How to Save Files as Templates in Microsoft Word

Templates are “model” or “boilerplate” files that can be used to create new documents—without having to start from scratch every time. Today’s tutorial shows how to save existing files as custom templates in Microsoft Word. We will also look at how to use custom templates to create new documents and how to delete custom templates.

Table of Contents:

How to Save a File as a Custom Template
How to Create a Document from a Custom Template
How to Delete a Custom Template

Watch all the steps shown here in real time!

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The images below are from Word for Microsoft 365. These steps also apply to Word 2021, Word 2019, Word 2016, and Word 2013.

Are you on a Mac? Please see “How to Save Files as Templates in Word for Mac.”

How to Save a File as a Custom Template

Open the file you want to save as a template.
Select the File tab in the ribbon.

File tab in Word 365 — Figure 1. File tab

Select Save As in the Backstage view.
Select the Computer or This PC option.
Enter a name into the File Name text box.
Select Word Template or Word Macro-Enabled Template from the File Type text box. (Only select Word Macro-Enabled Template if your template includes macros.)
Select the Save button.

Word Template option in the Save As tab in the Backstage view in Word 365 — Figure 2. Word Template option in the Save As tab in the Backstage view

Word will automatically save your new template in the Custom Office Templates folder, which will be created in your Documents folder the first time you save a template.