,

When you start Word, the view and zoom of the very last document window that you closed in the preceding Word session will be restored. This applies to recent versions of Word.

If you want more control, you can install an add-in by Jay Freedman; the add-in restores the ability to save the view & zoom (and other settings) with individual documents. See links I have posted elsewhere in the thread.

AnneD 0 Reputation points

2024-08-22T13:51:51.22+00:00

Unfortunately this does not work for me. I've twice made the change to Normal.dotm and the next time I open a window, whether blank or an existing document it reverts to taking up 1/4 of my screen and needing to be resized.

RobertSmith 0 Reputation points

2024-10-04T15:15:19.58+00:00

Thanks for this, just used and work perfectly!
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Emily Hua-MSFT 27,671 Reputation points

2021-04-15T07:32:09.373+00:00

@Chris Hansen

Generally, Word would open a windows with same size as the one you closed last.
It means the height and width should be saved for the next time you start Word.

If it does not work, please refer to JohnKorchok's answer.

You may also try to repair Office from Control Panel to have a check, or reset user options and registry settings in Word.

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Roland Hochreiter 6 Reputation points

2021-12-06T08:37:06.05+00:00

"Generally, Word would open a windows with same size as the one you closed last.
It means the height and width should be saved for the next time you start Word."

Each time Windows is rebootet, Word opens agian in a default size, which is a landscape format. This is not what I want or expect.

Where is the height and width saved?
Based on that I could find a way to save/restore my personal settings.

Stefan Blom 2,391 Reputation points MVP

2021-12-06T09:12:12.643+00:00

If you are running Word for Windows, the height and width of the Word window are saved in the registry, I believe.

However, since you mention Landscape, verify in the Page Setup dialog box that you have the correct paper format and orientation selected. Choose "Portrait" (instead of "Landscape") and verify the paper format.

Click the Set as Default button to save these changes with your template.

Keith Swain 1 Reputation point

2022-08-09T11:34:33.66+00:00

There is no"JohnKorchok's answer"..... WHERE would we find that please?
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Michael Heyman 6 Reputation points

2022-08-10T13:46:42.577+00:00

Why does the window now default to long and short? I suspect this is an accidental loss of functionality. It's wasted a lot of my time today marking a batch of student work. Thanks for suggested workarounds but MS should fix it.
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Stefan Blom 2,391 Reputation points MVP

2022-08-14T12:10:10.193+00:00

Why does the window now default to long and short? I suspect this is an accidental loss of functionality. It's wasted a lot of my time today marking a batch of student work. Thanks for suggested workarounds but MS should fix it.

This is an old thread, so you want to start a new one for your question.

In Word for Windows, if you want to store the view, zoom and window position with each document, you have to use an add-in. MVP Jay Freedman has provided such an add-in; see https://jay-freedman.info/.
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Stefan Blom 2,391 Reputation points MVP

2021-04-20T18:36:35.547+00:00

Word should always revert to the settings that were applied for the last document window that you closed in the previous Word session.

With recent versions of Word you can't save the view and zoom with an individual document. Older versions of Word did allow for that. To restore the behavior of older versions, you can try Jay Freedman's add-in. Download SaveViewLocMulti.zip from his web site at https://jay-freedman.info/, unzip the template and put it in Word's Startup folder.
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PM 0 Reputation points

2023-11-16T18:12:55.07+00:00

I tried the SaveViewLocMulti.zip and that didn;t work for my version of MS Office 2021 Pro Plus.
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Matthew Clues 0 Reputation points

2023-12-11T12:18:18.3033333+00:00

This forum is a joke, it is a clear and rampant issue and no one at MS knows what to do.
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Adjusting Word window default size?

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