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Oct 25, 2015 - I am really becoming frustrated that I can't change the default font, font size and view percentage when I open a new Word document. In every version of Office of Mac prior to 2016 this file could easily be modified, but now I can't even find it. Where is Normal.dot located in. In the lower-right area of the drop-down box, click Word Options. In the Word Options page, click Advanced in the left menu. Use the scroll bar to scroll down to the Save section. In the Save section, click to clear the Prompt before saving Normal template check box.
- 1 Delete a Write-Protected File
- 2 Disable Auto Hide in the Start Menu
- 3 Recover Unsaved Office Word Documents in 2007
- 4 Change the Default Open View in MS Word
In Microsoft Word, you can customize the default document that opens when you open the program by editing the normal template -- called Normal.dotm -- file. This file contains the default styles and customizations for the document and helps you save valuable time each time you create a new business document. 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. It's easy to forget the default settings, so editing the custom template manually is not an option.
1.Close Microsoft Word 2010. You can't edit or remove the normal.dotm file while Word is running.
![For For](/uploads/1/2/5/8/125846049/101825979.jpg)
Press 'Windows-X' to open the power user menu -- also known as the Windows tools menu -- and choose 'Run' from the menu to open the Run utility.
3.Type or paste '%systemdrive%users%username%' without the quotes into the Run box and press 'Enter' to open your user folder in the File Explorer.
4.Click 'File' and choose 'Change folder and search options' from the menu to open the Folder Options window.
5.Click the 'View' tab, and then disable the 'Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)' option. Click 'Apply,' and then click 'OK.' Disabling this option enables you to view hidden files and folders, such as the AppData folder.
6.Double-click the now-visible 'AppData' folder to open it and then open the 'MicrosoftTemplates' folder.
7.Locate the 'normal.dotm' file inside the Templates folder, select it, hold 'Shift' and press 'Delete.' Click 'Yes' to permanently delete the normal template file.
8.Launch Microsoft Word to create a new, default normal template.
Tip
- You can rename the 'normal.dotm' file if you don't want to delete it. You can, for example, name it 'normalOld.dotm'.
Warning
- Deleting the custom normal.dotm file removes all your custom settings and styles; the default normal template replaces the custom one when you launch Word.
References (2)
Choose Citation Style
Kaufman, Lori. 'How to Restore MS Office Normal Template.' Small Business - Chron.com, http://smallbusiness.chron.com/restore-ms-office-normal-template-63456.html. Accessed 25 October 2019.
Kaufman, Lori. (n.d.). How to Restore MS Office Normal Template. Small Business - Chron.com. Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/restore-ms-office-normal-template-63456.html
Kaufman, Lori. 'How to Restore MS Office Normal Template' accessed October 25, 2019. http://smallbusiness.chron.com/restore-ms-office-normal-template-63456.html
![Normal Normal](/uploads/1/2/5/8/125846049/853052420.jpg)
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Perhaps you’ve suspected that Word 2011 must have a special template somewhere that you can use as a default when you create that seemingly plain, blank document. Well, you’re right; this special template is Normal.dotm, and it has all the settings that control what you see when you create a new, blank Word document in Office 2011 for Mac.
The special file Normal.dotm is the template that Word uses to create new documents when you choose File→New Blank Document from the menu bar or open a new, blank document from the Word Document Gallery. As you work, things such as toolbars, AutoText, and certain preferences can be saved into Normal.dotm.
To make a pristine Normal template, locate the file by choosing Word→Preferences→File Locations→User Templates→Location from the menu bar. Then quit Word. Then rename or delete the existing Normal.dotm file. The next time Word opens, it creates a new Normal.dotm file based on default settings.
You can overwrite the Normal.dotm template to use as Word’s default for new documents. Before starting the procedure, make a copy of the existing Normal.dotm file. You also need to know where the Normal template is located. You can find (and modify) the Normal template by choosing Word→Preferences→File Locations→User Templates→Location from the menu bar. When you know where Normal is, take these steps:
- From the menu bar in Word, choose File→Open.
- Switch the Enable pop-up menu to Word Templates.
- Navigate to Normal.dotm and open the file.
- Make the modifications you desire.
- Choose File→Save from the menu bar, click the Save button, or close the window and choose Save when prompted.Any new documents you make from then on will be based on the modified Normal.dotm template you saved.
After customizing, make a copy of your new Normal template in case you decide subsequent changes to Normal are not desired. If you want to create an official default template for your organization, create a custom Normal template and distribute it.
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