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Fix Word for Mac Showing Incorrect Page Size and Missing Margins
Question details
The user needs to restore normal page dimensions and top margins in Word for Mac, which are currently hidden in Print Layout view.
- Product
- Word for Mac
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- Viewing or editing a document in Print Layout mode.
- Observed behavior
- Pages display with incorrect dimensions and nearly invisible top margins on the screen, even though the exported PDFs and printed output are perfectly normal.
Ensure your document is currently set to Print Layout view, as the setting that hides or shows page margins only applies to this specific viewing mode.
Enable White Space Between Pages in View Preferences
The most reliable way to permanently restore normal page margins and dimensions across your documents is by adjusting Word's built-in View preferences.
Word for Mac includes a feature to hide white space between pages to save screen real estate. Disabling this feature inadvertently causes the page dimensions to look incorrect because the top and bottom margins are visually collapsed.
Launch Word for Mac, navigate to the top Apple menu bar, click on 'Word', and select 'Preferences' from the drop-down menu.
In the Word Preferences dialog box, locate the 'Authoring and Proofing Tools' section and click on 'View'.
Check the box next to 'White space between pages in Print Layout View' and close the Preferences window to apply the changes.
Restore Margins Using the Double-Click Shortcut
You can quickly toggle the white space and margins directly within the document interface without having to open the preferences menu.
Manage Page Layouts and Margins Easily with WPS Writer
WPS Writer offers an intuitive and seamless interface for managing document layouts. If you want to easily view or hide white space between pages without complicated settings, WPS Office handles this effortlessly while maintaining perfect compatibility with Microsoft Word formats.
- 1. Open Your Document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office on your Mac and open your document using WPS Writer.
- 2. Switch to Print Layout: Ensure you are in Print Layout view by checking the view options in the status bar at the bottom right corner.
- 3. Hover Between Pages: Move your mouse cursor into the gray gap separating two pages until the Hide/Show White Space tooltip appears.
- 4. Click to Toggle: Click once to seamlessly hide or show the page margins and restore the accurate visual dimensions of your document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my top and bottom margins disappear in Word for Mac?
This happens when the 'White space between pages' setting is disabled in Print Layout view. It is an intentional feature designed to save screen space, but it visually hides the top and bottom margins of your pages.
Does hiding the white space affect how the document prints?
No, hiding the white space only affects how the document is displayed on your computer screen. The document will still print with the correct margins, dimensions, and layout configurations.
Can I completely disable the double-click margin shortcut in Word?
The feature to double-click the page edge to hide or show white space is built into the document interface and cannot be completely disabled. However, if you trigger it by accident, you can instantly revert the layout by simply double-clicking the edge again.
