Microsoft Word Cannot Open This Document Template Mac

Modifiying a word document using a template causes the error message to be displayed.

Change the Normal template (Normal.dotm ) Word for Office 365, Word 2019, Word 2016, Word 2013, Word 2010. And it includes default styles and customizations that determine the basic look of a document. And then double-click the Normal.dotm file to open it. In Microsoft Windows XP or Microsoft Windows Server 2003. The template file in word, a.k.a. Normal.dot, a.k.a. Global template file, controls all of the formatting, AutoText, and overall template within Word. It affects how Word opens, closes, and saves as well. If you cannot open a new Microsoft Word document, your global template file within Word may be corrupted. There is a simple fix for this.

3 Steps total

Step 1: Enable hidden files

Go to folder options: Start > Control Panel > Appearance and Personalization > Folder Options OR search for 'folder options' in the start menu.

Go to the top View tab and under the 'Hidden files and folders' option select 'Show hidden files, folder and drives'.

Step 2: Search for *.dotx files

Oct 06, 2011  When you start Microsoft Word you encounter the error: 'Word cannot open this document template template name. These steps help solve the problem. When you start Microsoft Word you encounter the error: 'Word cannot open this document template template name. If you cannot open a blank Microsoft Word document, chances are your template file in Word is corrupted. The template file in word, a.k.a. Normal.dot, a.k.a. Global template file, controls all of the formatting, AutoText, and overall template within Word. It affects how Word opens, closes, and saves as well.

Open up Windows Explorer (Windows key + E) and type into the search box: *.dotx

Multiple *.dotx files will be found, and two of which should have a file name starting with ~. Delete both of these files.

Step 3: Return hidden files setting

Should you wish to return to not viewing hidden files, repeat step 1 and select 'Don't show hidden files and folders'

3 Comments

• Pimiento
  timothytakemototimtak Jan 4, 2017 at 04:55am

  Thanks! This is a really quick solution to a problem that had been bugging me for years.

  There was only one ~ file in my case. I hope that deleting it has not done any damage. It has certainly stopped the error message.

• Pimiento
  cliffseiber Oct 26, 2017 at 11:23pm

  This does nothing to solve my problem of 'Word cannot open the document template,' nor do any other suggested remedies on other sites. I am using Word 2013 under Windows 7.

• Pimiento
  Yaz H Feb 7, 2018 at 08:58am

  Thank you, thank you, thank you so much David Bain. I had one entry with the pesky ~ file. When I went to delete it I got a message saying the file no longer existed. But the act of seeming to delete repaired the issue for me anyway. I spent 3 1/2 hrs with this issue, including needing to re-install Office 365 because it got deleted when I tried to 'repair' it and I kept getting Office error code 30088-4 . That wasn't straightforward either. Even the new installation DID NOT end the 'Word cannot open this document template' error....which is what started the nightmare
  What is the ~ and why is it there please?
  I've written a lot here in the hopes of helping others like me who aren't very techie.
  Thanks so much again for your assistance.

Summary

When you try to open a Word document on Mac document, Word stops opening. If you are faced with this issue and are willing to solve it, then follow the 3 solutions. If you have data loss problem after fixing the Word not opening issue, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac can do you a favor.

On this page, we have collected three practical solutions that can help fix the 'Word Not Opening' error on Mac. And if you mistakenly removed a Word file on Mac, let reliable Mac file recovery software as recommended here for help. Check out how to fix the not opening Word file to accessible again:

'Word 2016 on my Mac won't open. It flashes immediately by double-clicking and then closes unexpectedly. I didn't do anything or any change. How to fix it if Microsoft Word won't open at all?'

In addition to this situation, most users are also faced with these errors:

• The application Microsoft Word quit unexpectedly
• Microsoft Word cannot be opened because of a problem. Check with the developer to make sure Microsoft Word works with this version of Mac OS X

As Microsoft Word is widely used among people, owning some basic Word troubleshooting is recognized as an essential skill. Today you're going to learn three tricks in solving Word not opening on Mac. The given workarounds are applicable to all Word editions such as 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013 2016.

1. Run Repair Disk Permissions

Step 1: On the 'Go' menu, click 'Utilities'. Start the Disk Utility program.

Step 2: Choose the primary hard disk drive for your computer. Then, click the 'First Aid' tab.

Step 3: Click 'Run' to repair the disk volume errors and permissions. When it finishes, click 'Done'.

2. Remove Word Preferences

Step 1: Open 'Library'. Usually, click 'GO' > 'Go to the folder', then type ~/Library

Step 2: Locate a file named as 'Preferences'.

Step 3: Find a file named as com.microsoft.Word.plist. Move the file to the desktop.

Microsoft Word Cannot Open File

Start Word, and check whether the problem still occurs.

If the problem still occurs, exit Microsoft Word, and then restore the 'com.microsoft.word.prefs.plist' file to its original location. Then, go to Step 4.

If the problem seems to be resolved, you can move the file to the trash.

Microsoft Word Will Not Open Documents

Note: If you do not locate the file, the program is using the default preferences.

Step 4: Exit all Microsoft Office for Mac programs. Then, Click the Word icon. On the left, click 'Preferences'.

Step 5: Click 'File Locations'.

Step 6: Select 'User templates'.

Step 7: Locate the file that is named Normal, and move the file to the desktop.

You can also find the file named as Normal through this way: 'Library' > 'Application Support' > 'Microsoft' > 'Office' > 'User Templates' > 'Normal'

Start Word, and check whether the problem still occurs. If the problem seems to be resolved, you can move the 'Normal' file to the trash.

3. Try to Open and Repair Word

Step 1: Start Word. On the File menu, click 'Open'.

Step 2: In the Open dialog box, select the file that you want to open. Click the down arrow on the Open button, click 'Open' > 'Repair'.

Recover Deleted and Missing Word on Mac

Can T Open Word Document

Do not worry if the 'Word not opening' issue causes data loss disaster, you can recover unsaved Word document on Mac from its Temporary folder and AutoRecovery save. While for a deleted Word document on Mac, the easiest way of recovery is using a third-party Mac data recovery software.

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac also recovers Word document that is missing, deleted or lost due to formatting, virus infection and other misoperation, and the best part of using the software to recover Word is being able to preview the file entirety.

Step 1. Select the location where your important Word documents were lost and click Scan button.

Why Microsoft Word Cannot Open

Step 2. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac will start immediately a quick scan as well as a deep scan on your selected disk volume. Meanwhile, the scanning results will be presented in the left pane.

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Step 3. By Path and Type, you can quickly filter the Word files you've lost earlier. Select the target files and click Recover Now button to get them back at once.