Formatting Issues

How to Fix Hidden Margins and Incorrect Page Size in Word

Ayan Masood Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is experiencing a display issue where the document page height appears incorrect and text begins at the very top edge, hiding headers, footers, and margins.

How to Fix Hidden Margins and Incorrect Page Size in Word

Product: Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Viewing or editing a document in Print Layout view.
Observed behavior: The white space containing top and bottom margins, headers, and footers is hidden. This makes the page appear shorter than the standard Letter size, with text sticking to the top edge of the screen.

Before you start

Ensure your document is currently set to Print Layout view, as other views like Web Layout or Draft naturally hide page margins and headers by default.

Solution 1Recommended

Enable Show White Space Between Pages

This is the most common and immediate fix for text starting at the very top of the page. It restores the hidden top and bottom margins in your view.

Word has a feature that hides the white space between pages to save screen space. When activated, it hides the top and bottom margins, making the page look cut off.

Hover over the page edge

Move your mouse pointer to the very top or bottom edge of the page, or over the dark gray line separating two pages.

Wait for the cursor to change

Stop moving the mouse when the cursor changes into an icon with two small vertical arrows pointing away from each other.

Double-click to restore

Double-click your left mouse button. A tooltip saying 'Double-click to show white space' may appear. This instantly restores your visible margins and headers.

Alternative method via Options

Go to File > Options > Display. Check the box that says 'Show white space between pages in Print Layout view' and click OK.

Display Settings Saved: This setting applies to your Word application, meaning future documents opened in Print Layout view will also display margins correctly.

Solution 2

Verify Page Size and Margin Settings

Ensure that the physical page dimensions and margins haven't been accidentally altered in the layout settings.

Easily Manage Page Layouts with WPS Office

Manage Page Layouts and Margins Seamlessly with WPS Office

WPS Writer offers an intuitive interface to manage document formatting, page sizes, and layout views. You can easily toggle white spaces and customize margins without hassle.

1. Open Document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open your document using WPS Writer.
2. Switch to Print Layout: Go to the 'View' tab on the ribbon and ensure 'Print Layout' is selected.
3. Restore White Space: Hover your mouse between the pages until the double-arrow icon appears, then double-click to show the hidden white space and margins.
4. Adjust Margins via Options: Alternatively, click Menu > Options > View, check the box for 'White space between pages', and click OK.

Easily toggle white space and margins with a simple double-click.Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formats.Clear, intuitive ribbon interface for quick page layout adjustments.Free and lightweight alternative for everyday document editing.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my top and bottom margins suddenly disappear in Word?

This usually happens if you accidentally double-clicked the gap between pages. Word includes a feature to hide white space (margins, headers, and footers) to save screen real estate, which is easily triggered by a stray double-click.

How do I permanently keep the white space showing?

To ensure margins are always visible, go to File > Options > Display, and check the option labeled 'Show white space between pages in Print Layout view'. Click OK to save the setting permanently.

Does hiding white space affect how the document prints?

No, hiding white space only changes your on-screen display. When you print or export the document to PDF, the physical margins, headers, and footers will still appear exactly as configured in the Layout settings.

Document & File Issues