After using Microsoft Word for various jobs, you may feel that the program no longer runs as it did when it was first installed. The default settings for one or more features such as font, toolbar placement, and autocorrect options may change after you click the wrong button or accidentally move program elements. Deleting and reinstalling Word will not produce the desired result because the preferences are stored on the computer. This wikiHow teaches you how to restore Microsoft Word to its default layout and settings on Windows and Mac computers.
Step
Method 1 of 2: On Windows Computer
Step 1. Close Microsoft Word
You cannot reset the settings if Word is still open.
This method requires you to modify the Windows registry which is a complicated task or step. Before editing the registry, it's a good idea to back it up first so you can restore it if something goes wrong
Step 2. Press the shortcut Win+E
A File Explorer window will open. You can also open File Explorer by clicking on its icon in the “Windows” menu.
Step 3. Set File Explorer to show hidden files and folders
This needs to be done so that the folder that needs to be edited can be displayed:
- Click the menu " View ” at the top of the File Explorer window.
- Click " Options ” in the upper right corner of the window.
- Click the tab " View ”.
- Choose " Show hidden files, folders, and drives ” under the “Hidden files and folders” section and click “ OK ”.
Step 4. Open the “Users” folder in File Explorer
To open it, click the address bar at the top of the window, type C:\Users\, and press the “ Enter ”.
If Windows is installed on another drive, replace the drive code “C” with the appropriate drive code/letter
Step 5. Open the “Microsoft Templates” folder
Here's how to open it:
- Double click your username folder on the right pane.
- Double click the folder " AppData ” (this folder is usually hidden).
- Double click the folder " Roaming ”.
- Double click the folder " Microsoft ”.
- Double click the folder " Templates ”.
Step 6. Rename the file " Normal.dotm " to " Normal.old"
This file contains various Word options. When you change the name, Word will create a new file with the default settings. Here's how to rename the file:
- Right click the file " normal.dotm " and select " Rename ”.
- Remove the “.dotm” extension at the end of the file name and replace it with “.old” extension.
- Press the button " Enter ”.
- After you are done using File Explorer, it's a good idea to return to the " View ” > “ Options ” > “ View ” and re-hide files and folders that were hidden from the start.
Step 7. Press Win+R
This shortcut key opens the Run program window. Through Run, you can open a registry editing program to make changes to other settings.
Step 8. Type regedit and click OK
The Registry Editor window will open.
You may need to click “ Yes ” to open the editor window.
Step 9. Double-click HKEY_CURRENT_USER
This folder is in the left pane of the Registry Editor window. Additional options in the folder will be displayed.
Step 10. Double click SOFTWARE
This option is in the new expanded folder set in the left pane. The other folders will be displayed.
Step 11. Double click Microsoft
This folder is also in the left pane. Additional folders will be displayed afterwards.
Step 12. Double-click Office
Additional folders will be expanded.
Step 13. Double-click the correct folder for the version of Word that is running on the computer
The next folder you need to access will depend on the version of Word you're using:
- Word 365, 2019, and 2016: Double-click the folder “ 16.0 ”.
- Word 2013: Double click the folder “ 15.0 ”.
- Word 2010: Double click the folder “ 14.0 ”.
- Word 2007: Double click the folder “ 12.0 ”.
- Word 2003: Double click the folder “ 11.0 ”.
Step 14. Click the Word folder once
Don't double-click the folder; just one click to select it.
Step 15. Press Del key to delete the folder
When prompted to confirm, click “ Yes ”.
After making your changes, you can close the Registry Editor and File Explorer windows and then restart Microsoft Word. Now you can reuse Word from scratch, just as it was when the program was first installed
Method 2 of 2: On Mac Computer
Step 1. Close Microsoft Word and all other Office programs
You'll need to move some files and you won't be able to do that if your Office programs are still open.
This method applies to all modern versions of Word for MacOS, including Word 2016, Word 2019, and Word 365
Step 2. Open Finder
The icon looks like a smiling face with two colors and is displayed on the left side of the Dock.
Step 3. Press the Option. button while clicking the menu Go.
This menu is at the top of the screen. After that, a menu containing the “Library” folder will open. This folder itself will be hidden if you do not use the “Option” key.
Step 4. Click the Library folder
A list of files will be displayed.
Step 5. Double-click the Group Containers folder
This folder is in the “Library” folder. Another set of files and folders will be displayed.
Step 6. Double-click the UBF8T346G9. Office folder
A list of new folders and files will be displayed.
Step 7. Double-click the User Content folder
Do not worry! Soon the procedure will be completed!
Step 8. Double-click the Templates folder
This folder contains the Microsoft Word setup files.
Step 9. Rename the file “normal.dotm”
To rename a file:
- Click " normal.dotm one time to choose it.
- Press the button " Return ”.
- Delete the “.dotm” section and replace it with “.old”.
- Press the button " Return ” to save the new name (now “normal.old”).
Step 10. Close the Finder window and restart Microsoft Word
When Word is displayed, a new “normal.dotm” file will be created automatically so that you can use Word from scratch (just like when the program was first installed).
Tips
- Note that when making these changes, there are still some settings that can only be changed through a complete reinstall. For example, the company name that you type when you first install Word is actually saved in the Word program file.
- Note that you cannot reset the program if it is still running. This is because Word saves configuration information when the program is closed. If you make changes while the program is running, those changes will be “overwritten” with the old settings when the program is closed.
- Find more troubleshooting tips and information at https://support.microsoft.com/kb/822005 (for PC)
