This method requires modifying the Windows registry, which is an advanced task. Before you edit the registry, it’s a good idea to back it up so you can restore it if something goes wrong.
Click the View menu at the top of File Explorer. Click Options at the top-right corner of the window. Click the View tab. Select Show hidden files, folders, and drives under “Hidden files and folders” and click OK.
If Windows is installed on another drive, replace C with the appropriate drive letter.
If Windows is installed on another drive, replace C with the appropriate drive letter.
Double-click the folder for your username in the right panel. Double-click the AppData folder (this is usually hidden). Double-click the Roaming folder. Double-click the Microsoft folder. Double-click the Templates folder.
Right-click Normal. dotm and select Rename. Remove . dotm from the end of the file name and replace it with . old. Press the Enter key. Now that you’re finished in File Explorer, it’s a good idea to go back to View > Options > View and rehide hidden files and folders.
You may have to click Yes to open the editor.
Word 365, 2019, and 2016: Double-click the 16. 0 folder. Word 2013: Double-click the 15. 0 folder. Word 2010: Double-click the 14. 0 folder. Word 2007: Double-click the 12. 0 folder. Word 2003: Double-click the 11. 0 folder.
Now that you’ve made these changes, you can close the registry editor and File Explorer and restart Microsoft Word. You can now start from scratch in Word.
Now that you’ve made these changes, you can close the registry editor and File Explorer and restart Microsoft Word. You can now start from scratch in Word.
This method should work on all modern versions of Word for macOS, including Word 2016, Word 2019, and Word 365.
Click normal. dotm one time to select it. Press the Return key. Delete the part that says “. dotm” and replace it with . old. Press Return to save the new file name, which is now normal. old.
