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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

53 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Charles Kenyon 171K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2021-04-22T02:54:04+00:00

    Thank you for helping.  Our templates are stored in a Practice Docs folder on all machines.  It is configured for network sync.  Is it necessary to store templates in the path you specified?

    For templates to work with the FileNew classic dialog, they must be stored in folders designated as either the User Templates  Folder or the Workgroup Templates Folder. It does not matter what name is given these folders, nor where they are stored but it does matter that they are so designated in the User's options.

    See Templates in Microsoft Word and File New Variations in the Versions of Word. 

    If you want them to show up in the Backstage view for File > New, they must be in a folder designated as either the Custom Office Templates folder or the Workgroup Templates folder. File New Variations in the Versions of Word. Again, the name is not important, what is necessary is the designation in the user options.

    The user templates folder should NOT be a shared folder. My advice is to make a single folder designated as the User Templates folder and the Custom Office Templates folder. In my opinion, this simplifies things.

    Yours could be in the Workgroup Templates folder or a subfolder and you can name it PracticeDocs if you want.

    These folders likely should be listed as trusted locations. The User Templates folder must be a trusted location.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2021-04-21T22:36:08+00:00

    Do you have the templates saved in either the User Templates folder or the Work Group Templates folder as set under File>Options>Advanced>General>File Locations?

    I would suggest adding the New Document or Template command to the Quick Access Toolbar.  You will find that command in the All Commands Category.

    When you use that command, it will display the "Classic" New dialog that contains the templates from both the User Templates folder and the Workgroup Templates folder, with any templates that are contained in sub-folders under either of those template folders appearing in tabs in the New dialog

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2021-04-20T05:45:29+00:00

    Nothing?

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Charles Kenyon 171K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2021-04-13T08:20:01+00:00

    How are you using the templates?

    If you use File > New and pick a template, Word will create a new document based on the template.

    File New Variations in the Versions of Word

    Are these templates in a SharePoint library?

    If you right-click on a template's icon what do you see?

    Is New the default? Is it available?

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  5. Charles Kenyon 171K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2020-11-17T17:59:58+00:00

    You likely can fix this with a quick repair of Office. My experience is that this resets the file type associations.

    Repair an Office application - Office Support

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments