Disabling auto-hiding of vertical scrollbar in Word 2013?

Question

I'm wondering whether there is any option/control to disable the automatic hiding (fade-out effect) of vertical scrollbar that happens after few seconds of mouse inactivity in Microsoft Word 2013?I couldn't find an option/solution on this. NOTE: I also have the option 'Show vertical scroll bar' checked under File > Options > Advanced > Display.

Answer 1

In Microsoft Word 2013, the vertical scrollbar has a feature that automatically hides after a short period of inactivity, which is part of the interface design to reduce clutter. However, there is no built-in option directly within Word's settings to disable this fade-out effect entirely.

That said, you can adjust this behavior by modifying settings in Windows rather than within Word. Here's what you can try:

Disabling Auto-Hide of the Scrollbar via Windows Settings:

1. Open Control Panel:
2. Press Win + R, type control, and press Enter to open the Control Panel.
3. Go to Ease of Access:
4. Click on "Ease of Access Center."
5. Adjust the Computer's Display:
6. Under the "Make the computer easier to see" section, click on "Make it easier to focus on tasks."
7. Disable Auto-Hide of Scrollbars:
8. Look for the option "Automatically hide scroll bars in Windows". Uncheck this option.
9. Apply the Changes:
10. Click "Apply" and then "OK."

Testing the Change:

1. After disabling this option, check if the vertical scrollbar now stays visible in Word, as it might affect other applications using similar scrollbar behavior in Windows.

While this method doesn't directly adjust the behavior in Word 2013, it can help prevent the automatic hiding of scrollbars across Windows and may address your issue.

Let me know if you need further assistance!