How To Set Up A Letter Template In Word

Whether yous're starting from a born template or updating one of your own, Word'southward built-in tools help you lot update templates to suit your needs. To update your template, open up the file, make the changes you lot want, and and so salvage the template.

In Microsoft Word, you lot tin create a template by saving a document as a .dotx file, .dot file, or a .dotm fie (a .dotm file blazon allows you to enable macros in the file).

Click File > Open up.
Double-click This PC. (In Word 2022, double-click Computer).
Browse to the Custom Role Templates folder that'southward under My Documents.
Click your template, and click Open.
Make the changes you want, then relieve and close the template.

Add content controls to a template

Brand your templates flexible by adding and configuring content controls, such every bit rich text controls, pictures, driblet-down lists, or date pickers.

For example, you might create a template that includes a drop-downward list. If y'all allow editing to the drop-down list, other people can change the list options to meet their needs.

Note:If content controls are not bachelor, yous may have opened a certificate or a template that was created in an earlier version of Word. To use content controls, you must convert the document to the Word 2022 file format by clicking File > Info > Convert, and so clicking OK. After you convert the certificate or template, save information technology.

Before you can add content controls, you need to show the Developer tab.

Click File > Options > Customize Ribbon.
Under Customize the Ribbon, select Main Tabs.
In the list, select the Developer bank check box, and then click OK.

Turning on the Developer tab in the Word ribbon

Add content controls

On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click Design Way, and then insert the controls that you lot desire.

developer mode design button

Insert a text control where users tin can enter text

In a rich text content command, users can format text as bold or italic, and they can type multiple paragraphs. If you want to limit what users add, insert the plain text content control.

In the document, click where y'all want to insert the command.
On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click Rich Text Content Control or the Plain Text Content Command .

Insert a picture control

Click where you want to insert the control.
On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click Picture Command .

Insert a philharmonic box or a driblet-down listing

In a philharmonic box, users can select from a list of choices that y'all provide or they tin type in their own information. In a drop-downward list, users tin merely select from the listing of choices.

On the Programmer tab, in the Controls group, click the Combo Box Content Command or Drop-Down List Content Command .
Select the content command, and then on the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click Backdrop.
To create a listing of choices, click Add nether Combo Box Properties or Drop-Downward Listing Backdrop.
Type a choice in the Brandish Name box, such equally Yes, No, or Maybe. Repeat this footstep until all of the choices are in the drop-down list.
Fill in any other properties that yous want.

Note:If you lot select the Contents cannot be edited check box, users won't exist able to click a choice..

Insert a date picker

Click where you want to insert the date picker command.
On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click the Appointment Picker Content Control .

Insert a bank check box

Click where yous want to insert the check box control.
On the Programmer tab, in the Controls grouping, click the Check Box Content Control .

Insert a edifice block gallery control

You tin use building block controls when yous want people to cull a specific block of text.

For instance, edifice cake controls are helpful if y'all're setting up a contract template, and you demand to add dissimilar average text depending on the contract's specific requirements. You can create rich text content controls for each version of the boilerplate text, so you can use a building block gallery control equally the container for the rich text content controls.

Yous can likewise utilize a building block control in a class.

Click where you lot want to insert the control.
On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click Building Block Gallery Content Control .
Click the content control to select it.
On the Developer tab, in the Controls grouping, click Backdrop.
Click the Gallery and the Category for the edifice blocks that you want to brand available in the building cake command.

Gear up or change the properties for content controls

Select the content control, and click Properties in the Controls grouping.
In the Content Control Backdrop dialog box, choose whether the content control tin can be deleted or edited when someone uses your template.
To keep several content controls or even a few paragraphs of text together, select the controls or the text, and then click Grouping in the Controls group.

For example, perhaps y'all have a iii-paragraph disclaimer. If you utilize the Group command to group the 3 paragraphs, the three-paragraph disclaimer cannot be edited and can be deleted only equally a group.

Add instructional text to a template

Instructional text can enhance the usability of the template that you create. You lot tin can change the default instructional text in content controls.

To customize the default instructional text for your template users, do the following:

On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click Design Mode.
Click the content control where you want to revise the placeholder instructional text.
Edit the placeholder text and format it any style y'all want.
On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click Design Mode to plow off the design characteristic and save the instructional text.

Add protection to a template

You tin can add protection to individual content controls in a template to aid forestall someone from deleting or editing a item content control or grouping of controls, or you lot tin assistance protect all of the template content with a password.

