How to Fix Word Side by Side Option Greyed Out
Question details
The user is unable to use the Side by Side comparison feature in Microsoft Word because the option is disabled.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Attempting to compare two documents or a document and a PDF side by side.
- Observed behavior
- The 'View Side by Side' option in the View tab is greyed out and unclickable, even after reinstalling the software.
Ensure that you have the two documents you wish to compare readily accessible on your computer. If one of the files is a PDF, make sure it is saved locally so it can be opened directly within Word.
Open Both Documents Before Selecting Side by Side
Word requires at least two actively open documents in the same instance to activate the Side by Side comparison feature.
The most common reason the 'View Side by Side' button is greyed out is that only one document is currently open. The feature is designed to compare two files, so Microsoft Word disables the button until a second document is loaded into the workspace.
Launch Microsoft Word and open your first document normally.
Without closing the first document, go to File > Open and browse for your second document to open it in a new window.
In either of the open document windows, click on the View tab located on the top ribbon.
Look for the Window group in the ribbon and click on the 'View Side by Side' option, which should now be active and clickable.
Open PDF Files Directly Within Word First
If you are trying to compare a Word document with a PDF, you must open the PDF inside Word rather than using an external PDF reader.
Compare Documents Side by Side Easily with WPS Office
WPS Office provides an intuitive tabbed interface that makes opening and comparing multiple documents, including PDFs and Word files, incredibly straightforward. You can arrange documents side by side in seconds without complicated window management.
- 1. Download and open WPS Office: Launch the WPS Office application on your computer.
- 2. Open your first document: Open the first document you wish to compare.
- 3. Open the second document in a new tab: Click the '+' icon next to your document tab or use File > Open to load your second document (Word or PDF).
- 4. Enable Side by Side view: Go to the View tab on the top ribbon and click 'View Side by Side'. Choose horizontal or vertical splitting to instantly arrange your tabs for comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is synchronous scrolling greyed out when viewing side by side?
Synchronous scrolling only becomes available after you have successfully activated the 'View Side by Side' feature. If it remains greyed out after activation, ensure both documents are in Print Layout view and click the Synchronous Scrolling button under the Window group in the View tab.
Can I compare a Word document with an Excel spreadsheet side by side in Word?
No, Word's built-in Side by Side feature only works for documents opened within Microsoft Word. To compare a Word document and an Excel spreadsheet, you should open both applications separately and use the Windows Snap feature by dragging each window to opposite sides of your screen.
How do I turn off the Side by Side view once I'm done?
To exit the comparison view, simply navigate back to the View tab and click the 'View Side by Side' button again to toggle it off. Alternatively, you can just click the maximize button on the top right corner of one of the document windows.
