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. Anonymous
    2021-07-14T13:41:44+00:00

    Here's what I found

    1. If I select a template via FILE > NEW > PERSONAL, a new docx opens based on my template
    2. If I select a template via FILE > HOME, the template itself opens in dotx
    3. If I double-click a template from Explorer, a new docx opens

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-07-06T02:33:01+00:00

    It is there. Not in the same folder as our custom templates. Same behavior though.

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  3. Charles Kenyon 171K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2021-07-06T01:02:49+00:00

    Repair was done and noted in the first post.

    I checked the trusted locations and found the parent older Practice Documents was trusted. Subfolders was checked. I added the exact path of the template folder (under Practice Documents) anyway.

    I then did the full uninstall/repair, but no luck. Folder still does not show .dotm icons.

    SOMETHING NEW: Normal.dotm has the same problem in the Microsoft default templates folder.

    The Normal.dotm template must be in your User Templates Folder.

    This is not the same as the default Office Templates Folder!

    See File New Variations in the Versions of Word.

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  4. Anonymous
    2021-07-05T21:49:04+00:00

    Repair was done and noted in the first post.

    I checked the trusted locations and found the parent older Practice Documents was trusted. Subfolders was checked. I added the exact path of the template folder (under Practice Documents) anyway.

    I then did the full uninstall/repair, but no luck. Folder still does not show .dotm icons.

    SOMETHING NEW: Normal.dotm has the same problem in the Microsoft default templates folder.

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  5. Charles Kenyon 171K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2021-06-12T14:36:48+00:00

    Thank you but does this address the .dotm issue. Is it related?

    Did MS increase security requiring the dotm folder be listed as trusted, bypassing the config setting? No problem making changes but there is an Access db so I'll need the developer to help with that part.

    Doug, Stefan, and Rohn have addressed the .dotm issue. Your vba security / reduced security has nothing to do with that.

    Hi. Here is an important update.

    I don't usually use .dotx but just came across one. It functions as a template file should (while in the same folder as the .dotms) and has the correct icon. So the issue is just with macro enabled templates.

    "Trust access to VBA…" is checked. Macro security is set to lowest.

    If your templates are stored in a "trusted location" and you have macro security set to not run macros or to not run them with notification, the ones in the trusted location will run without any notification.

    Image

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