Add protection to parts of a template

Open the template that you want to add protection to.
Select the content controls to which you desire to restrict changes.

Tip:Select multiple controls past holding down the CTRL key while you click the controls.
On the Programmer tab, in the Controls group, click Group, and then click Group again.
On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click Properties.
In the Content Control Properties dialog box, nether Locking, practice any of the following:
- Select the Content command cannot be deleted cheque box, which allows the content of the control to exist edited merely the control itself cannot be deleted from the template or a document that is based on the template.
- Select the Contents cannot exist edited check box, which allows you to delete the control but does non allow you to edit the content in the command.

Use this setting when yous desire to protect text if it is included. For example, if you often include a disclaimer, yous tin help ensure that the text stays the aforementioned, and you tin delete the disclaimer for documents that don't require it.

Assign a password to a template

To assign a countersign to the certificate so that merely reviewers who know the password tin remove the protection, do the following:

Open the template that you want to assign a countersign to.
On the Review tab, in the Protect group, click Restrict Editing.
Under Kickoff enforcement, click Aye, Start Enforcing Protection.
Type a password in the Enter new password (optional) box, and so confirm the password.

Important:If you lot choose not to apply a password, anyone can change your editing restrictions.

Use stiff passwords that combine uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Weak passwords don't mix these elements. Strong countersign: Y6dh!et5. Weak countersign: House27. Passwords should be at least viii characters long. In general, longer a password is, the more than secure it is.

It is disquisitional that you lot retrieve your countersign. If y'all forget your password, Microsoft cannot retrieve it. Store the passwords that you write downwards in a secure identify away from the information that they help protect.

A template is a certificate type that creates a copy of itself when yous open up it.

For case, a business plan is a common certificate that is written in Word. Instead of creating the construction of the business plan from scratch, you can employ a template with predefined page layout, fonts, margins, and styles. All you take to do is open a template and fill in the text and the data that is specific to your document. When you save the document as a .docx or .docm file, yous save your certificate separately from the template on which information technology is based.

In a template, you tin provide recommended sections or required text for others to apply, likewise every bit content controls such as a predefined drop-down list or a special logo. Yous tin add protection to a section of a template, or you can apply a countersign to the template to help protect the contents of the template from changes.

You tin can find Discussion templates for virtually kinds of documents on Office.com. If y'all accept an Internet connection, click the File tab, click New, and then click the template category that you want. You tin also y'all tin can create your own templates.

You tin can start with a blank document and save it equally a template, or you can create a template that is based on an existing document or template.

Start with a blank template

Click the File tab, and then click New.
Click Blank document, then click Create.
Make the changes that you want to the margin settings, page size and orientation, styles, and other formats.

Yous can likewise add content controls such as a date picker, instructional text, and graphics that you desire to appear in all new documents that you base of operations on the template.
Click the File tab, and and so click Save As.
Requite the new template a file proper noun, select Discussion Template in the Save as type list, and so click Save.

Annotation:Y'all can likewise save the template as a Word Macro-Enabled Template (.dotm file) or a Discussion 97-2003 Template (.dot file).
Close the template.

Click the File tab, and then click New.
Under Available templates, click New from existing.
Click a template or a document that is similar to the one that you lot want to create, and then click Create New.
Brand the changes y'all want to the margin settings, folio size and orientation, styles, and other formats.

You tin can also add content controls such as a date picker, instructional text, and graphics you want to announced in all new documents that you base on the template.
Click the File tab, and then click Save Every bit.
Give the new template a file name, select Give-and-take Template in the Save as blazon listing, and then click Relieve.

Note:You can also salve the template as a Discussion Macro-Enabled Template (.dotm file) or a Word 97-2003 Template (.dot file).
Close the template.

Building blocks are reusable pieces of content or other document parts that are stored in galleries to be accessed and reused at any time. You can likewise save building blocks and distribute them with templates.

For example, you may create a report template that provides your template users with two cover alphabetic character types to choose from when they create their own report based on your template.

Save and close the template that you lot have designed only the fashion y'all want information technology and to which you want to add edifice blocks for template users to choose from.
Open the template.

Keep open up the template to which yous desire to add building block options for template users.
Create the building blocks that you want to provide to your template users.

When you fill out the information in the Create New Edifice Cake dialog box, in the Relieve in box brand sure to click the template proper name.
Distribute the template.

When you send or make the template available to others, the building blocks you saved with the template will be available in the galleries yous specified.

You can offer flexibility to anyone who may use your template past calculation and configuring content controls, such equally rich text controls, pictures, drop-downwardly lists, or date pickers.

