This error occurs when the Normal template file is locked and can usually be resolved by following the steps below.


Windows 10

  1. Close Microsoft Word
  2. Open File Explorer
  3. Navigate to View > Options > Change folder and search options
  4. Select the View tab and, in Advanced settings, select Show hidden files, folders, and drives and uncheck Hide protected operating system files, then click OK.
  5. Browse to C:\Users\your user name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates and rename Normal.dotm to Normal_old.dotm
  6. Open Microsoft Word which, in doing so, will create a new Normal.dotm file
  7. If everything is working correctly you can delete the Normal_old.dotm file
  8. Reverse the steps you took in steps 2 - 4 above. Leaving these options in their non-default state can be dangerous.


Windows 11

  1. Close Microsoft Word
  2. Open File Explorer
  3. Click the See more button (three dots) at the end of the toolbar and click Options
  4. Select the View tab and, in Advanced settings, select Show hidden files, folders, and drives and uncheck Hide protected operating system files, then click OK.
  5. Browse to C:\Users\your user name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates and rename Normal.dotm to Normal_old.dotm
  6. Open Microsoft Word which, in doing so, will create a new Normal.dotm file
  7. If everything is working correctly you can delete the Normal_old.dotm file
  8. Reverse the steps you took in steps 2 - 4 above. Leaving these options in their non-default state can be dangerous.