Navigating in Microsoft Word since Word 2007 has involved the ribbon.
The ribbon in Microsoft Word is the horizontal bar at the top of the window where you can find assorted tools and settings.
This ribbon is the primary way to format a document, and it’s likely that you will be using it a lot.
But the ribbon can take up a lot of space, especially on smaller monitors.
Fortunately there is an option to collapse the ribbon automatically that can keep it accessible, while providing more screen space for your document.
How to Hide the Ribbon in Word
The steps in this article were performed in Microsoft Word for Office 365, but will work in most other newer versions of Microsoft Word.
Step 1: Click the File tab at the top-left corner of the window.
Step 2: Choose the Options button at the bottom of the column on the left side of the window.
Step 3: Select the General tab at the left side of the Word Options window.
Step 4: Check the box to the left of Collapse the ribbon automatically.
Step 5: Click the OK button at the bottom of the window.
Note that when you choose to collapse the ribbon automatically that only tab names will show when you make the window small. However, clicking one of the tabs will let you access the rest of the options that are usually available on that tab.