How to Fix a Large Status Bar and Navigation Pane in Word
Question details
The user is experiencing an issue where the status bar or Navigation pane in Microsoft Word appears unusually large.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Using the Word application after a system update, display setting change, or video driver update.
- Observed behavior
- The status bar at the bottom of the window or the Navigation Pane on the side is disproportionately large compared to the rest of the interface.
Save any open documents and close Microsoft Word before proceeding. Ensure you have administrative privileges on your Windows PC to modify display settings or update device drivers.
Reset Windows Display Scaling
A sudden glitch in Windows display scaling settings often causes interface elements like the Word status bar to appear too large. Resetting this can resolve the issue.
Windows scaling controls how large text, apps, and other items appear on your screen. Sometimes, Word fails to register the correct scaling percentage, resulting in oversized UI elements. Toggling the scaling setting forces Word to redraw its interface correctly.
Click the Windows Start menu, select Settings (the gear icon), and navigate to System > Display.
Scroll down to the 'Scale and layout' section. Note your current scaling percentage, then change it to a different value (for example, change it from 100% to 125%).
Wait a few seconds for the screen to adjust to the new size, then change the scaling value back to your original (Recommended) setting.
Close and reopen Microsoft Word to verify that the status bar and Navigation pane have returned to their normal, proportional size.
Update Your Display Driver and Office Installation
An outdated video driver or an unpatched bug in your specific Word version can cause UI rendering issues.
Switch to WPS Writer for a Glitch-Free Word Processing Experience
If Microsoft Word's interface continues to display abnormally due to scaling issues, consider using WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and user-friendly alternative with seamless rendering across various Windows display settings.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installation package for Windows.
- 2. Install and Launch: Run the installer and open WPS Writer once the installation is complete.
- 3. Open Your Documents: Drag and drop your existing .docx files into WPS Writer to continue working with a perfectly scaled interface.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my Word Navigation pane suddenly become so large?
This usually happens due to a recent Windows update, a change in your display's scaling and layout settings, or a graphics driver update that conflicted with Word's interface rendering.
Does changing the zoom level in Word fix the large status bar?
No, the zoom slider in Word only affects the document page size. The status bar and Navigation pane are controlled by your system's display scaling and Word's internal UI rendering.
How do I know if my video driver is causing Word display issues?
If resetting the Windows scaling doesn't work, and you recently installed a Windows update or a new game that updated your graphics drivers, the driver is likely the cause. Rolling back or updating the driver in Device Manager can often fix it.
Will repairing Microsoft Office fix UI scaling problems?
Sometimes an Online Repair can fix corrupted interface files. You can try this by going to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features, selecting Microsoft Office, and clicking 'Change' to run the repair tool.
