You can change the default settings for new documents by making changes to the
Normal templateA template that you can use for any kind of document. When you start Word
or click New Blank Document
, Word
creates a new document that is based on the Normal template. You can modify this template to change its formatting or content.
upon which new documents are based. You can modify the Normal template to change its default formatting or content so that any new document that you create will use the new settings.
Important
If you mistakenly modify the Normal template, you can easily restore the default behavior by deleting, renaming, or moving it. The Normal template is automatically recreated the next time that you open Word. However, the same cannot be said for other templates. You should always create a copy of any other template before you change it.
Do any of the following:
 | Change the default font |
Changing the default font in any template means that the font is used in every new document that is based on that template. For example, the default font for new blank documents is based on the Normal template.
-
Open the template or a document based on the template whose default settings you want to change.
-
On the Format menu, click Font, and then click the Font tab.
-
Make any changes that you want, and then click Default.
 | Note Most of the styles in Word
are based on the Normal style. Changing the default font also changes the Normal style, which affects any other style that is built on the Normal style. |
 | Change the default character spacing |
Changing the default character spacing in any template means that the settings for scale, spacing, position, kerning, and other typographic features are used in every new document that is based on that template. For example, the character spacing for new blank documents is based on the Normal template.
-
Open the template or a document based on the template whose default settings you want to change.
-
On the Format menu, click Font, and then click the Advanced tab.
-
Make any changes that you want, and then click Default.
 | Change the default margins |
Changing the default margins in any template means that the margin settings are used in every new document that is based on that template. For example, the margins for new blank documents are based on the Normal template.
-
Open the template or a document based on the template whose default settings you want to change.
-
On the Format menu, click Document, and then click the Margins tab.
-
Make any changes that you want, and then click Default.
 | Change the default layout |
Changing the default layout in any template means that the section breaks, headers and footers, and other layout attributes are used in every new document that is based on that template. For example, the layout attributes for new blank documents are based on the Normal template.
-
Open the template or a document based on the template whose default settings you want to change.
-
On the Format menu, click Document, and then click the Layout tab.
-
Make any changes that you want, and then click Default.
 | Change other default settings in the Normal template |
You can customize the Normal template and change default settings for many aspects of a document, such as text formatting, paragraph formatting, document formatting, styles, text, pictures, AutoText entries, and keyboard shortcuts.
-
On the Standard toolbar, click Open a document
.
-
In
/Users/username/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Office/User Templates/, double-click Normal.dotm.
The Normal template opens.
-
In the Normal template, make the changes that you want.
-
Save and close the Normal template.
 | Tips |
|
-
If you make extensive changes to your Normal template, we recommend that you periodically back up the file. To back up your Normal template, copy the file and rename it, or move it to another location.
-
You can quickly and easily format a whole document to give it a professional and modern look by applying a document theme. A document theme is a set of formatting choices that can include a color scheme (a set of colors), a font scheme (a set of heading and body text fonts), and an effects scheme (a set of lines and fill effects). To apply a theme, on the Home tab, under Themes, click Themes.
|