Whenever I click "open" to open a file in word, it goes to full screen, but not simply full screen - the top right only has the "x" to close the window, there is no option of minimizing or sizing. This happens even if I opened word not at full screen, any ideas?

What happens if you click on Close? If you are in full-screen view it should switch you to the view you normally use.

Clicking File | Open displays the so-called Backstage view. To see the standard Open dialog box, do the following: First click File | Options | Save and then select "Don't show the Backstage when opening or saving files." After that you can use keyboard shortcuts to display dialog boxes directly: Ctrl+O (for the Open dialog box) and F12 (for the Save As dialog).

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

It has been a while since I got rid of backstage for open and save, but I don't think that this is something that happens in Word 2010.

You're quite right, Charles. I just tested in Word 2010 and File | Open displays the Open dialog box. Apparently I was thinking of Word 2013...

Double-clicking the title bar of the Open dialog box is worth trying. It should then go back to a "restored" state.

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

I managed to make it smaller, I see the problem is a bit broader. When I click "open" in Word or try to attach a file in a gmail, for example, it does not give me the "tree" on the side, it has a totally different screen, with limited capability of accessing folders in that manner. It begins with "Libraries".
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What is missing exactly? Note that you should be able to use the Organize button on the top of the dialog box to choose what is shown and what isn't shown.

Attached Images

OpenDialogBox.PNG (88.9 KB, 18 views)

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

The entire "tree" is missing which lists all the files beginning with C: and D:, etc.

I am referring to the left side of the picture which you sent, I don't have it thus I have no access to files which begin at C:. The organize button does not exist.

OK, that is strange. Could you attach a screen shot so that we can see exactly how it looks?

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

Never mind - you are a genius, the "organize" button was there, I clicked on that, then "layout", then "navigation pane".

Thank you all for your concern.

I'm glad you were able to sort it in the end!

Thanks for the follow-up.

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional