Word
Quick Start Guide
New to Word? Use this guide to learn the basics.
Quick Access Toolbar
Keep favorite commands permanently visible.
Explore the ribbon
See what Word can do by selecting the ribbon tabs and exploring available tools.
Share your work with others
Invite other people to view and edit cloud-based documents.
Discover contextual commands
Select tables, pictures, or other objects in a document to reveal additional tabs.
Find whatever you need
Look up Word commands, get Help, or search the Web.
Navigate with ease
Use the optional, resizable sidebar to manage long or complex documents.
Format with the Mini Toolbar
Select or right-click text and objects to quickly format them in place.
Show or hide the ribbon
Select the pin icon to keep the ribbon displayed, or hide it again by selecting the arrow.
Change your view
Select the status bar buttons to switch between view options, or use the zoom slider to magnify the page display to your liking.
Status bar shortcuts
Select any status bar indicator to navigate your document, view word count statistics, or check your spelling.
Create something
Begin with a blank document to get right to work. Or start with a template to save yourself time and steps.
Just select File > New, and then select or search for the template you want.
Find recent files
Whether you work with files stored locally or in the cloud, selecting File > Open takes you to your recently used documents and pinned files.
Stay connected
Click File > Account to sign in and access your files anywhere, on any device, through integration with OneDrive, OneDrive for Business, and SharePoint.
Discover contextual tools
Selecting relevant objects (like tables) displays contextual tabs such as Table Tools, which offer more options for design and layout.
Share your work with others
To invite others to view or edit documents in the cloud, select the Share button in the top right corner.
You can get a sharing link or send invitations to specific people.
See who else is typing
Co-authoring in OneDrive or SharePoint happens in real time—you can see where others are making changes.
Review and track changes
Use the Review tab to check spelling, manage word count, or track and discuss changes made by others.
Format with styles
The Styles pane helps you visually create, apply, and review styles in your document.
Open it by selecting Home > Styles (small arrow) in the gallery.
Find whatever you need
Use the Tell me what you want to do search box on the ribbon to find features, commands, or Help content quickly.
Look up relevant information
With Smart Lookup, Word searches the Internet for definitions, phrases, and concepts—displaying results in a task pane for more context.
Get other Quick Start Guides
Download free Quick Start Guides for other Microsoft Office apps:
🔗 https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2008317
Next steps with Word