Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. 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: Deleting an AutoText Entry.

Deleting an AutoText Building Block

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated December 31, 2024)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021

AutoText has long been a powerful tool in Word. There are several reasons why you would want to remove an AutoText entry you previously created. The biggest reason is that you just don't need the entry any more. For instance, you may have defined a group of AutoText entries for a particular job you were doing. When the job is over, it is best to remove the AutoText entries.

You can remove AutoText entries by using the Building Block Organizer. (AutoText entries are considered one of several "building blocks" that can be created in Word.) To remove AutoText entries, follow these steps:

Display the Insert tab of the ribbon.
Click the Quick Parts tool in the Text group. Word displays a list of options you can choose.
Choose Building Blocks Organizer. Word displays the Building Blocks Organizer. (Building Blocks were introduced as a sort of "super AutoText" in Word 2007). (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1. The Building Blocks Organizer.

Select the name of your AutoText entry from the name list. (You can be sure it is an AutoText entry because the word AutoText shows up in the Gallery column of the Building Blocks Organizer.) You can use the preview area to make sure you selected the correct AutoText name.
Click on the Delete button and your entry vanishes after you confirm you want to delete it.
Click on OK to close the Building Blocks Organizer.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (8716) 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: Deleting an AutoText Entry.

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. Learn more about Allen...

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