There was a point in the not-too-distant past where monitors were not nearly as high-resolution as they are now. While higher resolutions have enhanced the computing experience for the majority of people, not everything is for the better.
With more displayed at once, programs like Microsoft Word often attempt to make things “better.” Depending on who you ask, these changes aren’t always an improvement. Just like changing to the Ribbon UI, displaying two pages at once on high-resolution displays has been controversial. Many people want to display one page at a time in Microsoft Word instead.
Luckily, it is possible to change things to suit your own preferences.
1. Move across the Ribbon UI to the “View” options.
2. The first three buttons on the left include “Read Layout,” “Print Layout” and “Web Layout,” with Print showing the document across virtual A4 pages. Select Web Layout.
3. The change should be apparent, as the document is no longer parsed into virtual pages, and it will run for the entire width of the window.
4. Change back to “Print Layout.” For whatever reason, this will display the document one page at a time. It’s a simple, yet effective way to display one page at a time in Microsoft Word.
1. Observe the zoom level in the lower-right corner of the Word window. Click the zoom percentage, and another window will appear providing a few more options.
2. You can choose a variety of zoom options, but “Many Pages” on the right and the button below it should attract the most attention.
3. Click to expand the button below it and select an option; 1×1 and 1×2 show one page or two pages at a time respectively.
4. Once you’ve done this, you’ll see that Word’s zoom level is going to change. Go back to the left and change it to 100%. Confirm this change.
5. If the document is not already two or more pages long, such as what happens when you open Word to try this, add another page with Ctrl + Enter . It should either appear alongside the existing page or below it, depending on what you chose.
If you’re using the online version of Microsoft Word, this is the best way to display one page at a time in Microsoft Word. The web version doesn’t have the same view options as the desktop version. The good news is Word usually defaults to the Web View anyway since you’re using it online, which typically gets rid of this issue automatically.
If you’re just looking through a document, you can also set “Read Mode” or “Reading View” to set pages to scroll versus being side by side.
The ability to control Word’s display of pages is invaluable; a Google search results in numerous complaints about its default handling of high-resolution monitors. While we’ve covered a few ways to improve Word, such as reintroducing the 2003-era UI and tabs, this one requires no extensions or add-ons.
Should you wish to revert your changes, it’s as simple as following Solution 2 and adjusting the “Many Pages” section to suit. The simplicity of this tweak, coupled with the polarizing nature of Word’s default approach, makes it highly valuable.
Do you also know that you can merge documents in Microsoft Word and add offline videos? If not, check it out.
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Crystal Crowder - Staff WriterCrystal Crowder has spent over 15 years working in the tech industry, first as an IT technician and then as a writer. She works to help teach others how to get the most from their devices, systems, and apps. She stays on top of the latest trends and is always finding solutions to common tech problems.
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