How To Customize the Microsoft Word Status Bar
The status bar runs along the bottom of every Word document. Most people glance at the page count and ignore the rest. But it can display a useful range of real-time information, and you can configure exactly what appears there. This guide explains what the status bar can show and how to tailor it to the way you work.
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What the Status Bar Is and Where to Find It
The status bar is the thin strip at the very bottom of the Microsoft Word window. By default it shows page count (Page 1 of 4), word count, and the current language. On the right side you will find the document view buttons (Read Mode, Print Layout, Web Layout) and the zoom slider.
| Practical tip: Click anywhere on the word count display in the status bar to open the Word Count dialogue, which breaks down words, characters, paragraphs, and lines in more detail. |
How to Customise the Status Bar
Right-click anywhere on the status bar. A context menu appears listing every available item with a checkmark next to anything currently enabled. Click any item to toggle it on or off. Changes take effect immediately.
There is no Save or OK button. The menu closes when you click elsewhere, and your preferences are kept.
What You Can Add to the Status Bar
The full list of available status bar items in Word includes:
Formatted Page Number: shows the page number as formatted in the document, useful when your numbering starts at a page other than 1.
Section: shows which section of the document the cursor is in. Helpful for complex documents with multiple sections and different headers or footers.
Line Number and Column: shows the exact cursor position. Useful when working with code, scripts, or any content where line position matters.
Word Count: on by default. Shows total words in the document, or words in the current selection when text is highlighted.
Character Count (with spaces) and Character Count (without spaces): shows character totals, useful for content with strict character limits.
Track Changes: shows whether Track Changes is currently on or off. Clicking it toggles Track Changes directly from the status bar.
Caps Lock and Overtype: shows whether Caps Lock or overtype mode is active. Both are easy to accidentally trigger and hard to notice without a visual indicator.
Macro Recording: shows a record button when in a recording session. Useful if you use macros regularly.
| Our take: The most useful additions for most writers are Track Changes status, Character Count, and Section. Word Count is already on by default. Caps Lock is worth enabling if you frequently type in a hurry. |
How to Use the Word Count in the Status Bar
The word count displayed in the status bar updates in real time as you type. When you select a block of text, the count switches to show the word count of the selection only, then reverts to the full document total when you deselect.
For a breakdown that includes characters, paragraphs, and lines, click the word count display to open the Word Count dialogue. Check or uncheck Include textboxes, footnotes and endnotes to control what is counted.
Resetting the Status Bar to Defaults
There is no single reset button for the status bar. If you want to return it to the default state, right-click and manually uncheck any items you added, then re-enable any defaults you may have turned off. The defaults are: Page Number, Word Count, Language, and the view and zoom controls on the right.
FAQs
Why is the word count not showing in my status bar?
Right-click the status bar and check that Word Count is enabled. If it is checked but still not visible, try resizing the Word window. Sometimes items disappear when the window is too narrow to display them all.
Can I see the character count without opening the Word Count dialogue?
Yes. Right-click the status bar and enable Character Count (with spaces) or Character Count (without spaces). It will then display alongside the word count at the bottom of the window.
Does the status bar show different things on Mac?
The available items are similar but not identical on the Mac version of Word. The process is the same: right-click the status bar to see and toggle options. A few Windows-only items like Macro Recording may not appear on Mac.
For more on structuring and formatting Word documents, see our guide on how to create multilevel lists in Microsoft Word.
