How to Change the Default Settings in Microsoft Word 2007
Posted on 26. May, 2008 by Kyle Judkins in How To, MS Office
Word 2007 has some interesting default settings to say the least, and I’m sure that I am not the only one that would like to change them. Today, I’m going to show you how to change those awful settings to something that suits you better.
First, you want to open up Word 2007, and open the font settings box by clicking on the bottom right corner of the font options part of the home tab.
Now that the font settings are up, change all of the settings to what you like and click the default button in the bottom left corner. It will ask you if you are sure, but of course you are!
Next, you will open up the paragraph settings by clicking on the bottom right of the paragraph options in the home tab.
You should have just opened the options window for paragraph. Change the settings to what you want and click the default button.
No longer do you have to change the settings every time you open Word 2007.
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Link Bytes #9
30. May, 2008
[...] How to change default settings in Microsoft Word 2007? – Change some of the common settings in Word to adjust to your style. [...]
Barbara Fox
04. Jun, 2008
I would like some assistance in Microsoft Word. I have a default setting for the ‘Thumbnails, Tiles, Icons, List and Details’ icon. Every time I open a folder, it defaults to ‘Tiles’. I would like to know how to change to default to ‘List’ if that is at all possible. I am so used to that format, that I find it frustrating to change the ‘Tiles’ to ‘List’ every time I am in a document.
I would appreciate the help you can give me in resolving this issue. Thanking you in advance, Barbara Fox
Michelle Moore
18. Jun, 2008
I have a problem with Adobe reader being the default even though I am saving all of my documents to Word. How do I change the default from Adobe Reader to Microsoft Word? I am in school and my documents have to be saved in Word not adobe reader, it seems like nothing I do is working. So if someone could help me with this I would so greatly appreciate this!!
Thank You
Michelle Moore
Scott
18. Jun, 2008
A colleague of mine at work has MS Word 2007 on his home computer and has somehow managed to change the defaults somehow that all he can open is MS WORKS files. Do you know how to change it back so he may open any type of Word file?
Word Settings
24. Jun, 2008
There are some other options you should uncheck in Word as well. There’s a nice article about it here:
http://www.microsystems.com/tipstricksdisplay.php?tipNo=023
RAKESH KUMAR
23. Sep, 2008
I am using MS Word in this i am unable to change fonts as i am getting only one font option i e Device Fonts. I am unable to get fonts like courier,ariel or any other fonts. I tried to change the default fonts settings but i am unable to change the fonts there also as i am getting only one font there, kindly help me in this matter. i am sending one link in which there iit is showing all the fonts in the font option ………..kindly help me at the earliest
http://www.lostintechnology.com/how-to/how-to-change-the-default-settings-in-microsoft-word-2007
Scott Butler
10. Nov, 2008
I have changed the paragraph default settings again and again and they will not stay. I work on the same document without closing it and the paragraph spacing option continually goes back to the original setting. It is very frustrating! Why is this?
Christina
27. Jan, 2010
that happened to me too.
Kyle Judkins
11. Nov, 2008
I’m not sure why it would change while you are working on it. Have you tried opening a new document and starting form scratch?
Kyle Green
05. Dec, 2008
Kyle your a life saver! Thanks for the help on changing the defaults. I should also add your a computer saver as I will no longer be on the verge of destroying mine in frustration! Thanks!
Barbara
21. Jan, 2009
I have been using Word 2007 now for about 2 years. I have always been able to change the font and paragraph defaults. I’ve just received a new computer and now those particular default buttons do not work. I’ve tried changing the “Normal” style and use it, but every setting defaults to Calibri (Body) 11pt. What am I missing? Never had this problem in the past. Thanks for any help you can provide.
Noelia
01. Feb, 2009
Thanks for the advice! Now I don’t have to change the settings every time…
RJ
16. Feb, 2009
I have changed my default settings in Word 2007 to pretty much look like Word 2003. However, on last default setting eludes me. Whenever I hit enter to move down to the next line while creating a document the first letter of that line is capitalized. How do I change the default setting in Word 2007 so that the first letter is not capitalized? Thanks for any help you can provide.
Grateful
16. Feb, 2009
Thank you very much!!!!!!!!!! Your tip will save countless minutes of changing their ridiculous defaults.
Tim
18. Feb, 2009
I want to change the paragraph option of “Don’t add a line between paragraphs of the same style,” to keep that box checked but every time I check the box and click default it doesn’t keep it set to that. Any suggestions?
Hope
05. Apr, 2009
Thanks these tips have been really helpful!
Here are some more q’s maybe I could get some answers on
I have the same problem with the “add a line” button. It drives me crazy! How can I get the default to keep it checked?
Also the tool bar at the top always hides how and I have to re-open it every time I want to change something. This always drives me insane. One day it suddenly changed and started doing that. Suggestions?
MyMath
01. May, 2009
I use the drawing tool bar to create drawings for math and need to reset the defaults so the alignment is for the page not the margin and the drawing in always behind the text . can this be done. It is annoying having to reset it before and after grouping and ungrouping pictures together.
Thank you for your help.
cjk26
13. May, 2009
first thing i saw gave me the help i needed
thank you very much!!
Loz
03. Jun, 2009
Thankyou so much!
