Understanding Word Views

In Word, you can display your document in one of five views: Read Mode, Print Layout, Web Layout, Outline, and Draft.

Read Mode: The Read Mode view formats your document in a way that makes it easier to read.

Print Layout: The Print Layout view displays your document as it will appear when it is printed. In Word 2013, Print Layout is the default view.

Web Layout: The Web Layout view displays your document as it will appear in a browser such as Internet Explorer.

Outline: The Outline view displays your document in outline form. You can display headings without the body text. If you move a heading, the accompanying body text moves with it.

Draft View: The Draft view displays your document without certain elements such as headers and footers. Use this view when you want to edit your document quickly.

Change Views

1. Choose the View tab.
2. Click the view you want in the Views group.

Is there another way to change views?

You can click the Read Mode, Print Layout, or Web Layout button on the Status bar. To see the buttons, you must have View Shortcuts selected on the Status bar menu. To select View Shortcuts, right-click on the Status bar and then, on the menu that appears, click View Shortcuts.

What can I do in Read mode?

Read mode gives you several options. Among other things, you can click View and then Page Color to change the page color. Click View and then Column Width to set the number of columns Word displays. To leave Read mode, click View and then click Edit Document.