Template Issues

How to Set a Default Footer in New Word and Excel Documents

Steve K Oct 16, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to automatically apply a default footer, such as a file path or specific text, whenever creating a new Word document or Excel workbook.

How to Set a Default Footer in New Word and Excel Documents

Product: Microsoft Word and Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating new documents or workbooks where standard footer information needs to be present automatically without manual insertion.
Observed behavior: New documents and workbooks currently start blank without custom footers, requiring the user to manually insert the footer each time.

Before you start

Ensure you have the exact text, file path, or image you want to use as your default footer ready, and take a moment to locate your system's XLStart folder for saving Excel templates.

Solution 1Recommended

Set a Default Footer in Excel using Book.xltx

Save a formatted template in the XLStart folder so Excel uses it as the default base for all new blank workbooks.

Create a new workbook

Open Excel and create a blank workbook.

Insert the footer

Go to the 'Insert' tab, select 'Header & Footer', and add your desired custom footer text or file path.

Save as a template

Click 'File' > 'Save As' and select 'Excel Template (*.xltx)' from the file format dropdown menu.

Name the file

Name the file exactly 'book.xltx'. This specific name tells Excel to use it as the default template.

Save to the XLStart folder

Save this file into your system's 'XLStart' folder, which is typically located at C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\XLStart.

Set a Default Footer in Excel using Book.xltx

Finding the XLStart Folder: If you cannot find the XLStart folder manually, you can open Excel, go to 'Trust Center' > 'Trust Center Settings' > 'Trusted Locations' to find the exact path for your system.

Solution 2

Create a Custom Template with a Default Footer in Word

Create a specific Word template for documents requiring the footer instead of modifying the global Normal template.

Easily Manage Templates and Footers with WPS Office

WPS Office allows you to create, save, and manage custom templates for both Writer (Word) and Spreadsheets (Excel) with incredible ease. You can effortlessly set default footers for your daily documents while enjoying a lightweight and familiar interface.

1. Open a new file: Open WPS Writer or WPS Spreadsheet and create a new blank file.
2. Insert your footer: Go to the 'Insert' tab and click 'Header and Footer' to add your custom text or file path.
3. Save as a template: Click 'Menu' > 'Save As' and select the WPS Template format (.wpt for Writer or .ett for Spreadsheets).
4. Use for future documents: Whenever you need a new file with this footer layout, simply select your saved template from the 'New' tab.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) and Excel (.xlsx) formats.Intuitive Header and Footer insertion for documents and spreadsheets.Easily save customized files as standard templates for future use.Free, lightweight, and fast alternative to heavy office suites.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why shouldn't I add a footer to the Normal.dotm template in Word?

Modifying the Normal.dotm template affects every single new document generated by Word. If you add a footer here, it will automatically appear on labels, envelopes, and other specialized document types where a footer is unwanted and may break the layout.

Where is the XLStart folder located on Windows?

The XLStart folder is typically found at C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\XLStart. Any workbook named 'book.xltx' placed in this folder will serve as the default layout when creating a new workbook in Excel.

How do I quickly access my new Word template?

Instead of modifying the Normal template, you can save your custom template and pin it to the Word taskbar icon. Alternatively, you can add a 'New Document or Template' shortcut to your Quick Access Toolbar via Word's settings.

Document & File Issues