Want to save Word files in a different folder by default? Here is a simple way to change the default save location in Word.
In the world of document creation and editing, there is no other application that is as popular or feature-rich as Microsoft Word. This is true for both professional and non-professional environments. Using the Word app, you can create the simplest of documents to the most complex pages with a lot of styles, formatting, graphs, graphics, and much more. Put simply, Word is the king when it comes to document creation.
When you save a file in Word, it is automatically saved to the user-specific Documents folder. Usually, the default Documents folder is located at “%USERPROFILE%/Documents”. If you don’t like the original behavior and want it to save files in a different folder by default, you can simply change the default save location in Word.
For example, if you want the Word application to save files in your work folder by default, you can set it as the default save location. It is actually pretty simple to do. That way, you don’t have to manually move the files or use the Save As option.
In this quick and simple guide, let me show you the steps to change default save location in Word. These steps will work in Word 2013, Word 2016, Word 2019, and Word 365.
Steps to change default save location in Word
Changing the default save location in Word is pretty simple. You just open the Word options, go to the Save tab and change the default Save folder. Here are the steps.
- Open the Word application.
- Click on the “Options” button on the sidebar.
- Select the “Save” tab on the sidebar.
- Click “Browse” next to the “Default local file location” field.
- Select the folder of your choice and click “Ok“.
- Click on the “Ok” button in the Word Options window.
With that, you have changed the default save location in Word. From now on, whenever you create a new document and save it, Word will automatically save it in the new location. Of course, there might be occasional situations where you might want to save a document in some other location. In those cases, you can use the Save As option.
Word Save Location FAQ
Yes, you can it from the Word Settings window. Open the Word Options, go to the Save tab, and type the new folder location in the “Default local file location” field. Once you do that, you might have to restart the Word application to apply changes.
Yes, you can use OneDrive as the save location. Just set the default save location to your OneDrive folder and you are good to go. There is no need for any special steps.
No, you have to manually move them to the new location. Since they are just Word documents, it should be that hard. Keep in mind that when you move files, you might no longer see them in the Recent Documents section until you open them in Word the next time.
That is all. It is that simple to change default save location in Word on Windows and other operating systems. If you are stuck or need some help, comment below and I will try to help as much as possible.
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I am using word 365 and would like to change default save, but the “option” under the “file” is not active to click on it and make the change. How can I make it active. tks.
It might be because the option is restricted by an administrator or there is an issue with your Word 365 installation. I recommend you check the Office activation status by going to File > Account. If your Office is properly activated, try opening Word as admin and then see if you can access the File > Option. If not, you might have to reinstall Office to fix installation errors.