How to Fix Word Count Not Showing in Microsoft Word
The status bar of Microsoft Word shows the word count for users to quickly view it. It automatically updates the word count as you type in the document, which proves extremely useful when you need to stay below a particular word count.
There may be times when the status bar doesn’t display the word count, lags too much, or doesn’t update. When this happens, you should do some quick checking to get the word count on the status bar working again. And, when the problem persists, let’s explore some other ways to check word count in Microsoft Word.
Getting Started with Fixing the Word Count Not Showing in Microsoft Word
First, you should make sure that the word count option is enabled in the Status bar customization. It may have been disabled by mistake during optimization, so it should be discarded.
Open a Microsoft Word document where the word count does not appear on the status bar. Right-click on the status bar and look for a tick mark beside Word count. A checkmark before Word Count indicates it is active. When it’s disabled, enabling it is as easy as clicking on the word count option.
Verify that enabling word count in status bar customization has brought the word count option back to the status bar. If it isn’t there or is already enabled without showing on the status bar, the problem could be more serious and requires further investigation. If so, then follow the fixes below.
1. Sign-in/restart the Microsoft Word document
The general solution of restarting something when it doesn’t work may also apply here. So, save the document, close it and give it a fresh start. In addition to restarting the Microsoft Word document, consider logging out and logging back into your account to fix the problem.
If restarting and signing in again doesn’t work, try accessing the document with administrator privileges.
2. Access document with administrative privileges
The ability to access documents with administrative privileges negates the possibility of any OS-side restrictions. Running a document as an administrator gives the program access to all Windows files that would otherwise be restricted.
To run Microsoft Word as administrator, right-click the Word shortcut and click Run as administrator.
If granting administrative access doesn’t work, try launching the Microsoft Word document in Safe Mode.
3. Launch Microsoft Word in Safe Mode
Microsoft Word runs in Safe Mode with essential files without loading any add-ins. This eliminates interference from all add-ins you are currently using. Therefore, it stands a good chance of solving most Microsoft Word issues.
Doing so will directly open the document in Safe Mode, which may restore the word count on the status bar. If this results in the word number appearing again on the status bar, it’s time to disable the add-ins, as the problem lies with them.
If the status bar doesn’t show the word count even in Safe Mode, uninstall the latest Microsoft Office updates that you installed recently.
After uninstalling, grab a fresh copy of Microsoft Word and install it on your computer. Hopefully, this will solve the problem with the status bar not showing the word count. But, keep in mind that any customizations you’ve made to your Office apps will be lost this way.
If you don’t want to reinstall Microsoft Office even if the problem with the status bar hasn’t been fixed, there are other ways to view your word count. In the meantime, until the issue is resolved, you can try these methods to keep the word count under control.
1. Checking the word count using the word count box
Microsoft Word allows users to check the word count through the word count option in the Review tab. In addition to the word count, it also displays information about the number of pages, characters, paragraphs, and lines in the document.
With this preview, you can see how many words and related information you have in the document. If you don’t want to go through tabs again and again, there is another way, i.e. adding word count fields directly to your document with custom fields.
By following the above steps, you will add the word count field where your cursor was located in the document. Unlike the status bar, where the word count updates as you type, in this case the count must be updated manually.
By following the above steps, the word count of your document will be updated, and the next time you add more information to the document, you will need to follow the same steps to update the word count to the latest.