Word allows you to create split windows, each of which allows you to look at a different portion of your document. You can also use the split windows to view your document in different views. To split the window, display the View tab of the ribbon and then, in the Window group, click the Split tool.
When you split the window, Word places a horizontal split bar on the screen. This split bar can be easily positioned by moving it with the mouse. When you click on the mouse button, the bar is placed exactly where you clicked.
You can return to a single window by clicking on and holding the horizontal split bar and swiping it to the top or the bottom of the screen.
If you are like a lot of Word users, you might prefer to not take your hands off the keyboard. The keyboard shortcut for toggling the split screen on or off is Ctrl+Alt+S.
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2021-04-30 11:48:26
Marcos
Note that if you have the document map enabled (visible), the split function will be disabled.
2020-08-01 03:05:34
Kevin
I like the split function. The problem is I can't figure pout how to save the settings. When i close the file and open it again the split is removed and i have to set it up again to my liking.
2020-06-10 18:57:36
Mike
Humble suggestion: consider noting that, when closing out the split by dragging the split bar to the top or bottom, Word will leave open the split where the cursor was last placed. Until discovering that nuance, I cursed Word numerous times for closing the window that I didn't want. Turns out it was just my ignorance!
This is a wonderful site. Thank you!
2018-12-22 11:00:23
Lilli Hausenfluck
Peter, I miss that feature, too. I think it was a design change because I have been unable to find a way to restore that small double line. By the way, I finally figured out how to return to the document location in the screen I choose. I used to think it was random, but if you want to be in the document location on the top screen, swipe the line down to return to one screen and if you want to be in the document location showing on the bottom screen, swipe the line up. Merry Christmas!
2018-12-21 22:19:22
Peter Kirkpatrick
Earlier versions of Word had a small double line set at the top of the vertical scroll bar. You could split the screen by dragging down on that line. My current version no longer has that option. Is there a setting which would make it visible? Or is it a design change by Microsoft so that this option is no longer available?
2018-10-07 04:16:51
Byron Simmonds
Thank you Lilli. This has been bugging me for quite some time now.
2018-08-07 10:06:40
Lilli Hausenfluck
The keyboard shortcut for toggling the split screen on and off is Ctrl+Alt+S. You can also return to one screen by clicking and holding the split line and swiping it to the top or bottom of the screen. The split screen is excellent for comparing text in different parts of a document, such as holding the table of contents on the top screen and scrolling through the document to ensure TOC entries and page numbers are correct.
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