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Reset the normal template; Normal.dotm (Word for Windows)

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This process resets your presets for all documents created in Word.

Sometimes Microsoft Word may not work properly due to user modifications or changes made by other programs. In these cases, the easiest way to restore Word functionality is to reset it to the factory default settings. If you want to revert to the default document created by Word when you first installed the program, you need to restore the default normal template.

Newer versions of Word

  1. On the File tab, click Open.
  2. Go to C:\Users\user name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates.
  3. Open the Normal template (Normal.dotm).
  4. Make any changes that you want to the fonts, margins, spacing, and other settings. You can use the same commands and features that you use to change a document — but remember that any changes that you make to Normal.dotm will be applied to documents that you create in the future.
  5. When you have finished, click the File tab, and then click Save.

Note!

If Normal.dotm is renamed, damaged, or moved, Word automatically creates a new version (which uses the original default settings) the next time you start Word. The new version will not include any of the customizations that you made to the version that you renamed or moved.

Word 2007

  1. Click the Microsoft Office Button Office button image, and then click Open.
  2. Do one of the following:
    1. In Windows Vista:
      Click Templates, and then double-click the Normal.dotm file to open it.
    2. In Microsoft Windows XP or Microsoft Windows Server 2003:
      Click Templates next to File name.
      If no templates are listed in the Open dialog box, click the arrow next to the Files of type box, and then click All Word Templates.
  3. Open the Normal template. To ensure that you're working in the default template, check that Normal.dotm appears in the Word title bar.
  4. Make any changes that you want to the fonts, margins, spacing, and other settings. You can use the same commands and features that you use to change a document — but remember that any changes that you make to Normal.dotm will be applied to documents that you create in the future.
  5. When you have finished, click the Microsoft Office Button Office button image, and then click Save.

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