Edit a template by opening it as a document, not as a template

When you open a Word template file (.dotx), Microsoft Word normally opens it as a new blank document based on that template — it does not let you edit the template itself. To change the template, you need to open it in a way that lets you modify the original file. The simplest method is to right-click the template file in File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac), choose "Open With," and select Word, then look for an option that says "Edit Template" or open it through Word's File menu using "Open" instead of "New."

If you are working inside Word already, go to File, then Open, navigate to your template file, and click it once. Before clicking the Open button, look for a small dropdown or checkbox that says "Open as Template" or similar — uncheck it so Word opens the actual template file rather than creating a new document from it. Once the template itself is open, you can edit the text, formatting, images, and fields just like any other document.

Key Takeaways

  • Templates open as new documents by default in Word, so you must use "Open as" or right-click options to edit the template file itself.
  • Placeholder text, formatting, and fields inside a template are edited the same way as regular document content — select and change them directly.
  • Content controls (the boxes that say "Click here to add text") can be edited, deleted, or created through the Developer tab in Word.
  • Save your changes back to the .dotx file, not as a new document, so the template updates for future use.
  • Test the template by creating a new document from it to make sure your edits appear correctly and placeholders work as intended.

Find and open your template file the right way

Word templates are usually stored in a specific folder on your computer. On Windows, they are typically in C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates. On Mac, they are in ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/User Content/Templates. If you saved a template somewhere else, use File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) to locate it — look for files ending in .dotx.

Once you find the file, right-click it and choose "Open With" and then Word. A dialog box may appear asking whether you want to open it as a template or edit the template. Choose the option to edit the template. If no dialog appears, the file opened as a new document instead — close it without saving and try again using Word's File menu: click File, then Open, navigate to the template, and look for a checkbox or dropdown before opening that says "Open as Template" — make sure it is unchecked or set to "Edit Template."

Edit text, formatting, and images in the template

Once the template is open for editing, you can change any text you see. Select the text you want to replace, delete it, and type new text. This works for titles, instructions, placeholder text, or any other words in the template. You can also change fonts, colors, spacing, and alignment the same way you would in a regular document — highlight the text and use the formatting buttons in the ribbon at the top.

To edit or replace images, click the image once to select it, then either delete it and insert a new one, or right-click it to crop, resize, or change its properties. If the template has a logo or header image you want to keep but modify, you can edit it in place or swap it for a different file. Any changes you make to formatting, colors, or layout will appear in every new document created from this template going forward.

Work with content controls and placeholder boxes

Many templates contain content controls — the boxes that say "Click here to add [Name]" or "Click here to add text." These are special fields that guide users on where to type. To edit or delete a content control, you first need to enable the Developer tab in Word. On Windows, go to File, then Options, then Customize Ribbon, and check the box next to Developer. On Mac, go to Word, then Preferences, then Ribbon and Toolbar, and check Developer.

Once the Developer tab is visible, click on a content control to select it. You can now delete it, change its label, or modify its properties. To change what the placeholder says, click the content control and look for a "Design Mode" button in the Developer tab — turn it on, edit the text inside the control, then turn Design Mode off. If you want to add a new content control, use the buttons in the Developer tab to insert a text box, dropdown, date picker, or other field type, then configure its properties.

Save the template so changes explore to future documents

After you finish editing, save the file by pressing Ctrl+S (Windows) or Command+S (Mac), or by going to File and clicking Save. Make sure you are saving it as a .dotx file — if a dialog box asks what format to use, choose "Word Macro-Enabled Template" (.dotm) if the template contains macros, or "Word Template" (.dotx) for a standard template. Do not save it as a regular .docx document, or it will no longer function as a template.

The file name should remain the same so that Word recognizes it as the updated version of your template. If you accidentally saved it as a document instead of a template, close it, find the original template file, and repeat the process of opening it for editing, making your changes, and saving it back as a .dotx file.

Test the template by creating a new document from it

After saving your changes, create a test document to make sure the template works correctly. Go to File, then New, and look for your template in the list of available templates. Click it to create a new document based on the updated template. Check that all your text changes appear, formatting looks correct, images are in place, and content controls work as expected — you should be able to click them and type without errors.

If something looks wrong, go back to the template file, open it for editing again, make the correction, save it, and test once more. This step catches mistakes before you or others use the template for real work. Once you are satisfied, the template is ready to use.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between opening a template and editing a template?

Opening a template creates a new blank document based on that template — you are working on a copy, not the original. Editing a template modifies the original file itself, so all future documents created from it will include your changes. Word defaults to opening templates as new documents to prevent accidental edits.

Can I edit a template that came with Word?

Yes, but Microsoft's built-in templates are stored in a protected location. It is safer to save a copy of the template to your Documents or Templates folder, edit the copy, and use that instead. This way you keep the original unchanged in case you need it later.

Why does my template open as a new document instead of letting me edit it?

Word is designed to open templates as new documents by default. Use File > Open, navigate to the template file, and look for a checkbox or dropdown that says "Open as Template" — uncheck it or change it to "Edit Template" before clicking Open.

What happens if I save my template edits as a .docx file by mistake?

The file becomes a regular document, not a template, and Word will no longer treat it as a template. Open the original template file again, make your edits, and save it as .dotx. If you want to keep the .docx version as a reference, save it with a different name.

Can I edit a template on a Mac the same way as Windows?

The steps are nearly identical. The main difference is the folder location for templates and the keyboard shortcut for saving (Command+S instead of Ctrl+S). The Developer tab and content control editing work the same way on both systems.