Splitting the Window

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated October 29, 2022)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365

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.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (7550) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. Learn more about Allen...

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