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Word cannot open the existing global template Normal.dotm

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)

Posted on Nov 3, 2015 3:06 PM

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Posted on May 26, 2017 1:03 PM

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.

45 replies

Dec 13, 2016 6:55 AM in response to PinkLady100

This might be a little late but figure to put in my 2 cent. I'm a IT admin and had to deal with the same problem for an employee recently. Turns out the problem was caused by the user accidentally renaming the Macintosh HD on the desktop to something else. Oddly enough it doesn't affect the Mac from booting up and still allows you to open most apps except for programs like Office. Changing the name back to "Macintosh HD" fixed it for me.


Give this a try before doing something drastic like reformatting the computer.

Dec 13, 2016 7:18 AM in response to Csound1

I tried the other methods mentioned in this discussion and others to no avail regarding creating new templates and deleting files in the var folders.


Maybe I should have used the phrase "your default HD name" instead of "Macintosh HD" to explain my solution. In any case, I'm just glad I was able to fix the problem without having to reformat the Mac since this was the Senior VP's computer. =)

Word cannot open the existing global template Normal.dotm

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