How to Remove the 'Review in Progress' Watermark from Word Documents
Question details
The user needs to permanently delete a 'Review in progress' watermark that automatically embeds itself into all new and existing Word documents and returns upon reopening.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Creating new documents or opening existing files in Microsoft Word.
- Observed behavior
- A 'Review in progress' watermark consistently appears across documents, likely due to being incorrectly saved within the Normal.dotm default template or another custom template file.
Before attempting to locate, modify, or delete your template files, ensure that all open Microsoft Word documents and application windows are completely closed.
Reset or Edit the Normal.dotm Template File
Resetting the default template removes any custom formatting, text, or watermarks that were accidentally saved as the baseline for all new documents.
Because the watermark appears in every new document, it is highly likely that it has been inadvertently saved into Word's default template file, known as Normal.dotm. Forcing Word to recreate this file will clear the persistent watermark.
Launch Microsoft Word. Click on 'File' in the top-left corner, select 'Options', and then navigate to the 'Advanced' tab. Scroll down to the 'General' section and click on the 'File Locations' button.
In the File Locations dialog box, look for the 'User Templates' entry in the list. Note the file path provided, or select it and click 'Modify' to easily view and copy the exact folder path to your clipboard.
Close Microsoft Word completely. Open Windows File Explorer and navigate to the User Templates folder path you just found. Locate the file named 'Normal.dotm', right-click it, and select 'Rename' (e.g., to NormalOld.dotm) or 'Delete'.
Open Microsoft Word again and create a blank document. Word will automatically generate a fresh, clean Normal.dotm template, and the 'Review in progress' watermark should no longer appear.
Use Word Safe Mode to Identify Add-in Conflicts
Running Word in Safe Mode helps determine if a third-party add-in or a secondary custom template is actively forcing the watermark onto your documents.
Try WPS Office for a Clean, Glitch-Free Document Experience
If you are tired of troubleshooting persistent template errors and watermark glitches in Microsoft Word, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and free alternative with intuitive document management and zero hidden template corruption.
- 1. Download and Install: Get the free WPS Office suite from the official website and install it on your device in seconds.
- 2. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing .docx files directly, without worrying about corrupted Office templates.
- 3. Enjoy Clean Editing: Create new files or edit existing ones in a clean, watermark-free environment natively optimized for smooth performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the 'Review in Progress' watermark keep returning after I delete it?
This usually happens when a watermark is inadvertently added and saved directly to the Normal.dotm file. Because this file acts as the baseline blueprint for all new documents in Microsoft Word, every newly created file copies this blueprint, including the unwanted watermark.
Will I lose my saved documents if I delete the Normal.dotm file?
No. Deleting or renaming the Normal.dotm file only resets the default settings and layouts for newly created blank documents. Your previously saved files and their contents will remain completely unaffected.
How can I check if a different custom template is causing the issue?
If you frequently use downloaded or custom templates for specific document types, check the 'User Templates' folder. Open those specific template files (.dotx or .dotm) directly in Word, delete the watermark manually using the Design > Watermark menu, and then save the changes.
