Applies ToWord for Microsoft 365 Word 2024 Word 2021 Word 2019 Word 2016

Options is where you can view and update settings for Word, your documents, your personal information and your preferences. General options lets you change user interface, personalization, and startup settings for your copy of Word and documents.

To see general options for working with Word, click File > Options > General.

Word 2016/2013 General Options menu

Show Mini Toolbar on selection    Select this option to show the Mini toolbar when you select text. The Mini toolbar provides quick access to formatting tools.

Enable Live Preview    Select this option to preview the effects of formatting changes in the document.

Update document content while dragging    Select this option if you want Word to adjust the layout when you drag objects such as pictures and text boxes.

ScreenTip style    Select a style to control whether Word displays screentips and feature descriptions with button names.

User name     Type a name in the User name box to change your user name.

Note: This user name is associated with any revisions you make to documents when using the Track Changes feature. It's also the author name associated with the documents that you create. For example, in predesigned cover pages that include the author name, Word displays this user name automatically.

Initials     Type your initials in the Initials box to change the initials associated with your user name.

Note: These initials are associated with any comments you add when you review documents.

Always use these values regardless of sign in to Office     Select this option if you want Word to display this user name and these initials even if you sign into Office with an account that displays different information.

Office Background    Choose from a list of built-in background patterns.

Office Theme     Choose from a list of built-in Office themes.

Choose the extensions you want to open by default     Click Default programs to see and change the list of file types that Word opens by default.

Tell me if Word isn't the default program for viewing and editing documents     Select this option if you want to be prompted to set Word as your default application for viewing and editing documents.

Open e-mail attachments and other uneditable files in reading view     Clear this check box to open e-mail attachments in Print Layout view instead of reading view.

Show the start screen when Word starts     Clear this check box if you want to bypass the start screen when you open Word.

Didn't find the option you're looking for here, try one of these:

Word Options (Advanced)

Word Options (Display)

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