Always Starting with a Blank Document

by Allen Wyatt
(last updated December 31, 2016)

6

When Steven opens Word, he sees a number of choices for either creating a blank document or using various templates as a basis for a new document. He always chooses to create a blank document. He wonders of there is a way to skip this opening palette of choices and simply go to a blank document from the get-go.

The behavior that Steven describes is specific to both Word 2013 and Word 2016. Microsoft calls this new "feature" the Start screen, and you can fortunately control whether it is displayed or not.

  1. Display the File tab of the ribbon.
  2. Click the Options button. Word displays the Word Options dialog box.
  3. At the left side of the dialog box, make sure General is selected. (It should be selected by default.)
  4. Scroll down, if necessary, until you see the Start Up Options section. (See Figure 1.)

    5. Figure 1. The General options of the Word Options dialog box.

  5. Clear the Show Start Screen when this Application Starts check box.
  6. Click on OK.

Now, the next time you start Word, you won't be shown the Start screen. Instead, you'll see a blank document, the same as in earlier versions of Word.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (8433) applies to Microsoft Word 2013 and 2016.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Deleting a View

When you no longer need a view, you can get rid of it by deleting it. Deleting unnecessary views is a good idea because ...

Discover More

Deleting a Printer

When you get rid of an old printer and install a new one, you'll want to get rid of the old printer definition maintained ...

Discover More

Disabling Dragging and Dropping

Excel allows you to easily paste information into a worksheet, including through simply dragging and dropping the ...

Discover More

Do More in Less Time! Are you ready to harness the full power of Word 2013 to create professional documents? In this comprehensive guide you'll learn the skills and techniques for efficiently building the documents you need for your professional and your personal life. Check out Word 2013 In Depth today!

More WordTips (ribbon)

Automatically Updating Fields and Links

You can update fields and links automatically when you print your document, but what if you want them updated when you ...

Discover More

Displaying a Single Page

When displaying the information in your document, Word is rather flexible. It can, if you so choose, display multiple ...

Discover More

Controlling How Documents Stack when Opened

When you open multiple documents, Windows cascades the document windows on your desktop. If you want the windows to be ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 9 + 9?

2018-11-09 04:06:56

deku

For me better tip is open Word without any document:
Create shortcut like this:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\WINWORD.EXE" /n

Regards

2017-01-06 15:31:47

MelissaS

Thank you! Never thought about it, but it is annoying! Same steps work for Excel, etc.

2017-01-03 21:04:09

Glenda Mattes

I have MS Word 2013. I do not get the option to "Show start screen when this application starts." What is wrong?

2017-01-03 12:59:37

Peter Buxton

Thanks Allen.
That removes all the never-used featured templates on startup, and means I start with my preferred formatting and a usable Style Gallery. What I would like though is that when I click File>New, Word defaults to the PERSONAL tab rather than FEATURED.
Can this be done?
Thanks.

2017-01-02 08:49:21

Lucas Hutton

I'd like to add a paragraph for people (like me) who use Word for Mac. In Word 2016 for Mac, click Word on the toolbar, then Preferences ... . Then, in Word Preferences —> Authoring and Proofing Tools, click General. In Settings, uncheck the box for "Show Word Document Gallery when opening Word."

2016-12-31 08:25:09

Hal

Thank you thank you thank you!

This Site

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.

Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.

Links and Sharing
OUR COMPANY
OUR PRODUCTS
OUR AUTHORS
OUR SITES
 

Copyright © 2018 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.