Office Settings & Configuration

How to Restore Side-by-Side Pages and Zoom in Microsoft Word

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to display Word document pages side by side with normal zoom capabilities, but the pages are currently stacked and the zoom slider is disabled.

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Viewing a multi-page document and attempting to display pages side by side for easier reading or editing.
Observed behavior: Pages are displayed in a stacked layout, and the zoom slider is grayed out or unavailable despite being in Print Layout.

Before you start

Ensure your document is set to Print Layout view (found in the lower-right corner or the View tab), as other views like Web Layout or Draft do not support side-by-side page displaying.

Solution 1Recommended

Switch to Vertical Page Movement to Restore Zoom Controls

Disabling the 'Side to Side' page movement setting restores standard zoom controls, allowing you to manually zoom out and view multiple pages side by side.

Microsoft Word features a 'Side to Side' page movement mode that acts like a digital book reader. When activated, this mode intentionally locks the zoom level to fit whole pages on the screen, which disables your manual zoom slider. Switching back to 'Vertical' movement is required to regain manual zoom control and set up a traditional side-by-side view.

Navigate to the View Tab

Open your document in Microsoft Word and click on the View tab located in the top ribbon menu.

Change Page Movement

Locate the Page Movement group on the ribbon. Click on Vertical instead of Side to Side. You will notice the zoom slider in the bottom right corner immediately becomes active again.

Enable Multiple Pages View

With Vertical movement selected, click on Multiple Pages in the Zoom group of the View tab, or manually drag the zoom slider out until multiple pages appear side by side.

Zoom Restored: Your zoom slider should now function normally. If you ever want the automated book-like flipping experience again, you can switch back to Side to Side.

Easy Document Viewing

View Pages Side by Side Effortlessly with WPS Writer

WPS Office offers an intuitive interface where viewing multiple pages side by side doesn't unnecessarily lock your zoom controls. Enjoy full control over your document layout in a free, lightweight suite.

1. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your multi-page document.
2. Go to the View Tab: Click on the View tab in the main ribbon menu at the top of the screen.
3. Select Multiple Pages: Click on the Multiple Pages icon. The screen will automatically adjust to show pages side by side.
4. Adjust Zoom Freely: Use the zoom slider at the bottom right corner to seamlessly increase or decrease the number of pages displayed without any locked settings.

Free and lightweight office suiteFully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx, .doc) filesIntuitive zoom and multi-page layout controls without hidden restrictionsClean, user-friendly interface that prevents accidental layout changes

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my zoom slider grayed out in Microsoft Word?

The zoom slider becomes disabled if you have the 'Side to Side' page movement option selected in the View tab. To re-enable it, switch the Page Movement back to 'Vertical'.

How do I view two different documents side by side?

To compare two separate files, open both documents, go to the View tab, and click 'View Side by Side' in the Window group. This allows synchronous scrolling and comparison, which is different from viewing multiple pages of the same document.

Can an accidental trackpad click change my Word layout?

Yes, certain trackpad gestures can trigger zoom changes or register as clicks on the ribbon. If your layout suddenly changes, check the View tab to ensure 'Side to Side' wasn't accidentally toggled on.

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