I had so much trouble, I had no idea how to adjust the settings to suit my needs but now it’s all customised. Thankyou!
x
ahmed
19. Jun, 2009
the items (file,edit,view,favourites,tools,help) do not appear on the top of my word document ,plz how to make these items appear
Bonnie
01. Jul, 2009
Every time I use “Find” and “Replace” Word sets the Find function to search from the point I am in the document, downward. I want it to search the entire document. How do I change what appears to be a really stubborn default setting?
Thanks!
Shai
02. Jul, 2009
Enumerate the Default settings of the Microsoft Word 2007.
john
22. Jul, 2009
thank you
kerri
16. Aug, 2009
Thank you so much. I really got tired of always having to change settings every time i would open up a word document
laurie
24. Aug, 2009
All of my documents open with the cursor at the very very top of the page. If I “add header” it moves into the correct location. If I don’t add the header, the page will correctly print as if I had added the header. There’s no default for adding headers as far as I can find. Help!
Marie
01. Sep, 2009
Thank you…. this info was great. the “normal” / default setting was driving me crazy. I have changed it to the way I like. Thanks again.
Kyle Judkins
01. Sep, 2009
I’m glad I could help!
kiran
22. Sep, 2009
I want to change the paragraph option of “Don’t add a line between paragraphs of the same style,” to keep that box checked but every time I check the box and click default it doesn’t keep it set to that. Any suggestions?
blackfish
24. Sep, 2009
I need HELP!!! i wrote this letter on word and now for some reason when ever i open a new document i see it. i don’t know how to change the settings so that everytime i open up word i have a blank page
illmatic
30. Sep, 2009
awesome, thanks for this
Bernd
16. Oct, 2009
Is there any possibility to open .log, .tmp or .dat – files with Word 2007 and get simple, plain and readable text t? I’ve tried so many different text readers and still can´t get to read one complete sentence.
Regards,
Bernd Dillmann
Mary
09. Nov, 2009
I have the same problem as several people here — a couple ‘paragraph’ default settings won’t stick where I want them to (the add-a-line and the widow-control). Do you know what the problem is? Thanks! And thsi may look like a duplicate comment, but the first time I failed to push the “notify me” button.
Kyle Judkins
09. Nov, 2009
I’ve looked into the issue, but I’m not sure what is causing it.
Katie
15. Nov, 2009
Thank you for your help. The default double spacing was doing my head in!!
Mary
16. Nov, 2009
Hi Kyle — I’ve noticed that after I’ve unsuccessfully set my default to single line spacing and no widow control, I open up a new document and the “styles” go right to “Normal” instead of “No spacing”, but I can’t figure out how to change the default “style”. Incidentally, the No spacing style isn’t really my default because the widow control is back on. Does this information help?
vindicator
28. Nov, 2009
On the Mac version of Word there is no ‘Default’ button in the Paragraph tab. Is there another way or is it just not possible?
Mothy
29. Nov, 2009
Wow. That annoyed me for the longest time. I cant believe i missed that little arrow. Who would have guessed it solved the problem.
I love you really. Really.
Btw, i also check the box in the paragraph settings that puts a space in between paragraphs. Whenever I type a single-spaced paper I would never put a space in between every paragraph… its just stupid.
ams
08. Dec, 2009
Thank you!! You’ve just made my life saner, and i suppose better in under a minute.
joon
08. Dec, 2009
any more thoughts on how to fix 2007 defaults that won’t “stay”. I too keep changing the default, and requesting “no space after paragraph” no line, etc., but no matter what i do the issue does not resolve itself. thanks…anyone!
Kyle Judkins
08. Dec, 2009
Unfortunately, I don’t know the answer to your problem. It seems to work for me using the same methodology as above, but every machine can act different.
Mary
08. Dec, 2009
I think I fixed my obstinate default. I highlighted the style up top in the menu bar that says “no spaces”, went to the “change styles” spot, clicked on it and then clicked on “save as default”. I *think* that’s what I did, but I can’t be sure cuz I futzed around a lot with things before it worked. Although I’m not sure on the how, I am sure that I had to fix something in styles to get the default to stick.
Tom
17. Dec, 2009
Thanks dude, no idea why I couldn’t figure this out earlier but it will seriously save me some aggravation in the future.
Lisa Hicks
02. Jan, 2010
When I type and make a mistake and go back to correct it, as I type in the correct word or letters my original typing starts to disappear. I believe I have touched a wrong button on my keyboard.
Kyle Judkins
02. Jan, 2010
You should be able to hit the Insert key to change this option.
Bremol
03. Jan, 2010
I can’t get the ’show white space between pages in print layout view’ to stay unchecked in Word Options no matter how many times I uncheck it. I’m getting extremely frustrated because I don’t like the white space when I use the Print Layout View.
Any idea how to make Word keep the setting?
Lila
04. Jan, 2010
recently, i was trying to find out how to add the corner squares in MS word 07, which i still havent found the answer too.
BUT, something changed, and now some of the “blue” writing on thew keys is whats activated, and not the normal buttons, eg, when i push the “/” button, i get é.
PLEASE, can someone help me fix this, or tell me how to restore all of the word settings, back to normal,
THANKS, in advance!
Israel
21. Jan, 2010
For those of you having this problem “Don’t add a line between paragraphs of the same style,” to keep that box checked but every time I check the box and click default it doesn’t keep it set to that. I have a solution that worked for me and should work for you. Try this first. If this doesn’t work, please post, I have one other thing you can try. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/921174
Christina
27. Jan, 2010
Thank you for your help! I was wondering how to do that.