Manage pane layout in Office apps

Applies To
Excel for Microsoft 365 Word for Microsoft 365 PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 Excel 2024 Word 2024 PowerPoint 2024 Excel 2021 Word 2021 PowerPoint 2021 Excel 2019 Word 2019 PowerPoint 2019 Excel 2016 Word 2016 PowerPoint 2016

In Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, a task pane is a window that attaches itself to the edge of the app window you're working in. The Format Picture pane is one example:

The Format Picture pane, docked on the right side of the window in Word

Resize a task pane

You can widen or narrow the pane by pointing your mouse at the inside margin of the pane until the pointer becomes a two-headed arrow, then clicking and dragging to resize.

You can change the width of a docked task pane

Dock or undock a task pane

By default a task pane is "docked" to the side edge of the app window.

You can undock the pane and make it a free-floating window that you can place anywhere on your screen:

  1. On the title bar of the pane until, click the downward pointing arrow Bookmark Down Arrow , and then select Move.
    The pointer becomes a four-headed arrow.

  2. Click and drag to move the pane where you want it.

    The Format Picture pane in an undocked state: a free-floating window

  3. Release the mouse when the window is positioned satisfactorily.

When you close a pane, Office remembers its last size and position, and the next time it opens the pane in that same size and position.

Re-dock a task pane

To re-dock a floating task pane, simply drag it to the right edge of your screen. The pane returns to its default docked position.