Customization to the Normal template is lost after you upgrade to Word 2013

Article ID: 2790616 - View products that this article applies to.
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Symptoms

After you upgrade to Microsoft Word 2013 from an earlier version of Word, customization to the Normal template is lost.
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Cause

This issue occurs because Word creates a new Normal.dotm file when you upgrade to Word 2013. This is so that the default document template is optimized for Word 2013.


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Resolution

To resolve this issue, add the MigrateNormalOnFirstBoot registry entry to the registry before you start Word 2013 after you upgrade Word. This registry entry prevents Word 2013 from renaming existing or custom Normal.dotm files. To add the registry entry, follow these steps: 
  1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
  2. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Word\Options
  3. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD (32-bit) Value.
  4. Type MigrateNormalOnFirstBoot, and then press ENTER.
  5. In the Details pane, right-click MigrateNormalOnFirstBoot, and then click Modify.
  6. In the Value data box, type 1, and then click OK.
  7. Exit Registry Editor.
The behavior of Word 2013 changes, depending on the presence and configuration of MigrateNormalOnFirstBoot. The following sections describe the behavior in more detail.

When you upgrade from Word 2003 to Word 2013

The following behavior occurs when MigrateNormalOnFirstBoot is set to 0 or is not present:
  • The Normal.dot file is renamed NormalOld.dot when you start Word 2013. 
  • All new documents that you create use the Word 2013 format.
  • Any customization in the Normal.dot file is not available in new blank documents. 
  • A new Normal.dotm file is created when you exit Word 2013.
The following behavior occurs when MigrateNormalOnFirstBoot is set to 1:
  • Word 2013 opens the Normal.dot file and up-converts the file to a Normal.dotm file. Therefore, new documents that you create use the Word 2013 format. 
  • A new Normal.dotm file is created when you exit Word 2013. The new Normal.dotm file is an up-converted version of the Normal.dot file that includes all customizations. 
  • The old Normal.dot file is not changed. 

When you upgrade from Word 2007 or Word 2010 to Word 2013

The following behavior occurs when MigrateNormalOnFirstBoot is set to 0 or is not present:
  • The Normal.dot file is renamed NormalOld.dot when you start Word 2013. 
  • All new documents that you create use the Word 2013 format. 
  • Any customization in the Normal.dot file is not available in new blank documents. 
  • A new Normal.dotm file is created when you exit Word 2013. 
The following behavior occurs when MigrateNormalOnFirstBoot is set to 1:
  • Word 2013 uses the existing Normal.dotm file that is compatible with Word 2007 and Word 2010.

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Status

This behavior is by design.
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More information

For more information about the issue, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 
310516
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310516/ )
How to add, modify, or delete registry subkeys and values by using a registration entries (.reg) file
2000271
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2000271/ )
How to automatically migrate your Normal.dot during an upgrade to Office 2007
2408845
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2408845/ )
Customization to the Normal template is lost in upgrade to Word 2010

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Properties

Article ID: 2790616 - Last Review: December 17, 2012 - Revision: 1.0
Applies to
  • Microsoft Word 2013
Keywords: 
kbsurveynew kbexpertiseinter kbbug kbtshoot KB2790616
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