Disable "pick up where you left off"

On the same track I deleted all the subkeys under 'Reading Locations' and then made the 'Reading Locations' key read-only to everyone.

This has stopped Word writing to the key and I no longer get the message when I re-open a document.

Thank You! Thank You! Word now works properly again.

As others here have ranted, this new "feature" is yet another Microsoft UI FAIL!

I spend all day, every day, editing many different Word documents. I usually have to open every document twice because I get in a hurry and start immediately with "Control-F abcd" before I realize that Word isn't listening; it's just typing garbage, polluting my document. Since I have no idea how badly damaged it is, I simply close it with No Save and start over again, waiting for Word to catch up. Even on a very fast PC it takes several seconds, losing many keystrokes .

[RANT]

The following is utter Microsoft arrogance.

"The Resume reading feature in Word allows reopening a document and keeps reading right where you left off. Word automatically bookmarks the last place you were reading. The feature is built-in and currently there is no option to disable."

I depend on Microsoft Office. But the newest versions (e.g., Outlook) have let me down in so many ways, simply because they are ignoring (violating!) their own 22-year-old UI Design Guidelines Reference Manual. This new version of Word is just one more insult.[/RANT]

When one re-opens a Word 2013 document a Welcome Back! Message appears in the right margin of the document inviting one to resume reading where one left off.  Until it times out the feature prevents one from doing anything with the document.  I usually hit Ctrl+F as soon as I open a document to bring up the Find box.  Having to wait until the Welcome Back! Message disappears is irritating.  There is no option in Word to disable the feature.  One must modify a registry key.  The instructions below describe how to edit the registry and make the required changes.  I am running Windows 2007 64-bit and Office 2013 Professional Plus 64-bit.

1. On the keyboard depress Windows key+R.  Type regedit in the Open: field.  Click OK.  The registry editor appears.
2. Scroll to HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Word. Backup the Word registry key:
   1. Right click “Word.”
   2. Click Export.
   3. The Export Registry File panel appears.
   4. Enter a name for the backup file, e.g. “Word_bkp” and click Save. The Registry Editor reappears.
3. Scroll to and expand HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Word\Reading Locations.  “Document <n>” subkeys are the bookmarks for each document you have opened.  Under Reading Locations right click on the first “Document <n>” subkey and click DeleteThe Confirm Key Delete panel appears.
4. Click Yes.  The Registry Editor reappears showing the first Document subkey is deleted.
5. Repeat the procedure in steps 3 and 4 to delete all the “Document <n>” subkeys beneath Reading Locations. The Registry Editor reappears showing all Document subkeys are deleted.
6. Change permissions of Reading Locations to prevent creation of new Document subkeys.  Right click Reading Locations, Permissions. The Permissions for Reading Locations panel appears.
   1. In the “Group or user names” box select your account.  Click Advanced. The Advanced Security Settings for Reading Locations panel appears with your account name selected.
   2. Click Edit…. The Permission Entry for Reading Locations panel appears.
   3. In the Deny column check Create Subkey and click OK.  The Advanced Security Settings for Reading Locations panel appears with a new line showing your account cannot create a subkey under Reading Locations.
   4. Click OK. The Windows Security panel appears with a warning.
   5. Click Yes The Permissions for Reading Locations panel reappears.
   6. Click OK.  The Registry Editor reappears.
7. Close the Registry Editor.
8. If you encounter a problem you may restore the Word registry key by clicking “Word_bkp.reg” and following the instructions.

You can turn off the feature in the Advanced Options.  Under the "Editing Options", unselect "Keep Track of Formatting".  That will disable the feature until you choose to turn it back on.