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How to Restore Missing AutoCorrect Entries and Quick Parts in Word
Question details
The user needs to recover custom AutoCorrect entries, AutoText, and Quick Parts that unexpectedly disappeared from their Office application.
- Product
- Microsoft Word (Office Home and Business 2019)
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- User discovers that customized text shortcuts and document building blocks are missing without having intentionally deleted them or maintained a manual backup.
- Observed behavior
- Custom AutoCorrect entries, AutoText, and Quick Parts are no longer available or functioning in the Word document interface.
Before attempting to restore template files, ensure that Microsoft Word and Outlook are completely closed, as running background processes will lock the Normal.dotm and building block files, preventing you from modifying them.
Locate and Restore Normal Template and Building Block Files
Since formatted AutoCorrect entries and AutoText are stored in Normal.dotm, and Quick Parts in Building Blocks.dotx, finding previous versions of these files can restore your missing data.
Microsoft Word relies on specific template files to store your customized settings. If these files are corrupted, overwritten, or locked, your Quick Parts and formatted AutoCorrect entries will appear missing.
Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog, type %appdata%\Microsoft\Templates, and press Enter.
Look for files named Backup of Normal.wbk, older dated copies of Normal.dotm, or previous versions of the template saved before the issue occurred.
Navigate to %appdata%\Microsoft\Document Building Blocks to find older versions of your Building Blocks.dotx file.
Rename the current empty templates (e.g., change Normal.dotm to Normal.dotm.old), then rename your identified backup file to match the standard file name (Normal.dotm or Building Blocks.dotx).
Experience Hassle-Free Document Editing with WPS Office
Tired of dealing with missing templates, lost AutoCorrect entries, and complex recovery steps? WPS Office offers a highly stable, lightweight, and completely free alternative to Microsoft Office. With seamless format compatibility, you can open, edit, and save your existing Word documents without losing any formatting.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download and install the free, lightweight suite.
- 2. Open Your Word Files: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing .docx files with perfect formatting compatibility.
- 3. Configure Auto-Text: Easily set up your preferred auto-text and text shortcuts in the WPS settings menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are my unformatted AutoCorrect entries saved?
Unformatted AutoCorrect entries are stored in language-specific .acl files, typically found in your AppData folder under Microsoft\Office. They are separate from your Normal template.
How can I prevent losing Quick Parts in the future?
To protect Quick Parts, consider saving them in a separate, dedicated global template rather than the default Building Blocks.dotx, and regularly copy your user templates folder to a secure backup drive.
Can a Windows or Office update cause templates to disappear?
Yes, sometimes major Office or Windows updates can reset default template files or load a temporary user profile, causing customized Normal.dotm and Building Blocks files to appear missing or get renamed.
