Disabling auto-hiding of vertical scrollbar in Word 2013

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.

Solution 1:

There is a hack that stops the scrollbar from disappearing, though I'm not sure whether Microsoft considers it a bug or a feature:

1. Go into "VIEW | Read Mode".
2. Select "VIEW | Layout | Paper Layout".
3. Press Escape to get back into Print Layout, and then the scrollbar shouldn't disappear.

To do this more quickly, get used to typing:

1. Alt-W-F
2. Alt-W-L-P
3. Esc

Solution 2:

Jez’s answer is good, but it is rather annoying that you have to do this every time you start Word, so I just made a macro (by recording the keystrokes) and then put the macro on the Home tab of the Ribbon.

Here's the macro:

Sub Fix_Scrollbar()
'
' Fix_Scrollbar Macro
'
'
    ActiveWindow.View.ReadingLayout = Not ActiveWindow.View.ReadingLayout
    Selection.EscapeKey
    If ActiveWindow.View.SplitSpecial = wdPaneNone Then
        ActiveWindow.ActivePane.View.Type = wdPrintView
    Else
        ActiveWindow.View.Type = wdPrintView
    End If
End Sub

So now it’s just one click when Word starts ...

Solution 3:

It seems there it's no solution for your problem at the moment:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/office/forum/office_2013_release-word/word-vertical-scrollbar-auto-hiding-in-print/2656ff19-ebc6-4f3f-8611-121bfd4072ab?page=1&tm=1434983755116

I disabled the animations (smooth movements) in all the Office 2013 and I have the same auto-hiding of the scrollbar you're refering.

Solution 4:

This is a partial solution, but it's the solution I prefer because my vertical scrollbar now stays where I can see it at all times. Go to the "View" tab at the top of the screen. Go to the "Views" section on the left. On the right side of that box, click "Draft". It resizes your window to "text width" basically and disallows the scrollbar from vanishing while pausing / typing.

Hope this helps.