Template Issues

How to Save Word Building Blocks on Multiple Computers

John Wilson Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to access and use their custom Word Building Blocks across different computers without losing their saved shortcuts.

How to Save Word Building Blocks on Multiple Computers

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating custom Building Blocks on one machine and needing them to be available when working on a secondary computer.
Observed behavior: Building blocks saved by default in the local Normal template do not sync, causing custom shortcuts to disappear when switching to another computer.

Before you start

Make sure you have access to a USB flash drive or cloud storage to transfer your custom template file between computers.

Solution 1Recommended

Create and Transfer a Custom Word Template

Save your Building Blocks to a dedicated custom .dotx template instead of the default Normal template, then move this file to the Startup folder on your other computers.

Because Word stores Building Blocks locally in the Normal template, you must create a dedicated template file to make them portable. By placing this custom template into Word's Startup folder on any computer, your saved Building Blocks will automatically load alongside the program.

Create a Custom Template

Open Microsoft Word, go to 'File' > 'Save As' > 'Browse', and choose 'Word Template (*.dotx)' as the file type. Save it with a recognizable name.

Save Building Blocks to the New Template

Keep the new template open. When you create and save a new Building Block (Quick Part), click the 'Save in' dropdown menu and select your custom template instead of Normal.dotm.

Copy the Template to the New Computer

Locate the saved .dotx file on your computer and copy it to a portable USB drive or your cloud storage, then transfer it to your second computer.

Place in the Word Startup Folder

On the second computer, paste the .dotx file into Word's Startup folder. This requires Word 2013 or later to load automatically when Word opens.

Create and Transfer a Custom Word Template

Organization Restrictions: If you are using a workplace computer, your organization's IT policies may have locked the Normal template or prevent you from permanently adding files to Word's Startup folder.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my Word Building Blocks disappear on a new computer?

By default, Building Blocks are saved in your local 'Normal.dotm' template or a specific 'Building Blocks.dotx' file on your hard drive. If you don't manually transfer these template files to the new computer, your saved snippets will not be available.

Where is the Word Startup folder located?

The default Word Startup folder on Windows is typically located at 'C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\STARTUP'. You must place your custom template here for it to load automatically when you launch the application.

Can I share Building Blocks without using the Startup folder?

Yes, you can simply share the custom .dotx template file. Any user who opens that specific template or creates a new document based directly on it will have access to the Building Blocks stored within.

Why can't I save files to the Startup folder on my work laptop?

If you are on a company or school computer, IT administrators often restrict permissions to system and application folders (like the Startup folder) to prevent malware. You may need administrative rights or IT assistance to place files there.

Document & File Issues