Turning Off ScreenTips

ScreenTips are the small yellow boxes that appear as you position the mouse pointer over a toolbar button or over another control on the Word program window. Some people find these ScreenTips distracting, so Microsoft provided a way for you to control whether they are displayed or not. To turn off ScreenTips, follow these steps if you are using a version of Word prior to Word 2007:

1. Choose the Customize option from the Tools menu. Word displays the Customize dialog box.
2. Click on the Options tab. (Click here to see a related figure.)
3. Make sure the Show ScreenTips on Toolbars option is not selected.
4. Click on Close.

If you are using Word 2007 then you need to follow these steps:

1. Click the Office button and then click Word Options. Word displays the Word Options dialog box.
2. The Popular option, at the left side of the dialog box, should be selected. (Click here to see a related figure.)
3. Using the ScreenTip Style drop-down list, choose Don't Show ScreenTips.
4. Click on OK.

Despite what the option in the dialog box implies, this setting turns off ScreenTips for controls other than toolbars, as well. For instance, ScreenTips normally appear as you position the mouse pointer over the different areas of the Status Bar. With the Show ScreenTips on Toolbars option turned off, the ScreenTips don't appear for Status Bar options, either.