I am able to locate normal.dotm but don't see what I can actually do with it! No 'repair' option. Also, an error message 'unable to save global normal as I am opening WORD from a 'read only' folder. I have checked all 'info' data and appear to be able to read and write! What am I missing? Have checked all sources of help but unable to find definitive solution! Help!
MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.1)
this is an update for 2018 for this problem as the previous solutions didn't work for me.
1. go to Finder
2. Hold down options/alt button and open Go on Finder
3. click on Library
4.click on Application Support
5. click on Microsoft
6. click on Office
7. click on User Templates
8. delete item
Hope it works!
Open terminal
cd ~/Library/"Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/User Content.localized/Templates.localized/"
rm Normal.dotm
Apple Communities,
I have the identical issue. After deleting a folder and everything appears to be okay.
1. Go to Microsoft Word and Click New Template
2. Right-click a template you made and selected show in finder.
3. Delete a folder name "normal" and do not empty the trash (so that you can restore if something went wrong).
4. Force quit Microsoft Word.
5. Restart Microsoft Word and it should work.
Everything turns out fine and the "Word cannot open the existing global template Normal.Dotm" pop-up no longer appears when I open Microsoft Office.
****This solution does not guarantee the best outcome and do it at your risk.****
Danyaoo
Quit Word, Force Quit if necessary.
In Finder, pull down on the Go menu while pressing Option, and click on "Library".
In Library, open the folder "Group Containers"
In Group Containers, open the folder "xxxxxxxxx.Office", (where xxxxxxxx may be some kind of serial number, I am not sure if it is the same or different for each user, but it is the only .Office folder)
In the xxxxxxxxx.Office folder, open the folder "User Content"
In the User Content Folder, open "Templates"
In Templates, trash any file with the name "Normal," including the .bak files.
Restart Word; this worked for me.
I used a solution provided by ,Daniel tzhenyaoand it worked. I had to re-interpret instructions so I am re-pasting his original instructions with some clarifications on wording of steps. I underlined the parts i changed. Thanks Daniel
Daniel tzhenyaoJul 19, 2016 5:49 PM in response to PinkLady100
Level 1 (9 points)
Mac OS X
Jul 19, 2016 5:49 PM Re: Word cannot open the existing global template Normal.dotmin response to PinkLady100
Apple Communities,
I have the identical issue. After deleting a folder and everything appears to be okay.
1. Go to Microsoft Word and Click New from Template
2. Right-click a template that you have made and select show in finder.
3. Delete the file named "normal.dot" -- do not empty the trash (so that you can restore if something went wrong).
4. Force quit Microsoft Word.
5. Restart Microsoft Word and it should work.
Everything turns out fine and the "Word cannot open the existing global template Normal.Dotm" pop-up no longer appears when I open Microsoft Office.
****This solution does not guarantee the best outcome and do it at your risk.****
Thank you!
This worked, and the issue was driving me nuts.
Many thanks! It works for me!
Thank you for this simple answer!🙂
Worked perfectly, thanks! However, it's easier when you just search on '.office' in finder.
This worked wonderfully. Thank you!
Thanks!
Thank you marzzzA! that was a wonderful solution...!
great! worked for me as well ... finally!!
This does help for the latest Microsoft Word 15.41. The issue I have is it keeps coming back though.
Wow, worked perfectly for me. Thank You
Word cannot open the existing global template Normal.dotm
