So maybe you like the page that opens up every time with MS Word but maybe you also want that blank page that you originally had too. Well that’s also possible. This solution applies to all Microsoft Word 2008, 2003, 2002, XP and some previous versions also. Luckily there’s an easy way to get you original normal.dot back and also keep the edited version which you can later use as a template to start the odd document or two that you really intended it for.
![How to restore the normal template in word for mac 2016 pdf How to restore the normal template in word for mac 2016 pdf](/uploads/1/2/5/5/125504467/464918495.png)
![Template Template](/uploads/1/2/5/5/125504467/792193344.jpg)
Solution Step 1 – Save Your Existing Normal.dot As A Template (optional). First let’s save your existing non-blank normal.dot file as a new template so you can use it in the future if you wish. Open Microsoft Word. Word should open and display your edited non-blank normal.dot file. Click File Save As. Change the File Type to either Document Template (.dot) or Word Template depending in your version of Microsoft Office.
In Microsoft Word, you can customize the default document that opens when you open the program by editing the normal template -- called Normal.dotm -- file.