How to Save and Export Custom Keyboard Shortcuts in Word
Question details
The user wants to export and save custom keyboard shortcuts using a configuration file to avoid setting them individually across different devices.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to export Office customizations (like shortcuts) to transfer them to another device or backup without changing the UI language.
- Observed behavior
- ExportedUI files do not include custom keyboard shortcuts, as they only save Ribbon and Quick Access Toolbar settings. Shortcuts are typically tied to Normal.dotm and can be language-specific.
Before attempting to migrate shortcuts, note your current Office display language, as many keyboard shortcuts are language-specific and may behave differently if transferred to an environment with a different system language.
Save Keyboard Shortcuts in a Custom Global Template
Instead of relying on an exportedUI file or the default Normal.dotm template, create a dedicated custom template (.dotm) to store your customized keyboard shortcuts for easy transfer.
Microsoft Office does not store keyboard shortcuts in the .exportedUI customization file. That file is strictly for Ribbon and Quick Access Toolbar layouts. To successfully backup and port your custom shortcuts, you must save them into a specific Macro-Enabled Template.
Open Word, create a blank document, and navigate to 'File' > 'Save As'. Choose 'Word Macro-Enabled Template (*.dotm)' from the dropdown and save it with a recognizable name, such as 'CustomShortcuts.dotm'.
Go to 'File' > 'Options' > 'Customize Ribbon'. At the bottom of this window, locate the 'Keyboard shortcuts' label and click the 'Customize' button next to it.
In the Customize Keyboard dialog box, look for the 'Save changes in' dropdown menu at the bottom right. Change this from 'Normal.dotm' to your newly created 'CustomShortcuts.dotm'.
Select the commands you want to modify, press your desired new shortcut key, and click 'Assign'. Once finished, close the dialog and save your .dotm file.
To use these shortcuts on a different computer, copy the 'CustomShortcuts.dotm' file into the Word Startup folder on the target machine (usually located at %appdata%\Microsoft\Word\STARTUP). Word will load these shortcuts automatically when launched.
Customize Shortcuts Easily with WPS Office
If managing complex template files like Normal.dotm and hidden Startup folders feels tedious, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides an incredibly intuitive interface for customizing your workspace and offers excellent compatibility with all Microsoft Office file formats.
- 1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS Office website to download and install the free suite on your computer.
- 2. Open Settings: Launch WPS Writer, click the 'Menu' button in the top left corner, and select 'Options'.
- 3. Customize Shortcuts Easily: Navigate to the 'Customize Ribbon' or 'Keyboard' section to quickly assign or modify your personal shortcuts in a user-friendly interface.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why aren't my custom shortcuts saved in the .exportedUI file?
The .exportedUI file in Microsoft Office is designed exclusively to store the visual layouts and button arrangements of the Ribbon and the Quick Access Toolbar. Keyboard configurations are handled by the template engine and are saved within template files like Normal.dotm.
Are Office keyboard shortcuts specific to my display language?
Yes, many default Microsoft Office keyboard shortcuts are tied to the active display language and keyboard layout of your system. A custom shortcut that works perfectly on an English interface might conflict with default commands or fail to trigger on a Greek or other language interface.
Where are default Word keyboard shortcuts stored by default?
Unless manually specified otherwise, Microsoft Word saves all customized keyboard shortcuts to the Normal.dotm global template file. Modifying this file directly is often discouraged because it can be easily overwritten during troubleshooting or Office updates.
