This wikiHow teaches you how to select or create a template in Microsoft Word on Windows and Mac computers. A template is a pre-formatted document designed for a specific need or file, such as an invoice, calendar, or resume.
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Method 1 of 6: Selecting a Template in Word on a Windows Computer
Step 1. Open Microsoft Word
Double-click the Word icon, which looks like a white “W” on a dark blue background.
Step 2. Find the desired template
Browse the main Microsoft Word page to find a template you like, or type a search keyword into the search bar at the top of the page to find a suitable template.
- For example, if you want to search for templates related to budgets, type “budget” into the search bar.
- Your computer must be connected to the internet for you to search for templates.
Step 3. Choose a template
Click the template you want to use. The template will open in a new window and you can take a closer look at the template.
Step 4. Click Create
It's on the right side of the template preview window. After that, the template will open in a new Word document.
Step 5. Edit the template
Most templates already have sample text. You can replace the text by deleting it and typing the text yourself.
You can also edit most template formats (e.g. font, color, and text size) without breaking the template itself
Step 6. Save the document
Click the menu File ” in the top left corner of the page, click “ Save As ”, double-click the save location, enter a document name, and select “ Save ”.
You can reopen the document by accessing its storage folder and double-clicking the document
Method 2 of 6: Selecting a Template in Word on Mac
Step 1. Open Microsoft Word
Double-click the Word icon, which looks like a white “W” on a dark blue background. A new document will be opened or the main Word page will be displayed, depending on the program settings.
When Word's main page loads, move on to the template search step (fourth step)
Step 2. Click File
It's in the top-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear after that.
Step 3. Click New from Template
It's at the top of the drop-down menu " File " Once clicked, the template gallery will load.
Step 4. Find the template you want to use
Browse the available templates for pre-set or pre-designed options, or type a search keyword into the search bar in the top right corner of the page.
- For example, to search for templates related to invoices, you can type “invoice” in the search bar.
- Your computer must be connected to the internet for you to search for templates.
Step 5. Choose a template
Click a template to display a preview window showing the selected template.
Step 6. Click Open
It's in the preview window. The template will open as a new document afterwards.
Step 7. Edit the template
Most templates already have sample text. You can replace the text by deleting it and typing the text yourself.
You can also edit most template formats (e.g. font, color, and text size) without breaking the template itself
Step 8. Save the document
Click the menu " File ", choose " Save As ”, enter the document name, and click “ Save ”.
Method 3 of 6: Applying a Template to an Existing Document on a Windows Computer
Step 1. Open a Microsoft Word document
Double-click the document to which you want to add a template.
This step can only be followed for newly opened templates. If you haven't opened the template you want to use, first open the template and close the document before continuing
Step 2. Click File
It's in the top-left corner of the page.
Step 3. Click Options
It's in the lower-left corner of the "Files" page.
Step 4. Click the Add-ins tab
This tab is on the left side of the “Options” window.
Step 5. Click the "Manage" drop-down box
This box is at the bottom of the “Add-Ins” page. A drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 6. Click Templates
It's in the middle of the drop-down menu.
Step 7. Click Go…
It's on the right side of the " Manage " drop-down box.
Step 8. Click Attach…
It's in the top-right corner of the page.
Step 9. Choose a template
Click the template you want to use.
Step 10. Click Open
It's at the bottom of the “Templates” window. The template will open afterwards.
Step 11. Check the box " Automatically update document styles"
This box is below the template name, at the top of the page.
Step 12. Click OK
It's at the bottom of the window. The template format will be applied to an existing document.
Step 13. Save the document
Click the menu File ” in the top left corner of the page, click “ Save As ”, double-click the save location, enter a document name, and select “ Save ”.
Method 4 of 6: Applying a Template to an Existing Document on a Mac
Step 1. Open a Microsoft Word document
Double-click the document that you want to open.
This step can only be followed for newly opened templates. If you haven't opened the template you want to use, first open the template and close the document before continuing
Step 2. Click Tools
This menu is on the left side of your computer's menu bar. After that, a drop-down menu will be displayed.
If you don't see the option " Tools ”, click the Microsoft Word window to display it.
Step 3. Click Templates & Add-Ins…
This option is at the bottom of the drop-down menu. After that, a new window will open.
Step 4. Click Attach
This option is in the “Templates & Add-Ins” window.
Step 5. Choose a template
Click the template that you want to apply to the document.
Step 6. Click Open
The template format will be applied to an existing document.
Step 7. Save the document
Click the menu " File ", choose " Save As ”, enter the document name, and click “ Save ”.
Method 5 of 6: Creating a Word Template on a Windows Computer
Step 1. Open Microsoft Word
Double-click the Word icon, which looks like a white “W” on a dark blue background.
If you want to create a template from an existing document, double-click the document and move on to the document editing step (third step)
Step 2. Click the "Blank document" template
It's in the upper-left corner of the Word window.
Step 3. Edit the document
Formatting changes you make (e.g. line spacing, text size, and font) will become part of the template.
If you create a template from an existing document, you may not need to edit anything
Step 4. Click File
It's in the top-left corner of the page.
Step 5. Click Save As
It's at the top of the pop-out window File ”.
Step 6. Select a save location
Double-click the storage folder or directory to set it as the template storage point.
Step 7. Enter the template name
Type in the name you want to use for the template.
Step 8. Click the “Save as type” drop-down box
This box is below the file name text field. A drop-down menu will appear after that.
Step 9. Click Word Templates
It's at the top of the drop-down menu.
You can also click “ Word Macro-Enabled Template ” in this menu if adding macros to the document.
Step 10. Click Save
It's in the lower-right corner of the window. After that, the template will be saved.
You can apply this template to other documents if you want
Method 6 of 6: Create a Word Template on a Mac
Step 1. Open Microsoft Word
Double-click the Word icon, which looks like a white “W” on a dark blue background.
If you want to create a template from an existing document, double-click the document and move on to the document editing step (fourth step)
Step 2. Click the New tab
It's in the upper-left corner of the Word main page.
If the main page does not load, click the tab “ File " and click " New from Template " first.
Step 3. Click the "Blank Document" template
This template is marked by a white box. After that, a new Word document will be created.
Step 4. Edit the document
Formatting changes made (eg spacing between lines, text size, or font) will become part of the template.
If you create a template from an existing document, you may not need to edit anything
Step 5. Click File
It's in the top-left corner of the page.
Step 6. Click Save As Template
This option is in the drop-down menu “ File ”.
Step 7. Enter a name for the template
Type in the name you want for the created template.
Step 8. Click the “File Format” drop-down box
This box is at the bottom of the window. A drop-down menu will load afterwards.
Step 9. Click Microsoft Word Templates
This option is in a drop-down menu and has a ".dotx" extension next to it.
You can also choose " Microsoft Word Macro-Enabled template ” if you add a macro to the document.
Step 10. Click Save
It's a blue button at the bottom of the window. The template will be saved afterwards.
