Recording a Macro

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated April 4, 2026)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Word in Microsoft 365

If you have a repetitive task that is a good candidate for a macro, you can use the macro recording capabilities of Word to help turn your actions into a macro. To record a macro, follow these steps:

Display the Developer tab of the ribbon.
Click the Record Macro tool. Word displays the Record Macro dialog box. (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1. The Record Macro dialog box.

In the Macro Name field, provide a name you want used for your macro. You can accept the default name, if you desire, but if you plan on using the macro more than once or twice, you will want to use a more descriptive name. The name you provide must not include any spaces.
In the Description box you can provide an optional comment about your macro.
Use the Store Macro In drop-down list to specify where you want the macro stored.
Click OK.

Word starts recording everything you do. The actions you take become steps in the macro, and will be repeated when you later execute the macro.

When you finish the steps you want recorded in your macro, again display the Developer tab of the ribbon and click the Stop Recording tool. (This tool is only available when you are actually recording your macro.) The macro is then saved and available for use at any time.

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 (13519) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Word in Microsoft 365.

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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