How to Keep Two Columns in a Word Document After Reopening
Question details
The user needs a saved two-column Word document to properly display its columns upon reopening instead of reverting to a single-column layout.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Opening a previously saved two-column document in Microsoft Word.
- Observed behavior
- The document appears as a single column because it defaults to Draft or Web Layout view, which hides the page layout formatting.
Before modifying your view settings, verify that your text hasn't accidentally been reformatted to a single column by checking the settings under the Layout tab.
Switch to Print Layout View
The most common reason for this issue is that Word opens the document in Draft or Web Layout view, which hides page layouts like columns.
Microsoft Word utilizes different views for different purposes. Web Layout and Draft views are designed to prioritize text over page formatting, which causes multi-column documents to render as a single continuous block of text.
Open your document in Microsoft Word and click on the 'View' tab located in the top ribbon menu.
In the Views group on the far left, click on 'Print Layout'. Your document will immediately refresh and display the two columns correctly.
Press Ctrl + S to save the document while in Print Layout view. Word typically remembers the last active view when reopening the file.
Save the Document as a Word Template
If you frequently need a specific two-column layout, saving it as a template ensures the formatting and view settings are preserved for all new documents.
Repair Microsoft Office
If Word consistently fails to display your saved formatting despite being in Print Layout, the application itself might have corrupted files that require repair.
Easily Manage Column Formatting with WPS Writer
WPS Writer offers an intuitive interface that makes setting up and saving multi-column layouts effortless. It is fully compatible with Microsoft Word formats, ensuring your document looks exactly as intended every time you open it, reliably defaulting to Print Layout view.
- 1. Open WPS Writer: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing document or create a new blank document.
- 2. Set Columns: Navigate to the 'Page Layout' tab, click on the 'Columns' button, and select 'Two' from the drop-down list.
- 3. Confirm Print Layout: Check the bottom right status bar to confirm you are in 'Print Layout', then simply save your document to retain the exact view for next time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Word document always open in Web Layout view?
Word often defaults to Web Layout if the document was last saved while in that view, or if it was downloaded from an internet source. Switching back to Print Layout and saving the document usually resolves this default behavior.
Will printing a document in Draft view print it as a single column?
No. Printing always references the actual page layout settings (like margins and columns). Even if you are viewing the document in Draft or Web Layout as a single column, printing or exporting to PDF will correctly output the saved two-column format.
How do I apply two columns to only one part of the document?
Highlight the specific text you want to format into two columns. Go to the 'Layout' (or Page Layout) tab, click 'Columns', and select 'Two'. Word will automatically insert continuous section breaks before and after your highlighted text to preserve the rest of the document's layout.
