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How to Change the Default Personal Template Folder in Word
Question details
The user needs to configure the default directory for personal templates so custom .dotx files appear properly on the Word 'New' document screen.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Organizing and accessing custom Word templates (.dotx) from a designated local or external drive folder.
- Observed behavior
- Custom templates need to be made visible in the 'Personal' or 'Custom' area of the New screen without requiring registry modifications.
Ensure all your custom .dotx template files are gathered in the single target folder you intend to use, whether it is located on your local disk or a connected external drive.
Modify the Personal Templates Location in Word Options
This is the safest and most direct method to map your custom templates folder directly to the Word 'New' screen.
By adjusting the Word Save options, you can direct the application to load custom templates from a specific folder. This bypasses the default Microsoft Templates folder, which is primarily used for the Normal.dotm system template.
Open Microsoft Word, click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner, and select 'Options' from the bottom of the left-hand menu.
In the Word Options dialog box, click on the 'Save' category in the left sidebar.
Scroll down to find the 'Default personal templates location' field. Enter or paste the exact file path of the folder where your custom .dotx files are stored.
Click 'OK' to save the new settings. Close and restart Microsoft Word to ensure the changes take effect.
Go to 'File' > 'New' and click on the 'Personal' or 'Custom' tab. Your custom templates from the specified folder will now be displayed here.
Easily Manage Custom Templates with WPS Office Writer
WPS Office provides an incredibly user-friendly way to manage and access your custom document templates. You can easily save any document as a custom template and access it directly without digging through complex file path settings.
- 1. Open or Create Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document you wish to turn into a reusable template, or create a new design from scratch.
- 2. Save as a Custom Template: Click on 'Menu' in the top-left corner, select 'Save As', and choose 'WPS Writer Template (*.wpt)' or 'Word Template (*.dotx)' from the dropdown.
- 3. Access from the New Screen: To use your newly created template, open WPS Office, click 'New', and select your saved template directly from your local templates list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why aren't my custom templates showing up in Word's New screen?
Word generally does not display templates stored in the default User templates folder unless it is explicitly designated as the personal templates location. Ensure your 'Default personal templates location' under File > Options > Save points exactly to the folder holding your .dotx files.
Should I move the Normal.dotm file to my custom templates folder?
No, it is highly recommended to leave the Normal.dotm file in its default directory. Moving it can cause unexpected behavior with Word's default blank document formatting and global macros.
Can I store my personal Word templates on an external hard drive?
Yes, you can set the Default personal templates location to a folder on a connected external drive. Just remember that the external drive must be connected to your computer whenever you attempt to access those templates from the 'New' screen.
What is the Workgroup Templates folder used for?
The Workgroup Templates folder is typically used in corporate environments to store standardized templates shared across a network. Home users usually rely on the Default personal templates location instead.
