How to Set Default File Paths in Microsoft Word

Do you find that Microsoft Word always looks in the same place for files, and it is not the place you would like it to look? The area that Word saves and opens files from is completely modifiable. If you find that you work off a flash drive more often than the hard disk, the path can be set so that it automatically searches the flash or disk drive. This can save considerable time when working with Word on a daily basis.

Things You'll Need

• Microsoft Windows
• Mouse
• MS Word

Instructions

1. 

   Select the “Tools” menu at the top of the Microsoft Word screen, and scroll the mouse arrow down to “Options…”, the very bottom choice (circled in red and highlighted in blue for the caption).

2. 

   Choose the “File Locations” tab in the large jumble of options. It will usually be found near the center, as you see it in the caption, circled in red.

3. 

   Select “Documents”, which is the top option in the middle portion of the box (highlighted in blue and circled in red), and click the “Modify” button, located on the bottom right hand corner of the box, also circled in red for the caption.

4. 

   Locate the path that Word is to search for files by browsing the folders on your computer, or the external drives (area circled in red for caption). Once the path is chosen, click “OK”, also circled in red here. The default path is now set, and Word will look for and store files in the area specified by you.

Tips & Warnings

• Once the path is set, check to be sure by typing Control+O (open) and seeing where Word searches.

• If the path is set to a flash drive, for instance, and the flash drive is out of the PC, Word will go back to its default area.