Template Issues

How to Set Autofit to Contents as a Default Word Table Option

Khadija Khan Sep 28, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user wants to configure 'Autofit to Contents' as the permanent default setting when converting text to tables in Microsoft Word.

How to Set Autofit to Contents as Default in Word Tables

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Converting standard text into a table format and needing the columns to automatically fit the text contents by default.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Word does not provide a built-in feature to save or customize the default settings within the Convert Text to Table dialog box.

Before you start

Because Microsoft Word does not have a native toggle to change this dialog default, you will need to prepare to save a custom document template (.dotx) or use a basic VBA macro as a workaround.

Solution 1Recommended

Use a Custom Word Template (.dotx)

Save a document with your preferred table settings and layouts as a reusable template to maintain consistency in future documents.

Since the Convert Text to Table dialog cannot be permanently altered, using a customized Word template is the most stable workaround. By setting up your table styles and saving the file as a template, all new documents generated from it will inherit those configurations.

Create a new document

Open a blank Microsoft Word document and insert a table, manually setting the Autofit to Contents behavior from the Table Layout tab.

Adjust default table styles

Right-click your table, select 'Table Properties', and ensure your preferred sizing and text wrapping settings are applied.

Save as a Word Template

Navigate to File > Save As. In the file format dropdown menu, select 'Word Template (*.dotx)' or 'Word Macro-Enabled Template (*.dotm)'. Name your file and click Save.

Use the template for new files

Whenever you need to create a document that requires these specific table settings, go to File > New > Personal (or Custom) and select your newly created template.

Consistent Formatting: Using custom templates not only helps with table layouts but also keeps your fonts, margins, and paragraph styles uniform across projects.

Solution 2

Apply Autofit Using a VBA Macro

Create a quick macro to automatically apply the 'Autofit to Contents' setting to tables after they are created.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Writer for Easier Table and Document Formatting

If you are frustrated by the limitations of customizing default dialogs in Microsoft Word, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, intuitive, and highly compatible word processing environment that makes formatting tables and managing document layouts completely hassle-free.

1. Download and Install WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download the free suite and follow the simple installation prompts.
2. Open your Word documents: Launch WPS Writer and seamlessly open your existing .docx or .dotx files with zero formatting loss.
3. Format tables with ease: Use the easily accessible Table Tools to adjust Autofit settings, borders, and shading with just a few clicks.

Completely free and lightweight office suiteFully compatible with Microsoft Word formats (.doc, .docx, .dotx)Intuitive user interface that makes table formatting and layout adjustments effortlessRich library of built-in templates to streamline your document creation

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I permanently change the default options in the Convert Text to Table dialog box?

No, Microsoft Word does not offer a built-in feature to permanently save or customize the default configurations inside the Convert Text to Table dialog.

What is a Word Template (.dotx)?

A Word template is a reusable document blueprint that saves your preferred styles, formatting, margins, and structural layouts, ensuring consistency across multiple files without the need to reset options manually every time.

How do I access the Convert Text to Table feature?

Highlight the text you want to convert, navigate to the Insert tab on the Ribbon, click the Table icon, and select 'Convert Text to Table' from the drop-down menu.

Document & File Issues