Office Settings & Configuration

How to Fix Word Status Bar Hidden Behind Windows Taskbar

Maira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is unable to view the Microsoft Word status bar, which displays information like language and word count, because it sits beneath the Windows taskbar when the window is not maximized.

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Using Microsoft Word in a restored (non-maximized) window.
Observed behavior: The bottom edge of the Word window extends beyond the visible screen area, causing the status bar to hide behind or underneath the Windows taskbar.

Before you start

Before proceeding, ensure your Windows taskbar is locked and not set to auto-hide, which can sometimes interfere with application window boundaries.

Solution 1Recommended

Resize and Reposition the Word Window using Keyboard Shortcuts

Use the Alt+Space keyboard shortcut to manually trigger the window's context menu, allowing you to resize and drag the Word window back into the visible screen area.

When an application window becomes larger than the screen or gets pushed off-screen, standard mouse controls may become inaccessible. Windows provides built-in keyboard shortcuts to manipulate window sizes and positions.

Activate the Word Window

Click on the Microsoft Word icon on your Windows taskbar to ensure it is the active window.

Open Window Menu

Press and hold the 'Alt' key, then press the 'Spacebar' to open the active window's context menu in the top corner.

Select the Size Option

Choose 'Size' from the menu (or simply press the 'S' key on your keyboard).

Shrink the Window

Use your keyboard's arrow keys (Up or Left) to make the window smaller until the status bar becomes visible above the taskbar, then press 'Enter' to confirm the new size.

Reposition the Window

If the window is still poorly placed, press 'Alt' + 'Spacebar' again, select 'Move' (or press 'M'), use the arrow keys to move the window to the center of your screen, and press 'Enter'.

Window Settings Saved: Once properly resized and closed, Windows will remember this new size and position the next time you open a restored Microsoft Word window.

Solution 2

Restart Your Computer to Reset Display Parameters

A simple system reboot can often automatically reset cached display parameters and restore default window positioning for your applications.

Manage Documents with WPS Writer

Easily View Word Count and Status in WPS Writer

WPS Office offers a fully compatible, lightweight word processor where checking word count and document status is always easily accessible through a stable, well-managed interface.

1. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing document.
2. Locate the Status Bar: Look at the very bottom of the WPS Writer interface to find the dedicated status bar.
3. View Live Statistics: Check your real-time word count, character count, page number, and spell check status directly on the bar.
4. Customize the View: Right-click anywhere on the status bar to easily toggle which metrics and tools you want visible while you work.

Seamless compatibility with Microsoft Office (.docx, .doc) formatsClear, customizable status bar displaying real-time word count and languageLightweight design with stable window management that prevents off-screen errorsFree to download and highly intuitive for quick document editing

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Word window open larger than my screen?

This typically happens if Word was previously closed while the window was dragged partially off-screen, or if there was a sudden change in monitor resolution, scaling settings, or external display disconnections.

How do I show the word count if my status bar is entirely missing?

If the status bar is completely hidden but the window is fully visible, the word count might be disabled. Right-click the bottom edge of the Word window and check 'Word Count' in the Customize Status Bar menu to enable it. You can also view it by navigating to the Review tab and clicking 'Word Count'.

Can I configure Microsoft Word to always open maximized?

Yes. Right-click the Word shortcut on your desktop or taskbar, select Properties, navigate to the Shortcut tab, and change the 'Run' dropdown menu from 'Normal window' to 'Maximized'. Click Apply and OK.

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