Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Automatically Saving Changes to Defaults.
Many of Word's configuration settings are stored in the Normal template. This template is used to help create new, blank documents and to define some of the system-wide settings used by Word. As you make changes to these settings, Word marks the Normal template as "dirty" so that it will be saved when you exit the program.
By default, Word saves the Normal template without any notification to you. However, you may want notification. Why? In case there were some changes done without your explicit action—for instance, by running a macro. If you want Word to notify you when it is about to save the Normal template, follow these steps:
Figure 1. The advanced options in the Word Options dialog box.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (8437) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, and 2013. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Automatically Saving Changes to Defaults.
Comprehensive VBA Guide Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is the language used for writing macros in all Office programs. This complete guide shows both professionals and novices how to master VBA in order to customize the entire Office suite for their needs. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2010 today!
Want a quick way to change the shortcut key associated with a tool available on a ribbon, toolbar, or menu? Here's one ...
Discover MoreOpen a file that isn't a Word document and Word will still try to convert it to a Word document. If you want Word to let you ...
Discover MorePaste information into a document and you'll immediately see a small icon next to the pasted information. This icon allows ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2014-06-02 11:57:39
Jennifer
how do i configure my Normal template on Office 2013 for my own settings, as i never knew how to do this?
2014-05-31 10:28:38
Sheldon
I don't understand why the template would be changed without manually changing it. With the box checked, Word asks if the template should be changed every time I close Word. That seems to be a common problem, because another tip tells you to de-select this option. The real problem is that Word doesn't tell you what has changed. How can you decide if you want to change it if you don't know what changed? I have this option turned off so I don't get the question every time I use Word, and 99% of the time it's not a problem. Once in a while, though, it seems a document from outside will change settings. Recently, it took me a few days to get everything back to the way I had it.
Word should not allow template changes without specific direction. Period.
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.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2017 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: 
Comments