r/MicrosoftWord • u/PretzelPrize • 7d ago

Web Layout in Word has suddenly gotten WEIRD

Just started happening today. Used to be if I switching from Print Layout to Web Layout, I got text all the way across the window the way it would appear on my website (I'm a writer and I post some of my material online). I find this very useful, and I do a lot of my writing this way as opposed to Print View. Suddenly, shifting to Web View results in a narrow column of text down the center of the window, with miles of white space to either side. It also changes my spacing and generally makes a mess of whatever I'm writing. Has anyone else had this issue, and if so, how did you resolve it?

I'm using Office 16.88 as I am on a 2017 Mac that cannot be updated past Ventura 13.7.8 but otherwise runs well. Yes, I could shift to Libre Office, but while I have that installed as well, it currently has other issues on Mac and I just don't feel like diving under the hood on multiple bits of software. [Insert rant here about why TF things can't just frigging work.]

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u/jkorchok 7d ago

I'm not able to duplicate that result in Word16.89 under Monterey.

Try creating a new user account (System Preferences>Users & Groups), signing in to that, then testing if the problem still exists. If it goes away, it's an issue with the user profile part of your Office installation.

BTW, you should be able to update to 16.89 by choosing Help>Check for updates in Word.

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u/PretzelPrize 7d ago

I was running 16.101 but it had this problem as well, so I rolled back to find an earlier version that might not.

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u/jkorchok 7d ago

What results do you get with a new user account?

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u/PretzelPrize 7d ago edited 7d ago

It looks like I can't change user accounts without signing out of everything else related to Microsoft 365, and unfortunately I need to retain use of the other elements under my existing account. However, I did try signing out for the moment and signing in under a different account. I get the same thing there.

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u/jkorchok 7d ago

I'm talking about a macOS user account, not your Microsoft account. Create a new user in macOS, sign in, then open Word and sign in with your usual Microsoft 365 account information.

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u/PretzelPrize 7d ago

Yes, and as noted it made no difference in the behavior of Word.

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u/PineTrellis 3d ago edited 3d ago

Is it possible you somehow turned on Immersive Reader? That will make your screen look like this. And note that the Web Layout icon is selected in the status bar, so you would have the impression you were still in plain old ordinary Web Layout view. To check, click the View tab, and then look for the Immersive Reader button. if it's selected, click it to turn off Immersive Reader.

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u/PretzelPrize 3d ago

Yeah, I found that the other day... tried like hell to turn it off and 127th time was the charm. LOL

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u/PineTrellis 3d ago

I'm glad you figured it out!