Office Settings & Configuration

How to Keep the Word Ruler Visible Every Time

Emma Brown Sep 30, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs a way to make the ruler in Microsoft Word remain permanently visible every time a document is opened.

How to Keep the Ruler Permanently Visible in Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Opening new or existing Word documents after a Windows or Microsoft 365 update.
Observed behavior: The ruler setting does not persist across sessions and resets to hidden, requiring the user to manually enable it each time.

Before you start

Ensure you have saved all ongoing work and closed all active Word documents before attempting to modify the global Normal.dotm template to prevent file conflicts.

Solution 1Recommended

Modify and Save the Normal.dotm Template

Updating the default Normal.dotm template ensures your ruler settings are automatically applied to all newly created documents.

Microsoft Word relies on the Normal.dotm template to establish default settings for new documents. By enabling the ruler directly within this template, you ensure the preference persists across all future sessions.

Locate the Templates folder

Press Win + R on your keyboard, type %appdata%\Microsoft\Templates into the Run dialog box, and press Enter to open the folder.

Open the Normal.dotm file

Right-click the file named Normal.dotm and select Open. Do not double-click it, as that will create a new blank document instead of opening the template itself.

Enable the Ruler

Navigate to the View tab on the ribbon and check the Ruler box so it is visible.

Trigger a save and close

Type a single space into the document and then delete it. This tricks Word into realizing a change was made. Click the Save icon, then close the document.

Modify and Save the Normal.dotm Template

Test Your Settings: Create a new blank document to verify that the ruler now appears automatically.

Solution 2

Open the Normal Template via VBA Immediate Window

Use the Visual Basic Editor to quickly access and edit the global template without navigating hidden system folders.

Solution 3

Create an AutoOpen Macro

Add a simple script to automatically enforce the ruler display whenever any document is opened.

WPS Office Solution

Easily Manage UI Preferences in WPS Writer

If Microsoft Word struggles to retain your display preferences, try WPS Office. WPS Writer natively remembers your UI toggles, such as the ruler, without requiring template edits or VBA macros.

1. Install WPS Office: Download and install the free WPS Office suite from the official website.
2. Open WPS Writer: Launch WPS Writer and open an existing document or create a new blank file.
3. Enable the Ruler: Click on the View tab in the top ribbon and check the Ruler box. WPS Writer will remember this setting for all future sessions seamlessly.

Automatically remembers your ruler and view settings across sessionsFully compatible with Microsoft Word document formats (.docx)Lightweight architecture ensures fast launch times without update-related glitches

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Word ruler keep disappearing?

This commonly occurs after a Windows or Microsoft 365 update, which can reset specific user preferences. Because the ruler display state is tied to your default Normal.dotm template, any reset to this file will cause the ruler to be hidden again until manually reconfigured.

What is the Normal.dotm file?

Normal.dotm is the foundational global template that Microsoft Word uses to generate all new blank documents. Adjustments made directly to this file, such as changing default fonts, margins, or view settings like the ruler, will automatically apply to all newly created files.

How do I show both horizontal and vertical rulers?

First, ensure the Ruler box is checked under the View tab. Then, check that you are working in 'Print Layout' view (also found under the View tab). The vertical ruler does not display in Web Layout or Draft modes.

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