Missing Horizonal Scroll Bar

Right-click Word’s title bar, select Maximize, then right-click it again and select Restore; Microsoft documents this window-state reset when enabling the scrollbar has not brought it back.^1^

Since Show horizontal scroll bar is already enabled both in Word and Windows, there is no need to repeat those settings.

If restoring the window does not work

1. Test a slightly higher zoom level
   • Narrow the Word window as needed.
   • Increase the zoom gradually using the slider at the bottom-right.
   • Move the mouse pointer into the document’s text area.
   In a closely matching report, the horizontal scrollbar appeared only above a window-dependent zoom level and while the pointer was inside the text area. This is a reported workaround, not a documented permanent fix.
2. If this mainly affects newly created documents, refresh the document window
   • Select Insert > Cover Page.
   • Insert any cover page.
   • Immediately press Ctrl+Z to remove it.
   A matching Word 365 case reports that this makes the horizontal scrollbar appear and remain available. That case also found the behavior in new documents but not older documents.^2^
3. If only new documents are affected, test the Normal template Normal.dotm is the template Word uses when creating ordinary blank documents.
   • Close Word completely.
   • Press Windows+R.
   • Enter:

          %appdata%\Microsoft\Templates
     

   • Rename Normal.dotm to Normal.old.
   • Start Word and create a blank document.
   Word should generate a fresh Normal.dotm. If the scrollbar returns, the old template or something stored in it was involved. Keep Normal.old temporarily so it can be restored if needed. The matching Q&A case recommends this test when new documents are affected.^2^

Force the scrollbar on for the current window

For an immediate diagnostic, Word exposes the scrollbar state as a writable VBA property.^3^

1. Press Alt+F11 in Word.
2. Press Ctrl+G to open the Immediate window.
3. Enter this line and press Enter:

ActiveDocument.ActiveWindow.DisplayHorizontalScrollBar = True

If this restores it only temporarily, the problem is likely tied to the window, template, profile, or current Word build rather than the checkbox itself.

Repair Word if the problem persists everywhere

On Windows 11:

1. Close all Office applications.
2. Right-click Start > Installed apps.
3. Find Microsoft 365, select the … menu, and choose Modify.
4. For a Click-to-Run installation, select Online Repair > Repair.
5. Restart Windows after completion.

Online Repair is more comprehensive than Quick Repair and repairs the entire Office suite.^4^

Fix availability

There is no published fix date in the available Microsoft information, and the matching Q&A case states that no official confirmation of a known issue was found.^2^ If the steps above fail, record File > Account > About Word version/build and the update channel, then report the issue through Help > Feedback in Word. Include whether it affects:

• Every document or only new documents
• Every Windows user profile or only yours
• Maximized and restored windows
• All zoom levels
• The newly generated Normal.dotm

References

1. Show scroll bars in Word or Excel | Microsoft Support
2. Horizontal scroll bar missing in Word 365 when using Windows 11 - Microsoft Q&A
3. Window.DisplayHorizontalScrollBar property (Word)
4. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/office/lifecycle/repair-an-office-application)