Template Issues

How to Remove Large Red Circles from New Word Documents

Adam Davis Sep 30, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to remove large red circles that are automatically appearing whenever they create a new blank Word document.

How to Remove Large Red Circles from New Word Documents

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating a new blank document in Microsoft Word.
Observed behavior: Large red circles unexpectedly appear in every new Word document created, indicating that unwanted objects have been saved to the default template.

Before you start

Ensure that Microsoft Word is completely closed before attempting to locate and edit system template files, and consider backing up your current Normal.dotm file if you have custom macros or styles.

Solution 1Recommended

Edit the Normal.dotm Global Template directly

This is the most effective method because repairing Microsoft 365 does not overwrite user templates. By opening the global template file directly, you can delete the saved objects so they no longer replicate in new documents.

Unwanted graphics or text appearing in every new document usually means the Normal.dotm file (Word's default blank template) was accidentally modified and saved.

Locate the Templates folder

Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog. Type '%appdata%\Microsoft\Templates' and press Enter to directly open the folder containing your Word templates.

Open Normal.dotm in Word

Right-click the 'Normal.dotm' (or 'Normal') file and select 'Open'. Do not double-click it, as double-clicking only creates a new document based on the template rather than opening the template itself for editing.

Delete the unwanted objects

Once the template file is open, select the large red circles or any other unwanted shapes and press the Delete key on your keyboard.

Save and restart Word

Click the Save icon (or press Ctrl + S) to save the changes to Normal.dotm. Close Microsoft Word entirely, then open it again and create a new blank document to verify the issue is resolved.

Edit the Normal.dotm Global Template directly

Alternative Method: If you do not have any custom styles or macros you wish to keep, you can simply delete or rename the Normal.dotm file while Word is closed. Word will automatically generate a fresh, clean Normal.dotm file the next time it is launched.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do red circles or other objects appear in my new blank documents?

This happens because the shapes were accidentally drawn and saved into the Normal.dotm file, which is the global master template that Microsoft Word uses to generate all new blank documents.

Will repairing Microsoft Office fix template issues?

Usually not. A standard Microsoft 365 repair process is designed to fix application files, but it does not overwrite or remove user modifications made to the Normal.dotm template to prevent data loss.

What happens if I simply delete the Normal.dotm file?

If you delete or rename the Normal.dotm file, Microsoft Word will automatically generate a factory-default Normal.dotm file the next time it launches. This clears the unwanted objects, but you will also lose any custom styles, macros, or default font settings.

Document & File Issues