To view multiple pages at once in Microsoft Word, go to the View tab and click Multiple Pages in the Zoom group. Word shrinks the pages so two or more fit across the screen. For a specific layout, such as six pages in two rows, open View > Zoom, click the Many pages button, and drag across the grid. You can also flip through pages two at a time like a book with Side to Side. Here’s how each option works, plus how to compare two different documents next to each other.
- Open your document and click the View tab.
- Make sure you’re in Print Layout (the first button in the Views group).
- In the Zoom group, click Multiple Pages.
Word zooms out to fit at least two pages side by side. If you zoom out further with the slider at the bottom-right of the window, or by holding Ctrl and scrolling the mouse wheel down, Word fits even more pages across each row. To go back, click One Page or 100% in the same group.
Method 2: Choose an exact grid in the Zoom dialog
- Go to View > Zoom (the magnifying glass button), or click the percentage next to the zoom slider at the bottom of the window.
- Select Many pages, then click the small monitor icon below it.
- Drag across the grid to choose how many pages to show, for example 2 x 3 for six pages.
- Click OK.
This is useful for checking the layout of a long report: you can see at a glance where headings, tables, and images fall, and spot pages that are nearly empty.
Method 3: Side to Side page movement
Side to Side shows two pages next to each other like an open book, and you move through the document horizontally instead of scrolling down.
- Go to the View tab.
- In the Page Movement group, click Side to Side.
- Scroll with the mouse wheel or swipe on a touchpad to flip pages.
Click Thumbnails in the same group to see small previews of every page and jump to one. Click Vertical to go back to normal scrolling.
Method 4: Print preview
Click File > Print. The preview on the right shows how pages will print. Use the zoom slider at the bottom of the preview to zoom out and see several pages at once. This shows the most accurate picture of the final layout, including headers and footers.
View two documents side by side
If you want to see pages from two different documents, rather than two pages of the same one:
- Open both documents.
- In either one, go to View > View Side by Side. If more than two documents are open, choose which one to compare.
- Synchronous Scrolling turns on automatically, so both documents scroll together. Click it to scroll them separately.
To compare two parts of the same document, use View > New Window and then View Side by Side, or View > Split to divide the window into top and bottom halves that scroll independently.
Tips
- Text too small to read? Multiple-page views are for checking layout. Use the Navigation Pane to move around a long document instead, and edit at normal zoom.
- Wider screen, more pages. Maximize the Word window or use a large monitor and Word fits more pages per row.
- Want to see just one page again? See how to get Word to show one page at a time.
Troubleshooting
Multiple Pages is greyed out
You’re probably in Read Mode, Web Layout, or Draft. Switch to View > Print Layout first.
Word only shows one page even after clicking Multiple Pages
The window is too narrow for two pages at the current size. Maximize Word or zoom out with the slider.
Pages are shown side by side but I want them stacked
Click Vertical in the Page Movement group, then One Page in the Zoom group.
Frequently asked questions
Does this work in Word for Mac?
Word for Mac has a similar zoom setting. Go to View > Zoom, and set a lower percentage to show more pages, depending on your version.
Does viewing multiple pages change how the document prints?
No. It only changes the view on your screen. To print several pages on one sheet of paper, see how to scale a document in Word.
Can I see multiple pages in Word for the web?
Word for the web has fewer view options. Zoom out using the browser (Ctrl and the minus key) or open the file in the desktop app with Editing > Open in Desktop App.
Summary
Click View > Multiple Pages for a quick overview, use View > Zoom > Many pages for a specific grid, or Side to Side to read like a book. To compare two documents, use View Side by Side.
Related: How to Show Margins in Word.
Related: how to rearrange pages in Word.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.