How to Set the Default File Extension in MS Word 2007

You can configure Word 2007 to use your preferred file extension.

By default, Microsoft Word 2007 saves all new documents in the DOCX file format, which can only be opened by people using Microsoft Office 2007 or later on their computer. If you routinely share documents with individuals who are using an older version of the Office suite, you may want to save all Word files in the DOC format. Through the Word Options section of Word 2007, you can change the default file extension that the program will use.

Things You'll Need

• PC running Windows XP or later

Instructions

1. Open Microsoft Word 2007 on your PC.

2. Click on the circular "Office" button in the upper-left corner of the screen, and then click on the "Word Options" button. A pop-up window will appear with various settings that you can change.

3. Navigate to the tab labeled "Save" on the left side of the window.

4. Click the gray arrow to open the drop-down menu next to "Save files in this format."

5. Choose the file extension that you want to use as the default from the drop-down list of options. You can choose from a variety of extensions, including .doc, .html and .txt.

6. Press the "OK" button at the bottom of the pop-up window to save the settings and change the default file extension in Word 2007.

References

• My Digital Life: Change Office 2007 Default File Save Formats and Extensions