For case, yous might provide a colleague with a template that includes a drop-down list, simply your colleague wants to use a different set of options in the drop-down list in the document that he'south distributing based on your template. Considering you lot immune editing to the drop-downward listing when y'all added the content control to the template, your colleague tin quickly and easily change the template to meet his needs.

Notation:If content controls are not available, you may accept opened a certificate or a template that was created in an before version of Word. To use content controls, you must convert the certificate to the Word 2010 file format past clicking the File tab, clicking Info, clicking Catechumen, and so clicking OK. Afterwards you catechumen the document or template, save it.

To add content controls, you need to evidence the Developer tab.

Show the Programmer tab

Click the File tab.
Click Options.
Click Customize Ribbon.
Under Customize the Ribbon , click Master Tabs.
In the list, select the Developer check box, and then click OK.

Add content controls

On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click Design Way, and then insert the controls that you want.

Office 2010 ribbon

Insert a text control where users can enter text

In a rich text content control, users tin format text as assuming or italic, and they can type multiple paragraphs. If you desire to limit what users add, insert the evidently text content control.

Click where you want to insert the control.
On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click Rich Text Content Control or the Plain Text Content Control .

Insert a picture control

Click where y'all want to insert the command.
On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click Moving-picture show Control.

Insert a philharmonic box or a drib-down listing

In a combo box, users can select from a list of choices that you provide or they can type in their ain information. In a driblet-down listing, users can only select from the listing of choices.

On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click the Philharmonic Box Content Control or Drib-Down Listing Content Control .
Select the content control, and and so on the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click Properties.
To create a listing of choices, click Add under Combo Box Properties or Driblet-Down List Properties.
Type a selection in the Display Name box, such every bit Yes, No, or Maybe.

Repeat this step until all of the choices are in the drib-down list.
Fill in any other properties that you want.

Notation:If y'all select the Contents cannot be edited bank check box, users won't be able to click a choice.

Insert a appointment picker

Click where you want to insert the date picker control.
On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click the Date Picker Content Command.

Insert a check box

Click where you want to insert the cheque box control.
On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click the Check Box Content Command.

Insert a building cake gallery command

You lot can use building block controls when you want people to choose a specific cake of text.

For case, building block controls are helpful if you're setting up a contract template, and you demand to add unlike boilerplate text depending on the contract'due south specific requirements. You tin can create rich text content controls for each version of the boilerplate text, and then you can use a building block gallery control as the container for the rich text content controls.

You tin can besides use a building block command in a course.

Click where you want to insert the control.
On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click Edifice Block Gallery Content Control.
Click the content command to select it.
On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click Properties.
Click the Gallery and the Category for the edifice blocks that you want to make available in the building cake control.

Set or change the properties for content controls

Select the content control, and click Properties in the Controls group.
In the Content Control Properties dialog box, cull whether the content control can be deleted or edited when someone uses your template.
To proceed several content controls or even a few paragraphs of text together, select the controls or the text, and and then click Grouping in Controls group.

For case, perhaps you accept a three-paragraph disclaimer. If yous use the Group command to group the iii paragraphs, the three-paragraph disclaimer cannot be edited and can be deleted only as a grouping.

Add instructional text to a template

Instructional text can raise the usability of the template that you lot create. You tin can change the default instructional text in content controls.

To customize the default instructional text for your template users, do the following:

On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click Design Fashion.
Click the content control where yous desire to revise the placeholder instructional text.
Edit the placeholder text and format it any way y'all want.
On the Programmer tab, in the Controls group, click Design Mode to turn off the blueprint feature and save the instructional text.

You lot can add protection to individual content controls in a template to help prevent someone from deleting or editing a particular content control or group of controls, or you tin help protect all of the template content with a countersign.

Add protection to parts of a template

Open up the template that you want to add protection to.
Select the content controls to which you want to restrict changes.

To select multiple controls concord down the CTRL central while you click the controls.
On the Programmer tab, in the Controls grouping, click Group, and and then click Grouping again.
On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click Properties.
In the Content Control Backdrop dialog box, nether Locking, practise any of the following:
- Select the Content control cannot exist deleted check box, which allows the content of the control to be edited but the control itself cannot exist deleted from the template or a document that is based on the template.
- Select the Contents cannot be edited check box, which allows y'all to delete the control simply does not allow you to edit the content in the control.
  
  Use this setting when you want to protect text if information technology is included. For example, if you often include a disclaimer, you can help ensure that the text stays the same, and yous can delete the disclaimer for documents that don't require it.

