Greetings,

I make frequent use of shortcut keys, e.g., Ctrl + F, Ctrl + H.

When I apply Ctrl + F in MS Word 2016, the very annoying "Navigation" pane (or, as I prefer, "Navigation pain") shows up.

This does not happen when I apply Ctrl + H; instead, it pops up the familiar (and much more user-friendly) "Find" "Replace" Go To" interface that I have used for years.

When I want to find something in MS Word 2016, I have been using "Ctrl + H", then clicking on the "Find" tab.

How do I disable the "Navigation" pane permanently, so that when I select "Ctrl + F", this will pull up the "Find what:" box as in prior versions of MS Word?

Thanks for your time and attention.

I don't recommend you do this. The Navigation Pane is super useful. You should assign CtrlH to NavPane so you still have access to it. but here's how you do it.


To remove ctrlF from NavPaneSearch:
Options – Customize ribbon – keyboard shortcuts customize (button) – Categories pick home Tab – Commands pick NavPaneSearch – current keys click on Ctrl+F – hit remove button

To assign Ctrl+f to findReplace:
Options – Customize ribbon – keyboard shortcuts customize (button) – Categories pick home Tab – Commands pick EditReplace – put cursor in “press new shortcut key" and press Ctrl button and F button then hit the assign button

Thanks, I appreciate the help.

I have assigned a different shortcut key to the navigation pane so that I can access it if needed.