Symptoms
Enlarging window to full screen causes a dark bar to appear hiding all top screen menu buttons. It is not possible to operate on top screen with this dark bar, hiding everything behind it.
Cause
New Office updates are changing default compatibility parameters. This change can cause a black bar at the top or bottom of the screen when maximizing windows to full screen.
Resolution
Address this issue to lower a maximized window
When your window is selected as active in Task bar, you can use a Windows key combination to move your window on your screen.
Press Windows keyboard button + any keyboard arrow buttons to move your window.
WIN+ Up: Maximize full screen.
WIN + Left: Putwindow on left part of screen.
WIN + Left: Putwindow on right part of screen.
WIN + Down: Minimize window on task bar.
Change Office parameter to address this issue
- Go to any office application such as Word.
- Open File >Options >General
- In User Interface Options, change this parameter:
Change it from "Optimize for best appearance" to "Optimize for compatibility."
- Restart Office to take effect.
Affected Products
G Series, Alienware, Inspiron, Latitude, Vostro, XPS, Latitude Tablets, Surface, XPS Tablets, Mobile Workstations