Assign a countersign to a template

To assign a password to the document then that only reviewers who know the password tin can remove the protection, do the post-obit:

Open the template that you want to assign a countersign to.
On the Review tab, in the Protect group, click Restrict Editing.
Under Offset enforcement, click Yes, Start Enforcing Protection.
Type a password in the Enter new password (optional) box, and then confirm the password.

Important:If yous choose non to use a password, anyone can change your editing restrictions.

Passwords should exist 8 or more characters in length.

Information technology is disquisitional that you remember your password. If you forget your password, Microsoft cannot retrieve it. Store the passwords that yous write down in a secure place away from the data that they help protect.

A template is a certificate blazon that creates a copy of itself when yous open it.

For instance, a concern programme is a common document that is written in Word. Instead of creating the structure of the business plan from scratch, you can use a template with predefined folio layout, fonts, margins, and styles. All y'all have to practise is open a template and make full in the text and the information that is specific to your document. When y'all save the document as a .docx or .docm file, you save your document separately from the template on which it is based.

In a template, you lot can provide recommended sections or required text for others to use, as well as content controls such as a predefined drib-downwardly listing or a special logo. Yous tin add protection to a section of a template, or you lot can apply a password to the template to help protect the contents of the template from changes.

You tin can find Give-and-take templates for virtually kinds of documents on Office.com. If you have an Internet connectedness, click the File tab, click New, so click the template category that you want. Y'all tin can also you can create your ain templates.

Of import: Office 2007 is no longer supported. Upgrade to Microsoft 365 to work anywhere from whatever device and go on to receive support.

Upgrade now

You can start with a blank document and save it as a template, or yous tin can create a template that is based on an existing document or template.

Start with a blank template

Click the Microsoft Office Button , and and then click New.
Click Blank document, and and so click Create.
Brand the changes that y'all want to the margin settings, page size and orientation, styles, and other formats.

Yous can likewise add instructional text, content controls such as a date picker, and graphics that y'all desire to announced in all new documents that you lot base on the template.
Click the Microsoft Office Button , and then click Save Equally.
Requite the new template a file name, select Give-and-take Template in the Save as type listing, and then click Save.

Note:Y'all can also save the template every bit a Word Macro-Enabled Template (.dotm file) or a Word 97-2003 Template (.dot file).
Close the template.

Click the Microsoft Office Button , and then click Open.
Open the document that yous want.
Make the changes that you want to appear in all new documents that you base on the template.
Click the Microsoft Office Button , and so click Save As.
Give the new template a file name, select Discussion Template in the Salve as type list, and and then click Salvage.

Notation:Y'all can also salvage the template as a Word Macro-Enabled Template (.dotm file) or a Word 97-2003 Template (.dot file).
Close the template.

Click the Microsoft Function Button , and so click New.
Under Templates, click New from existing.
Click a template that is like to the 1 that you desire to create, and so click Create New.
Brand the changes you want to the margin settings, page size and orientation, styles, and other formats.

You tin can as well add instructional text, content controls such equally a engagement picker, and graphics you want to appear in all new documents that you lot base on the template.
Click the Microsoft Office Button , and and then click Salvage Every bit.
Requite the new template a file name, click Word Template in the Save as type box, and then click Save.

Note:You tin likewise save the template as a Word Macro-Enabled Template (.dotm file) or a Discussion 97-2003 Template (.dot file).
Close the template.

Yous tin can offer flexibility to anyone who may use your template by adding and configuring content controls, such as rich text controls, pictures, drib-down lists, or date pickers.

For example, you might provide a colleague with a template that includes a drop-downwardly list, but your colleague wants to use a different set of options in the driblet-downwardly list in the document that he's distributing based on your template. Because you lot allowed editing to the drop-down listing when yous added the content control to the template, your colleague tin chop-chop and easily change the template to see his needs.

Add content controls

Note:You can also add together content controls to documents.

Click the Microsoft Function Button , and and so click Word Options.
Click Popular.
Select the Prove Developer tab in the Ribbon check box, and then click OK.

Notation:The Ribbon is a component of the Microsoft Office Fluent user interface.
Open the template to which y'all want to add content controls, and then click where you want to insert a control.
On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click the content control that yous want to add to your certificate or template.

For instance, yous can click Rich Text to insert a rich text command that will appear in any document that is created by using the template.

