Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365. 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: Changing a Macro Description.

Changing a Macro Description

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated April 22, 2023)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365


When you record a macro, you have an opportunity to enter a description for the macro. This can be helpful, as the description is a great memory-jogger to remind you why you wrote a particular macro or how to use it.

At some point after your macro is finished, you may want to change the description associated with a macro. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Press Alt+F8. Word displays the Macros dialog box.
  2. In the list of macros, select the macro whose description you want to change. At the bottom of the Macros dialog box you should see the current description for the selected macro.
  3. Replace the current description with the new description.
  4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for any other macros whose descriptions you want to change.
  5. Click on Cancel to close the Macros dialog box.

Note:

If you would like to know how to use the macros described on this page (or on any other page on the WordTips sites), I've prepared a special page that includes helpful information. Click here to open that special page in a new browser tab.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (11240) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Changing a Macro Description.

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. ...

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