How to Add, Create, and Use Templates in Microsoft Word

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Use premade templates to create beautiful documents
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Templates make it easy to create stylish documents in Microsoft Word without having to add your own formatting. It's easy to search Microsoft's massive online template database using both the Microsoft Word desktop app and their official template download site. This wikiHow teaches you how to find, download, and use Microsoft Word templates, as well as how to create and save your own custom template.

Quick Steps

  1. Click the File menu.
  2. Select New (PC) or New from Template (Mac).
  3. Search for a template type, like newsletter or flyer.
  4. Click a template to see a preview.
  5. Click Create to use the template.
  6. Edit and save your template as a DOCX file.
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Downloading a Template in Word

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  1. Opening Word takes you to the New screen, which is where you'll find tons of online templates you can download for free directly from Microsoft. [1]
    • If Word was already open, click the File menu and select New (or New from Template on a Mac) now.
  2. What kind of template are you looking for? Type a keyword into the Search field, such as "calendar" or "agenda", and click the magnifying glass to run the search.
    • Some other template search ideas are "business cards", "brochure", "social media," "newsletter", "letter", "resume", and "labels".
    • If you have a certain type of paper that requires a specific template, such as a label sticker sheet, search for the manufacturer's name. There are free Word templates for all of the major label sheet manufacturers.
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  3. This displays a screenshot of the template in action, as well as some information about the template.
    • If the template is made to work with a certain type or size of paper, that information will be in the description. For example, if you're looking at a template for creating address labels , you'll see compatible label/sticker sheet companies (like Avery), sizes, and other details. [2]
  4. This creates a new document from the template.
  5. Templates nearly always come with some pre-filled information that you can erase and type over. You can also customize other aspects of the template as needed using any tool in Word.
  6. When you're ready to save your completed Word document, click the File menu and select Save as (or Save as Copy ). If you're using Windows, click Browse to select a saving location. On any platform, select a folder to save your file to, give it a name, and make sure .DOCX is the file type (unless you have a reason to choose another file type). Click Save to save your new file.
    • Saving the Word document you created from the template will not make changes to the original template. You can always create a new file from the same blank template at any time.
    • If you do want to save over the original template because you've made changes to it that you'll want to keep in the template permanently, see the Creating a Template method.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Downloading from the Web

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  1. 1
    Go to https://create.microsoft.com/word-templates in a web browser. This is Microsoft's official Word template download website. The templates here are also available for download from the New screen in the Word application , but you may find it easier to browse templates in a web browser.
    • While there are other places to download templates online, it is generally not recommended to do so, as they could contain macro viruses. [3] Stick to Microsoft's templates, which are vetted by Microsoft, to stay protected from viruses.
    • Using the web version of the Templates database also lets you quickly open the template in the web-based version of Word (if supported by the template).
  2. 2
    Search or browse for a template. Enter a keyword that describes the type of Word template you want to use, such as invitation , calendar , or planner . You can also use broader search terms like productivity , social media , or even print to find what you're looking for.
    • Various templates will also appear on the main page—scroll down to see some recommended template options.
  3. This opens a larger view of the template and displays helpful information, including any perquisites (like paper types, if printing).
    • You can also use the Color menu at the top to find templates in specific colors, or expand your template search to other Microsoft products like Excel, PowerPoint, and Clipchamp.
  4. 4
    Click Download to download a template to your computer. This downloads the template in the .DOCX format, just like a regular Word document.
    • You may have to click Save or OK to start the download.
    • If you'd rather create a document from the template in Word for the Web, click the Customize in Word button instead. This button only appears if the template can be used in your browser.
  5. After the template downloads, you'll usually see the file name at the bottom-left corner (or upper-right corner in some browsers). Click it to open it, or double-click the file in your default downloads folder to open it. This opens the template in Word, but in a special view called Protected View.
    • Word opens the template in Protected View for your protection, just in case you downloaded the template from somewhere other than Microsoft.
  6. You'll see this button in the bar at the top of Word. This allows you to edit the template and start personalizing your document.
  7. Templates nearly always come with some pre-filled information that you can erase and type over. You can also customize other aspects of the template as needed using any tool in Word.
  8. When you're ready to save your completed Word document, click the File menu and select Save as (or Save as Copy ). If you're using Windows, click Browse to select a saving location. On any platform, select a folder to save your file to, give it a name, and make sure .DOCX is the file type (unless you have a reason to choose another file type). Click Save to save your new file.
    • Saving your file will not make changes to the original template. You can always create a new file from the same blank template at any time.
    • If you do want to save over the original template because you've made changes to it that you'll want to keep in the template permanently, see the Creating a Template method.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Creating a Custom Template

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  1. You can create a custom Microsoft Word template from any document. If you want to start from scratch, select Blank document when opening Word, or click File > New and select Blank document to open a blank file now.
  2. The steps are a little different depending on your version of Word:
    • Windows:
      • Click the File tab and select Save as .
      • Double-click This PC . [4]
      • Type a name for your template into the "File name" field.
      • Select Word template as the "Save as type" if your template will not contain macros , or Word Macro-Enabled Template if it contains macros.
      • Word will now switch to the Custom Office Templates folder so you can save your template to the right place.
      • Click Save .
    • Mac:
      • Click the File tab and select Save as Template .
      • Type a name for your template.
      • Select a location to save your template to. If you want to create lots of templates, you may want to create a dedicated folder for them.
      • Select Microsoft Word template (*.dotx) from the "File Format" menu if your template doesn't contain macros, or Microsoft Word Macro-Enabled Template (*.dotm) if you plan to put macros in the template. Word will now switch to the default template saving location.
      • Click Save .
  3. Include your desired fonts, borders, default text, clip art, margins, and any other aspect you want to include.
  4. Since you've already saved your file as a template, just click File and select Save to save your changes before you close Word.
  5. Now that you've created a custom template, you can use it to create documents. Here's how:
    • Windows:
      • Click the File menu and select New .
      • On the New window, click the Personal or Custom tab, depending on your version of Word. This will display custom templates.
      • Click your template to open it.
    • Mac:
      • Click the File menu and select New from Template .
      • Click your template to open it in Word. You can now edit it as needed.
    • Any time you use a custom template you've created, make sure you save your Document as a Word DOCX file so you don't overwrite the template.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/download-free-pre-built-templates-29f2a18d-29a6-4a07-998b-cfe5ff7ffbbb
      2. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/avery-wizard-is-retired-4c1c1aba-fefe-4e66-ad14-5f3b910a85dc
      3. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/frequently-asked-questions-about-word-macro-viruses-b935417e-9064-8121-6e63-26f115d7290a
      4. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/create-a-template-86a1d089-5ae2-4d53-9042-1191bce57deb?ui=en-us&rs=en-us&ad=us

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Click File and select New or New from template .
      2. Search for and select a template.
      3. Click Create .
      4. Edit your document.
      5. Save the file as a Word document.

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