Where Are Microsoft Word Templates Stored?
Word stores Normal.dotm, Startup add in templates, and user templates in per user folders on Windows and macOS. Custom template paths can be changed in Word options or preferences.
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Normal.dotm is the base template for blank documents. Startup folders load global templates each time Word starts.
Modern Mac Office uses a Group Containers path. Older installs may use Application Support Microsoft Office paths instead.
Where Microsoft Word stores this, by platform
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates
<username> is the Windows account name. Default home for Normal.dotm and saved .dotx and .dotm files. The User Templates path in Word options points here by default.
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\STARTUP
<username> is the Windows account name. Word loads global templates and add ins from this STARTUP folder at launch. Remove a file here to disable that global template.
/Users/<username>/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/User Content/Templates
<username> is the macOS account name. Default location for Normal.dotm and custom templates on current Office for Mac installs.
/Users/<username>/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/User Content/Startup/Word
<username> is the macOS account name. Word for Mac Startup folder for global templates. Files here load automatically when Word starts.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Normal.dotm?
On Windows it is in the Roaming Microsoft Templates folder. On Mac it is in the Office Group Containers User Content Templates folder.
Why do I have two template folders?
One folder is for user templates and Normal.dotm, while STARTUP or Startup Word is for auto loaded global templates. Workgroup Templates is a third optional shared path set by admins.
Notice an outdated path? Let us know.