Word templates not opening as new documents

Anonymous
2020-11-17T00:37:36+00:00

This happened after a recent Windows update.

I've seen this issue written about and have tried the suggested solutions without luck.  First tried quick repair and then full reinstall of office 365. Also set related registry entries to "new."

All templates are just opening as .dotm instead of .docm or .docx.  Any other troubleshooting steps available?

[Moved from  Word/Windows 10/Microsoft 365 Apps or Office 365 Business]

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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  1. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2021-04-25T07:52:27+00:00

    No, that is not correct.

    While you can right click on a template in the File Explorer and then click on Open to open the template, the default double-click active, which is shown in bold text is to create a new document from the template, which is what the users should normally be doing.

    Image

    Unless the user wants to make a modification to the template itself, they should NOT be opening it.

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-04-25T03:23:50+00:00

    I appreciate that you guys need to dot all of your eyes but... 

    Is it correct that office 365 users will no longer be able to open template files directly by Windows explorer?

    It's a huge inconvenience and so it would be helpful for all to know if that is our new reality. Thanks

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  3. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2021-04-24T23:30:17+00:00

    Hi Charles I have modified my post to remove any reference to the User Templates folder.

    I did however say:

    "If the "Practice Docs" folder is shared, it would be best to set it as the Workgroup Templates folder."

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  4. Charles Kenyon 171K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2021-04-24T21:39:49+00:00

    Doug is mistaken in that I am strongly suggesting that the User Templates folder not be shared, but not  that no templates folder be shared.

    I recommend that the Workgroup Templates be shared on a network drive but downloaded locally and used from there. The network login can do updates. This makes updating easier than fully sharing the folder and makes it easier for people to work remotely.

    The User Templates folder should not be shared because that is the container for the Normal template, which should not be shared.

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  5. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2021-04-24T06:10:38+00:00

    By default, all new documents will be saved in docx format.   However if they are opened on a machine on which the template is located, by means of a reference that is automatically made to that template, all of the features of the template will be available for use with that document.

    If previously documents were saved as docm format, you must have had that format set under File>Options>Save>Save files in this format.

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