Notation:If content controls are not available, you may have opened a document that was created in an before version of Word. To use content controls, yous must convert the document to the Discussion 2007 file format past clicking the Microsoft Part Push , clicking Convert, and then clicking OK. After you convert the document, save it.
Select the content control, and click Properties in the Controls grouping.
In the Content Control Properties dialog box, choose whether the content control can be deleted or edited when someone uses your template.
To continue several content controls or even a few paragraphs of text together, select the controls or the text, and and so click Group in Controls grouping.

For example, perhaps yous have a three-paragraph disclaimer. If you utilise the Group command to group the three paragraphs, the three-paragraph disclaimer cannot be edited and can be deleted only as a group.

Add instructional text to a template

Sometimes it is useful to include placeholder instructions for how to fill out a particular content control that you take added to a template. The instructions are replaced by content when someone uses the template.

On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click Blueprint Mode.
If you haven't already added a content control to your certificate, click where you want the command to appear, and and so click a control.

Note:If content controls are non available, y'all may have opened a certificate created in an earlier version of Word. To employ content controls, y'all must convert the document to the Word 2007 file format past clicking the Microsoft Role Button , clicking Catechumen, so clicking OK. After you convert the certificate, save it.
On the Developer tab, in the Controls grouping, click Pattern Style.
Click the content control to which you want to add placeholder text.
Edit the placeholder text and format it any way y'all want.

If you add a text box content command and yous want the placeholder text to disappear when someone types in their ain text, in the Controls grouping, click Backdrop, and and so select the Remove content command when contents are edited cheque box.

Relieve and distribute edifice blocks with a template

Building blocks are reusable pieces of content or other document parts that are stored in galleries to be accessed and reused at any time. You can also save edifice blocks and distribute them with templates. For case, you may create a study template that provides your template users with two cover letter types to choose from when they create their own study based on your template.

Salvage and close the template that you have designed just the way you lot want it and to which you want to add building blocks for template users to choose from.
Open up the template.

Keep open the template to which yous desire to add edifice block options for template users.
Create the building blocks that you want to provide to your template users.

When you fill out the information in the Create New Building Cake dialog box, in the Salve in box make sure to click the template name.
Distribute the template.

When you lot send or make the template bachelor to others, the building blocks you saved with the template will be available in the galleries you specified.

You can add protection to individual content controls in a template to assistance forestall someone from deleting or editing a particular content control or group of controls, or y'all can help protect all of the template content with a password.

Add together protection to parts of a template

Open the template that you desire to add protection to.
Select the content controls or the grouping of controls to which you desire to restrict changes.
On the Programmer tab, in the Controls group, click Properties.
In the Content Control Properties dialog box, under Locking, do any of the following:
- Select the Content control cannot exist deleted check box, which allows the content of the control to be edited simply the control itself cannot exist deleted from the template or a document that is based on the template.
- Select the Contents cannot be edited check box, which allows you to delete the control but does non allow you to edit the content in the control.
  
  Employ this setting when you want to protect text if it is included. For example, if you lot often include a disclaimer, y'all can help ensure that the text stays the aforementioned, and you can delete the disclaimer for documents that don't require it.

Add protection to all of the contents of a template

Open up the template that you want to assistance protect from changes.
On the Programmer tab, in the Protect group, click Protect Document, and so click Restrict Formatting and Editing.
In the Protect Document task pane, under Editing restrictions, select the Allow only this type of editing in the certificate check box.
In the listing of editing restrictions, click the restrictions that y'all want.
To choose boosted restriction options, such as who can read or change the document, click Restrict permission.

Restriction options include setting an expiration appointment for the document and allowing users to copy content.
Under Start enforcement, click Yeah, Kickoff Enforcing Protection.
To assign a password to the document so that only reviewers who know the password tin remove the protection, blazon a password in the Enter new countersign (optional) box, and and so confirm the password.

Important:If you cull not to use a password, anyone can change your editing restrictions.

For example, a business plan is a common document written in Word. Instead of creating the structure of the business organization plan from scratch, you lot tin can utilize a template with predefined page layout, fonts, margins, and styles. All you take to do is open a template and fill in the text and the information that is specific to your document. When you save the document as a .docx or .docm file, you save your document separately from the template on which it is based.

Templates are exactly like documents in that yous can provide recommended sections or required text for others to use, also as content controls such every bit a predefined drop-downwardly list or a special logo. You can add protection to a section of a template, or you lot can employ a password to the template to help protect the contents of the template from changes.

You can find Word templates for most kinds of documents on Microsoft Office Online. If you have an Net connection, click the Microsoft Part Button Office button image , click New, and so click the template category that you want. Alternatively, y'all can create your own templates.