How to Set Default Save Location for Word Templates

When you save a new template in Word, the program defaults to a specific folder on your system drive. This folder is often buried deep in the user directory, making templates hard to find and reuse. Changing the default save location for templates lets you store them in a folder you control, such as a network drive or a dedicated project folder. This article explains how to locate the current template folder, change it in Word’s options, and avoid common mistakes that break the setting.

What the Default Template Location Is and Why You Would Change It

Word stores templates in a folder named Custom Office Templates inside the user’s Documents folder by default. For Windows 10 and Windows 11, the full path is C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Documents\Custom Office Templates. This folder appears automatically when you select Personal under New > New from existing or when you save a file with the Word Template (dotx) type.

The default location works for single users on a local machine, but it creates problems in shared or business environments. If you work on multiple computers, use a network drive, or prefer a custom folder structure, Word does not let you pick a template folder per document — it uses a single path for all templates. Changing this path gives you control over where templates are saved and where Word looks for them when you create a new document based on a template.

There are no prerequisites beyond having a folder you want to use. The folder must exist before you set it in Word’s options; Word does not create the folder for you. The folder must also be on a local drive or a network drive that is always available when Word is open. Removable drives such as USB sticks are not recommended because Word will show an error if the drive is disconnected.

Steps to Change the Default Save Location for Word Templates

1. Create the destination folder
   Open File Explorer and navigate to the location where you want templates to be saved. Right-click an empty area, select New > Folder, and name it something descriptive such as Word Templates. This folder must exist before you point Word to it.
2. Open Word’s Options dialog
   Open Word. Click the File tab on the ribbon, then click Options at the bottom of the left pane. The Word Options dialog appears.
3. Navigate to the Save settings
   In the Word Options dialog, click Save in the left navigation pane. This section contains all save-related settings, including the template location.
4. Enter the new template folder path
   Look for the text box labeled Default personal templates location. Click inside the box and type the full path to the folder you created in step 1. For example: C:\Templates\Word Templates. Alternatively, click the Browse button next to the text box, navigate to the folder, select it, and click OK.
5. Apply the change and restart Word
   Click OK at the bottom of the Word Options dialog to save the setting. Close Word completely, then reopen it. The new template location is now active. To verify, click File > New > Personal. The templates listed should be those from the folder you specified.

After restarting Word, any new template you save using File > Save As and selecting Word Template (dotx) will default to the new folder. Existing templates stored in the old Custom Office Templates folder will not be moved automatically. You must copy or move them manually to the new location if you want them to appear under Personal.

Common Mistakes and Limitations When Setting the Template Location

Word does not show my templates after changing the path

This happens when the new folder is empty or when Word has not been restarted. Copy at least one .dotx file into the folder first. Then restart Word. If templates still do not appear, verify that the path in File > Options > Save > Default personal templates location is correct and that there are no extra spaces at the end of the path.

Word prompts that the template location is unavailable

This error appears when the folder is on a network drive that is not connected when Word starts, or when the folder path contains characters that Windows does not support. Use a local folder on the same drive as Windows. Avoid using spaces in the folder name, although Word handles spaces correctly in most cases. If you must use a network path, map it to a drive letter such as Z: and use the drive letter in the path.

The old templates still appear under Personal after changing the folder

Word caches the list of available templates. Close Word, delete the temporary files in %appdata%\Microsoft\Templates (do not delete Normal.dotm), and restart Word. If the old templates still show, they are likely pinned or shortcuts. Remove them manually from the old Custom Office Templates folder or move them to the new folder.

Word reverts the template location after an update

Microsoft 365 updates sometimes reset certain user settings. After a major update, check the Default personal templates location setting. If it has reverted, set it again. To prevent this, export your Word settings using File > Options > Save > Save settings to a file (available in some versions) or keep a screenshot of the path for quick re-entry.

Local Template Folder vs Network Template Folder: Key Differences

Item	Local Folder	Network Folder
Reliability	Always available when Word is open	Depends on network connection and permissions
Speed	Fast, no network latency	Slower when listing or saving templates
Sharing	Single user only	Multiple users can access the same templates
Permission issues	Rare, user has full control	Common, requires write access for all users
Backup	Included in local backup	Depends on network backup policy

Choose a local folder unless you need to share templates across a team. For shared environments, map the network folder to a drive letter and ensure all users have read and write permissions. Test the path by saving a template from Word on each user’s computer before rolling out the change.

You can now set any folder on your system or network as the default save location for Word templates. Start by creating the folder and updating the path in File > Options > Save. After restarting Word, move your existing .dotx files into the new folder so they appear under Personal on the New page. For advanced control, consider using Group Policy to set the template location for multiple users in an organization.