Button for Leaving Full-Screen Mode

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated November 21, 2020)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003

Marilyn wrote about a missing button that she normally sees when using word in full-screen mode. The button allows her to exit full-screen mode and start using Word, once again, in normal mode.

This button is actually on a special toolbar that appears only when Word is operating in full-screen mode. You can try the following steps to get the toolbar back:

Go to full-screen mode.
Press Alt+V. Word displays the normal View menu.
Choose the Toolbars option.
Make sure the Full Screen option is selected. (This displays the Full-Screen toolbar.)

The toolbar, with its button, should now be visible. If it is not, it could be because the toolbar has somehow been moved "off screen" so it is no longer visible. In that case, you can run the following macro to get it back.

Sub ShowFullscreen()
    ActiveWindow.View.fullscreen = True
    With CommandBars("full screen")
        .Visible = True
        .Position = msoBarBottom
    End With
End Sub

Of course, many people don't even care about the Full-Screen toolbar. They consider the toolbar to be counter-productive to the purpose of full-screen mode since it occupies some of the available screen, usually in an area that obstructs what you want to see. These folks know that the easiest way to get out of full-screen mode is to bypass the button and simply press the Esc key.

Note:

If you would like to know how to use the macros described on this page (or on any other page on the WordTips sites), I've prepared a special page that includes helpful information. Click here to open that special page in a new browser tab.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (327) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.

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...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Consistent Spacing

It is a good idea to make sure that the spacing following each sentence in your document is consistent. Here's a handy ...

Discover More

Counting Precedents and Dependents

Do you need to know how many precedents or dependents there are on a worksheet? You could count them manually, or you ...

Discover More

Arranging Document Windows

When you have multiple documents open at the same time, you need a way to control how those document windows appear on ...

Discover More

Learning Made Easy! Quickly teach yourself how to format, publish, and share your content using Word 2021 or Microsoft 365. With Step by Step, you set the pace, building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them! Check out Microsoft Word Step by Step today!

More WordTips (menu)

Viewing Your Document Full-Screen

Want to see the absolute most of your document that you can? Then you need to become familiar with the full-screen ...

Discover More

Page Layout Zoom Settings

The zoom setting at which you view a document can sometimes be saved with a document. This tip explains how the zoom ...

Discover More

Discovering Where Word Stores Settings

How to find your setting information in Word.

Discover More

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

Notify me about new comments ONLY FOR THIS TIP

Notify me about new comments ANYWHERE ON THIS SITE

Hide my email address

What is nine more than 9?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)

This Site

Got a version of Word that uses the menu interface (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.