How to Disable “Word is Calculating the Word Count” [2024]
Reviewed by Huzaifa Haroon- The Word Count feature in Microsoft Word displays the total number of words in your document and updates in real-time as you write, which is helpful for adhering to specific length requirements.
- Disabling Word Count can reduce distractions and improve performance, especially with longer documents; it can be turned off from the Status bar.
- If experiencing issues with Word Count, solutions include restarting your computer, running Word as an administrator, updating the software, disabling add-ins, or reinstalling Microsoft Word.
Microsoft Word is an important software used by many people, including students working on their projects and professionals preparing reports. It has lots of useful features, and one of them is the Word Count tool.
This tool helps you see how many words your document has at any moment. Sometimes, you might not need to know the word count, or it could distract you from your work. Disabling the word count feature might help you concentrate better, avoid distractions, or make the software run faster.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything about the Word Count in MS Word: what it is, why you might want to disable it, its benefits, and how to solve any problems with it.
Table of Contents
What is the Word Count in MS Word?
The Word Count in Microsoft Word is a handy tool that shows how many words you have in your document. It updates automatically as you write, counting each word, space, and punctuation mark.
This feature is great for anyone who has to stick to specific word counts for things like articles, essays, or reports. You can usually see this count at the bottom of the Word window, making it easy to check how much you’ve written without stopping your work.
↪ Why even disable It?
There are a few reasons why disabling the Word Count feature in MS Word might be a good option:
1. Distraction
For some people, seeing the word count update all the time can be off-putting. It might take your mind off the actual writing. This can break your concentration and make writing take longer than it should.
2. Performance issues
Also, constantly counting words can make the program run slowly, particularly with very long documents. It might make Word run less smoothly, cause delays, or even make it stop responding. If you disable the word count, Word might work better and more smoothly.
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How to disable word count in Microsoft Word?
Disabling the word count in Microsoft Word is straightforward, allowing you to focus more on your writing without the distraction of constantly updated numbers. This adjustment can also enhance the software’s performance, especially with longer documents.
↪ Disable Word Count from the Status bar
Follow the easy steps below to disable Word Count in Microsoft Word:
- In your Word document right-click the bottom bar of the window.
Right click on the Status Bar - Click on “Word Count” in the menu that shows up to remove the check next to it.
Click on the Word Count option - The Word Count will not show and update at the bottom.
Word Count disabled
You might need to sometimes check the total word count of the document after disabling it. If you want to check your word count after turning it off, follow these steps:
- Go to the top and click on the “Review” tab. Look for “Word Count” in the “Proofing” section and click it.
Click on Word Count - A box will open up telling you how many words, pages, characters, lines, and paragraphs are in your document.
See word count details
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What good can Word Count do for you?
The Word Count tool in Microsoft Word isn’t just a basic feature; it brings several advantages that can greatly improve your writing experience. Here are the benefits of using Word Count:
- Meeting requirements: It ensures your document adheres to specific word counts required for academic assignments, professional reports, or publications.
- Skill enhancement: By focusing on word limits, you can sharpen your ability to write clearly and concisely, making your points effective without unnecessary details.
- Time management: Knowing your document’s length helps in estimating how much time you’ll need to complete writing tasks, which is crucial for scheduling and meeting deadlines.
- Editing aid: When revising your work, Word Count assists in evenly distributing the length of various sections, contributing to a cohesive and structured document.
- Project pricing: For freelancers, accurate word count is essential for estimating project scope and setting fair prices or billing clients based on the length of content.
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Fixing Word Count issue in Microsoft Word
Having trouble with the word count feature in Microsoft Word can be annoying, especially when you need it for school or work. Here’s a simple guide to help you solve any issues with the word count display:
1. Restart your computer
First, try turning your computer off and then on again. This step might seem basic, but it can solve a lot of minor glitches by clearing out any temporary errors and refreshing your computer’s memory and other resources.
2. Run Microsoft Word as an administrator
Next, open Microsoft Word with extra access by running it as an administrator. Doing this allows Word to access more of the computer’s resources than it normally would.
This extra level of access can sometimes solve issues that occur when Word doesn’t have enough permission to operate fully, potentially fixing any problems with the word count feature not working as it should.
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3. Update Microsoft Word
Make sure you have the latest version of Microsoft Word. Updating can solve problems by fixing known issues. Here’s how you can update Microsoft Word:
- Start by opening Word and clicking on “File” at the top.
Click on File - Next, select “Accounts” from the menu.
Click on Accounts - Then, find and click on “Update Options.”
Click on Update Options - Choose “Update Now” and follow the instructions that appear.
Click on Update now - After updating, open your document again to see if the word count is showing correctly.
Check the Word Count now
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4. Disable Add-Ins
Sometimes, extra tools in Word might mess with the word count feature. You can turn these off to see if it fixes the issue. Here’s how to disable these extra tools:
- Open Word and click on the “File” tab at the top.
Click on File - Then, click on “Options” to see more settings.
Click on Options - Find the “Add-Ins” tab in the options.
Find Add ins here - Choose the extra tool you think might be causing problems and click “OK” to turn it off.
Click OK
After doing this, restart Microsoft Word and see if the word count is working properly now.
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5. Reinstall Microsoft Word
If nothing else works, you might need to remove Microsoft Word from your computer and reinstall it. This can get rid of any files that are broken or missing. Here’s what you do to uninstall Word:
- Go to your computer’s settings and click “Apps.”
Click on Apps - Look through the list until you see “Microsoft Word” or “Microsoft Office”
Find MS Office here - Right-click on the app and select “Uninstall.”
Click Uninstall
After that, go to the Microsoft Store to download and install Microsoft Word again. This might make the word count start working properly.
Try these steps to fix the word count. If it’s still not right, it might be time to ask for more help or look at Microsoft’s help options.
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Final thoughts
Disabling the Word is calculating the word count process in Microsoft Word can make your writing smoother and less distracting. Whether you’re disabling the word count to focus better, updating Word to get rid of bugs, disabling add-ins that might be causing trouble, or even reinstalling Word to start fresh, each step helps ensure your writing tool works best for you.
We’ve gone through easy ways to address and fix any word count issues, aiming to enhance your writing experience. The goal is to make your writing process as efficient and enjoyable as possible. If you ever face an issue with the word count feature, now you know exactly how to tackle it.
FAQs
To see more about your document, head over to the Review section. Click on Word Count under Proofing. A box will pop up showing you the number of pages, words, characters (both with and without spaces), paragraphs, and lines in your document.
A really quick way to get the Word Count box up is by pressing Ctrl + Shift + G on your keyboard. This shortcut brings it up right away.
Yes, you can! Microsoft Word has a feature called “Track Changes” that lets you see what edits others have made. Just turn it on in the “Review” tab. It’s super helpful for working together on a project or when someone’s checking your work. You can choose to keep or remove the changes and even leave comments.
Yes, Word has a dictation feature that lets you use your voice to write and edit. You’ll find this option under the “Home” tab in the newer versions of Word. It’s perfect for when you want to type without using your hands, making your work go faster.
Reviewed by Huzaifa Haroon
