What is the Normal.dotm File and Where to Locate It?
Last updated on September 3rd, 2024
The Normal.dotm file template is a special template that is opened whenever you start Microsoft Word. It includes all the customizations and default styles that will determine how the new document will look.
Where is the normal.dotm file located?
In Windows, it is usually located under the Microsoft’s Templates folder:
The typical path in Windows 7 and Windows Vista:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates
The typical path in Windows XP and Windows 2000:
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates
These folders could be hidden by default, if you don’t see the folders, you would need to make the hidden folders visible first.
In Mac OS, the file is located in the following folders:
By default, your Normal template is located here:
Word 2008:
/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Office/User Templates/
Word 2004:
/Documents/Microsoft User Data/
These folders could be hidden by default on your Mac, so if you don’t see the folders in Finder, you would need to display hidden folders first.
Normal.dotm can be edited if you need to change the default styles for the new blank documents when Word is started. This template file includes all the default styles and customizations that control the basic look of your document in Microsoft word, starting from Microsoft Word 2013 (previous to this version, the normal.dotm file was named normal.dot). Remember that changes you make to the Normal.dotm template file will be applied to all future documents that you create.