VBA & Macro Problems

How to Fix Word Macros Not Working or Missing from Normal.dotm

Maira Mehtab Oct 9, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users are unable to run or edit custom macros because they are missing or unresponsive, usually due to issues with the Normal.dotm template.

How to Fix Word Macros Not Working or Missing from Normal.dotm

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to execute or modify custom VBA macros after a template corruption, unexpected crash, or software update.
Observed behavior: Macros may appear in the Macro dialog box but fail to run or open in the VBA editor, or custom macros are completely missing from the application.

Before you start

Ensure you close Microsoft Word completely before modifying, renaming, or replacing any core template files like Normal.dotm.

Solution 1Recommended

Restore Normal.dotm from Backup and Configure Trusted Locations

Use this solution if you have a backup of your Normal.dotm file containing your VBA project to restore full macro functionality.

Reinstalling Microsoft Word will not restore your custom macros. Your macros are stored inside the Normal.dotm file, so recovering them requires a valid backup of this specific template.

To ensure Word allows these macros to run, the startup folder containing your template must also be configured as a Trusted Location in your security settings.

Rename the damaged template

Press Windows Key + R, type '%appdata%\Microsoft\Templates', and press Enter. Locate 'Normal.dotm', right-click it, and rename it to 'Normal.old'.

Place the backup template

Copy your backup 'Normal.dotm' file (which contains your VBA project) and paste it into Word's Startup folder.

Trust the startup folder

Open Microsoft Word. Go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Trusted Locations. Ensure that the Startup folder where you placed the backup is listed and checked.

Verify Macro Security settings

In the Trust Center Settings window, click on 'Macro Settings'. Ensure that macro execution is permitted for your trusted locations.

Restore Normal.dotm from Backup and Configure Trusted Locations

VBA Project Requirement: If your backup Normal.dotm file does not actually contain the VBA project, the original macros cannot be recovered. In this case, you will have to recreate them.

Solution 2

Generate a Fresh Normal.dotm Template

Use this solution if you do not have a backup and need to fix Word so you can start creating new, functional macros.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Word macros visible but not running?

This usually happens when the macro security settings are too restrictive, the template folder is not designated as a Trusted Location, or the Normal.dotm template containing the VBA project is corrupted.

Will reinstalling Microsoft Word restore my custom macros?

No, reinstalling Word only resets the application files. Custom VBA macros are stored locally in your Normal.dotm template and can only be restored if you have a previously saved backup of that file.

Where is the Normal.dotm file located on my computer?

By default on Windows, the Normal.dotm file is located in the AppData directory. You can find it by navigating to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates.

How do I enable macros in Word's Trust Center?

Open Word, go to File > Options > Trust Center, and click 'Trust Center Settings'. Under 'Macro Settings', you can adjust your macro execution permissions or set up Trusted Locations for your macro folders.

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