How to Find Chicago and Turabian Templates in Microsoft Word
Question details
The user needs to locate and apply Chicago or Turabian formatting templates within Microsoft Word, which may not be immediately visible in the template gallery.

- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Formatting an academic paper or research document according to Chicago or Turabian style guidelines.
- Observed behavior
- The expected Chicago and Turabian templates are missing from the Word template gallery due to offline status, account restrictions, or language settings.
Ensure your device is connected to the internet and that Microsoft Word's privacy settings are configured to allow online connected experiences, as these templates must be downloaded from the online gallery.
Search for Templates in Word's Online Gallery
Use the built-in search feature in Microsoft Word to browse and download academic templates directly from Microsoft's online repository.
Microsoft Word provides thousands of templates through its online gallery, but they are not all saved to your computer by default. You need to search for them explicitly.
Launch Microsoft Word and click on 'File' in the top-left corner, then select 'New' to access the template gallery.
In the 'Search for online templates' box at the top of the page, type 'Chicago' or 'Turabian' and press Enter.
Browse the search results, click on the desired academic template to preview it, and click 'Create' to download and open it.

Download an Institution-Approved Template
If the default Word templates are unavailable or do not meet your professor's exact requirements, download a trusted template from an academic institution.
Write and Format Academic Papers Easily with WPS Office
If you are having trouble with Microsoft Word's template gallery or need a reliable writing tool, try WPS Office. It is a highly compatible, lightweight, and completely free alternative that seamlessly handles all .docx formatting, making academic writing a breeze.
- 1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS website to download the free WPS Office suite and complete the quick installation process.
- 2. Open Your Academic Template: Launch WPS Writer and open any downloaded Chicago or Turabian .docx template.
- 3. Edit and Export: Write your paper using the familiar ribbon interface, and save or export your document directly as a Word file or PDF for submission.

Frequently Asked Questions
Why aren't Chicago or Turabian templates showing up in my Word search?
They may not appear if you are offline, if your Office privacy settings have disabled online connected experiences, or if your specific Office language settings limit the available templates.
How do I enable online templates in Microsoft Word?
Go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Privacy Options > Privacy Settings. Ensure that the option to enable 'optional connected experiences' is checked, then restart Word.
Is Turabian style exactly the same as Chicago style?
Turabian is a slightly simplified version of the Chicago Manual of Style designed specifically for students and researchers writing academic papers. A Chicago template will often cover Turabian requirements, but always verify specific margin and citation rules with your instructor.




