Template Issues

How to Stop the Word Styles Pane from Opening Automatically with a Template

Khadija Khan Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to prevent the Styles pane in Microsoft Word from opening automatically when working with a specific template.

How to Stop the Word Styles Pane from Opening with a Template

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Opening a document based on a customized template or opening the template file directly.
Observed behavior: The Styles pane automatically opens on the side of the screen, taking up valuable workspace and requiring manual closure every time.

Before you start

Before proceeding, check if the Styles pane appears with all documents or only with a specific template, as this will help determine whether the cause is Word's saved window state or a macro embedded in the template file.

Solution 1Recommended

Create a New Document and Reset Window State

Ensure you are using the template correctly to create new documents, and clear Word's saved window state by manually closing the pane before exiting.

Microsoft Word often remembers the layout of the task panes from the last time the application was closed. If a template was saved while the Styles pane was open, Word might try to restore that state.

Additionally, opening a template file directly for editing behaves differently than generating a new document from it.

Create Document from Template

Instead of double-clicking the template file (.dotx or .dotm), open Microsoft Word, navigate to File > New, and select your customized template from the list of personal or custom templates.

Close the Styles Pane

Once the document is open and the Styles pane appears, click the 'X' in the top right corner of the Styles pane to manually close it.

Save the Window State

Close the current document and exit Microsoft Word completely. Restart Word and create another document from the template to verify the Styles pane remains closed.

Create a New Document and Reset Window State

Tip: Always create a new document from a template rather than opening the template file directly, to avoid unintentionally modifying the base template.

Solution 2

Add a VBA Macro to Hide the Styles Pane

If the template stubbornly opens the pane, you can force it closed automatically using a simple AutoNew or AutoOpen VBA macro.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the Styles pane keep opening by default in Word?

Word generally remembers the last window state from when it was previously closed. If the application or template was last saved with the Styles pane open, Word restores that layout. Alternatively, the specific template might contain an embedded macro triggering the pane to open.

What is the difference between opening a template and creating a document from it?

Opening a template (.dotx) allows you to edit the structural foundation and default styles of the template file itself. Creating a document from it generates a fresh, unsaved .docx file that inherits the template's properties without altering the original file.

Will saving the document permanently prevent the Styles pane from opening?

Saving the document alone does not update Word's workspace memory. You must manually close the Styles pane and then completely close the Microsoft Word application to overwrite the saved layout settings for future sessions.

Document & File Issues