How to View and Change the Margins in Word

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Learn how to view and adjust your margins in Word

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: December 23, 2024 Tested

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Mac

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Windows

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This wikiHow teaches you how to display the margin lines around your text in a Microsoft Word document. You can show the margins on PC and Mac, but the mobile version of Word doesn't allow you to do this.

Showing Margins in Word

Click on the View tab. Then, check the box next to "Ruler" in the Show section. The gray sections on the ruler represent the margins of the page. You can also adjust the margins using the ruler.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Mac

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You can open a saved document from your computer or open Microsoft Word, and create a new document.
You can find this button next to the Apple icon near the upper-left corner of your screen. It will open a drop-down menu.

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This will open your Word settings.
This is the second option on the top row of the Preferences window. You can find it under the "Authoring and Proofing Tools" heading.
It's near the upper-right corner under the "Show in Document" heading.
When this option is checked, you'll see the margin lines around your text in the document.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using Windows

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You can open a saved document or open Microsoft Word, and create a new document.
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Click the File tab. You can find this button above the toolbar ribbon in the upper-left corner of Word. It will open your file options.
- If you're using Word 2007, click the Office icon on the top-left.
3
Click Options on the file menu. This will open your Word options in a new window.
- In Word 2007, click Word Options on the bottom-right.
It's on the left-hand side of the Options window.
It's under the "Show document content" heading in the Advanced tab.
This will show your margin lines around the text in your document.