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MS Access 2007: Hide the Navigation Pane

This MSAccess tutorial explains how to hide the navigation pane in Access 2007 (with screenshots and step-by-step instructions).

Starting in Access 2007, the traditional database window has been replaced with a window on the left-hand-side called a Navigation Pane.

There are different ways that the Navigation Pane can be hidden in Access 2007. We'll go through the options from the easily method to the most difficult.

Method #1

This is the easiest and most common method of hiding the Navigation Pane.

Click on the Microsoft Access button in the top right corner of the Navigation Pane.

Microsoft Access

Now the Navigation Pane will look as follows:

Microsoft Access

With this method if a user chooses to display the Navigation Pane, it will remain visible even if the user closes down the database file and reopens it.

Method #2

Another way to hide the Navigation Pane is to change the startup options. So that every time that the database file is opened, the Navigation Pane will initially be hidden.

To hide the Navigation Pane using the startup options, click on the Microsoft Office button Microsoft Access in the top left of the Access window and then click on the Access Options button.

Microsoft Access

When the Access Options window appears, click on the "Current Database" option on the left. Then under the "Navigation" section, uncheck the "Display Navigation Pane" option. Then click on the OK button.

Microsoft Access