Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated March 8, 2023)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
Lou has a Word document that she would like to open automatically when she starts up her computer and was wondering if that was even possible to do.
Actually, it is relatively easy to do. When you start your computer, one of the things that Windows does is to open all the files contained in your system's Startup folder. If it is a program contained in the folder, then the program is run. If it is a document (such as a Word document), then the document is opened, which also means that Word is started.
In order to have Windows start Word and open a particular document upon booting, follow these general steps:
It requires a bit more work to find the Startup folder in Windows 8 and Windows 10. It is important to note there are actually two Startup Folder locations in newer versions of Windows, one that applies to All Users accounts, and one that is unique to the Current User account. These two folders work together when determining which applications will launch when a user logs in. You can navigate to both of the Startup folders via File Explorer or navigate directly to the startup folders via the Run dialog box. Follow these steps to easily access the startup folders in Windows 8 and Windows 10:
That's it. From now on, whenever you start your computer, the document will be opened automatically.
There is one caution to doing this, however: If Word has problems opening due to a corrupt Normal.dot file, corrupt printer driver, or corrupt document, it is possible that by making the document a part of your system startup, you could make your system unstable. It may be a better idea to paste the shortcut on your desktop, instead of in your Startup folder. Then, after starting Windows, it only takes a double-click to open the document.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (8301) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Opening a Word Document when Starting the Computer.
Learning Made Easy! Quickly teach yourself how to format, publish, and share your content using Word 2021 or Microsoft 365. With Step by Step, you set the pace, building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them! Check out Microsoft Word Step by Step today!
f you don't want Word to store documents using its default document format, it is an easy task to specify a different ...
Discover MoreThink you might have a corrupt document? There is no easy way to tell if this is the case, but there are some things you ...
Discover MoreIf you work with a lot of documents at the same time, it can be difficult to remember the folder in which any given ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2023-03-15 12:10:06
Jane Lawson
I tried this for an Excel document, but the principle is the same. This only works on start-ups after a full shut downs. If something such as hibernate is used, the file that is opened is the result of a saved version at the time of previous full shut down. The most recently saved version is still available – just dismiss the start-up version (click the “x” in the upper right of the window) and open the file directly through File Explorer.
2021-01-21 11:40:30
Seems like this doesn't work anymore in win.10. Any advice on this?
Got a version of Word that uses the ribbon interface (Word 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the menu interface.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments