Office for Mac Issues

How to Keep the Navigation Pane Open in Word for Mac

Aamir Naveed Akram Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants Word for Mac to remember the Navigation pane state, Outline view selection, and custom width when a document is closed and reopened.

Keep the Word for Mac Navigation Pane Open with Custom Settings

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: Mac
Scenario: Reopening a Word document and expecting the Navigation pane to remain open with custom width settings applied.
Observed behavior: Word for Mac does not remember the Navigation pane state or width after a document is closed, and VBA macros used to set pane visibility and width in Windows do not work reliably on Mac.

Before you start

Ensure the Developer tab is enabled in your Word for Mac ribbon, as you will need to create or record a macro to automate the Navigation pane.

Solution 1Recommended

Use an AutoOpen Macro to Display the Navigation Pane

Create an AutoOpen macro to automatically trigger the Navigation pane whenever a document starts. Be aware that advanced width settings may not work on Mac.

While Word for Windows allows VBA to control both the visibility and the specific width of the Navigation pane (e.g., CommandBars("Navigation").Width = 500), these objects are often unsupported in Word for Mac.

You can still use a macro to ensure the pane opens, but manual width adjustments may be required during your session.

Enable the Developer Tab

Go to Word > Preferences > Ribbon & Toolbar, and check the box for Developer to make the tab visible on your ribbon.

Create a New Macro

Click the Developer tab, select Macros, type 'AutoOpen' as the Macro name, and click Create.

Record the Open Action

Alternatively, use 'Record Macro', name it 'AutoOpen', and manually open the Navigation pane via the View tab, then stop recording.

Save the Macro Location

Save the macro in the 'Normal.dotm' template to apply it to all new documents, or save it within the current document if you only want it to apply to that specific file.

Use an AutoOpen Macro to Display the Navigation Pane

VBA Limitations on Mac: Code like Application.TaskPanes(wdTaskPaneNav).Visible = True and CommandBars("Navigation").Width = 500 may result in errors on Word for Mac. If the VBA script fails, stick to a basic recorded macro without width properties.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Seamless Document Experience on Mac

If macro compatibility issues and persistent pane settings in Word for Mac are disrupting your workflow, WPS Office provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative with an intuitive interface for managing your document layouts.

1. Install WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office for Mac, then open your .docx file in WPS Writer.
2. Access the View Tab: Click on the View tab located in the top ribbon menu.
3. Toggle the Navigation Pane: Click 'Navigation Pane' to instantly view your document outline and adjust it to your preferred width.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formats and macrosLightweight and optimized to run smoothly on macOSIntuitive built-in Navigation Pane for easy outline managementFree to download and use for all your essential daily document tasks

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set the Navigation pane width using VBA in Word for Mac?

Generally, no. The CommandBars("Navigation").Width property works in Word for Windows but is not fully supported in Word for Mac, meaning customized width settings via VBA may fail or act unreliably.

Why does the Navigation pane close when I reopen a document?

Word for Mac does not natively save the Navigation pane state across sessions. Unless an AutoOpen macro is configured, the pane resets to its default closed state when a document is reopened.

Where should I save my AutoOpen macro?

If you want the Navigation pane to open automatically for every new document you create, save the macro in the Normal.dotm template. If it's just for a single file, save it directly within that specific document.

Office App Problems