How To Change A Word Document From Compatibility Mode

Word Compatibility Mode – What Is It?

When you open up a document in Discussion, you lot may sometimes come across the text [Compatibility Mode] in the Title bar adjacent to the document name. In this article, you lot volition learn well-nigh what Compatibility Mode means, how you tin observe out what Compatibility Way a document is in, how you lot tin can update a document so it is no longer in Compatibility Way, and more than…

This article applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word for Microsoft 365 (run into How to notice out what version of Give-and-take you have, if needed).

In Word, there are more concepts related to compatibility than Compatibility Mode.

If you lot want to learn about the compatibility options and layout options listed in the Word Options dialog box, at the bottom of the Advanced category options, run into my article Word Layout Options & Compatibility Options.

For details near how to set the compatibility options via VBA (macros), run into my article How to Set Word Compatibility Options via VBA.

This article was first published March v, 2020.

Most the Compatibility Mode of a Word document

If a Word document shows the text [Compatibility Style] in the title bar, it means that the document was created or last saved in an earlier version of Give-and-take than the version you are using.

Example: You are using Word for Microsoft 365. You open a document that was created in or last saved in Give-and-take 2010. The text [Compatibility Mode] will appear afterward the document proper noun in the Championship bar on your computer. On the other mitt, if the same certificate is opened in Discussion 2010, [Compatibility Mode] will not exist shown.

Note that Give-and-take 2013, 2016, 2019, and 365 are already compatible. Therefore, you volition not see the text [Compatibility Mode] if, for example, yous open a document in Word for Microsoft 365 even if the document was created or last saved in Word 2013, 2016, or 2019.

Effigy 1 . Compatibility Manner shown in the Championship bar of Word document means that it was created or last saved in an before version of Give-and-take than the version you are using.

As long as a document is showing [Compatibility Mode], new or inverse Word features that were not included in the earlier version volition exist disabled. This ways that the document can all the same be edited by people who are using the earlier version of Give-and-take. Besides, a document in Compatibility Mode preserves the layout of the document from the before version.

In many cases, yous can just ignore the information about Compatibility Mode. Nevertheless, if yous understand what it ways, you can ameliorate decide whether you want or demand to update the document to go out of Compatibility Mode.

If you lot open up a document that is showing [Compatibility Style], you tin catechumen it to the format of your current Give-and-take version. Note that this may alter the layout of the document. Also, people using an before version of Word may no longer be able to piece of work with all parts of the document that take been created using newer features.

How to remove Compatibility Mode in Discussion

See how to update a document to get out of Compatibility Style below.

How to find out which compatibility mode a Word document is in

The text [Compatibility Mode] in the Title bar tells you that the document was created or last saved in an earlier version of Word. However, the information does non tell you which Give-and-take version it originates from.

You can find out which specific fashion the document is in. The post-obit steps apply to Word 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 365.

1. SelectFile >Info.
2. In the Inspect Document section, click the Bank check for Issues push > selectCheck Compatibility. See Effigy two below.
3. In the Microsoft Give-and-take Compatibility Checker dialog box that opens, click Select versions to bear witness. A check mark is shown next to the proper noun of the document's current fashion. See Figure 3 below.
4. Click OK.

Effigy two. Select File > Info > Check for Problems > Check Compatibility to notice the current fashion.

Figure 3. In the Microsoft Give-and-take Compatibility Checker dialog box, click Select versions to show. A cheque mark is shown next to the name of the certificate's current mode.

How to find out whether at that place are compatibility issues

In some situations, content in a Word document may alter if the document if opened in an earlier version than the version used when creating or editing the document. This happens, for instance, if yous accept used features for creating content that isn't supported in before versions of Word. If y'all know that a certificate is going to be opened by users with an earlier version of Discussion than the 1 you are using, it is relevant to check whether in that location will be compatibility issues.

TIP : If you know for sure that some users with earlier versions of Word need to work with a specific document, it may be most practical to change the Compatibility Mode dorsum to the earliest version in utilise. This will disable the features in your Word that are not compatible with the earlier version(due south). Then you don't gamble using content types that volition not work in earlier versions.

Yous tin can revert to an earlier Compatibility Way using a line of VBA macro code. Yous will detect such VBA code in my commodity How to Set Word Compatibility Options via VBA.

See likewise the information virtually special compatibility issues in relation to table later in this article.

Example: You have created a document in Give-and-take 2010 or a newer version of Discussion. Y'all accept inserted check box content controls in the document. If the document is to be opened in Word 2007 or an earlier version, Discussion tin't bear witness check box content controls since they were not implemented until Give-and-take 2010. Therefore, Give-and-take needs to modify the cheque box content controls to something else, as close to check box content controls as possible.

You tin can cheque whether in that location are such issues in relation to the content in a certificate. The following steps apply to Give-and-take 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 365.

1. SelectFile >Info.
2. In theInspect Certificate section, click theCheck for Issues button > selectCheck Compatibility. See Figure ii above.
3. In theMicrosoft Word Compatibility Checker dialog box that opens, clickSelect versions to show. Select the Give-and-take version yous want to check compatibility with and uncheck other Word versions.
4. Check theSummary field. Word will describe whatsoever issues found and will also prove the number of occurrences for each type of issue.
5. Repeat pace 3 to check more Discussion versions, if relevant.
6. ClickOK when finished.
7. If needed, make changes to the document to handle the issues institute.

Effigy iv. The Microsoft Give-and-take Compatibility Checker dialog box tin can prove compatibility issues for dissimilar Discussion versions. In this example, the information tells that Word needs to modify check box content controls if the certificate is opened in Word 2007 (selected in the Select version to show – not visible hither).

How to update a certificate in Compatibility Mode to the current Word version and go out of Compatibility Mode

In the heading to a higher place, I take used the term "update" in relation to getting out of Compatibility Fashion. You lot may instead think of it as removing or turning off Compatibility Mode. No matter the term used, you lot can employ the procedures described as METHOD 1 and METHOD 2 below.

METHOD i – use Word's Catechumen feature to convert a document to the current Word version

Important: This method will replace the onetime version of the document with the new one. If you want to keep a re-create of the original version, salvage a backup re-create of it first.

If yous are using Give-and-take 2007:

1. Click the Office button (elevation-left corner of the window).
2. ClickConvert in the dialog box that opens.
3. If a bulletin opens, showing information about the conversion, click OK.
   If you want, yous can turn on the check box to prevent that message from actualization again (come across Figure 5 below).

If you are using Give-and-take 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365:

1. Select File > Info.
2. Click the Convert button (see Effigy v below).
3. If a bulletin opens, showing information about the conversion, click OK.
   If y'all want, you lot can plough on the check box Do not ask me again about converting documentsto prevent that message from actualization again (see Figure 6 below).

Figure 5. To convert a certificate to the electric current version, select File > Info and click Convert.

Figure six. Message about what happens when converting a Give-and-take document.

The text [Compatibility Manner] disappears from the Title bar when yous click OK in step 3 higher up. In case the certificate was in .doc or .dot format (formats from Discussion 2003 or earlier), the extension will not change to the newer file extension in the Title bar until you save the document (the extensions can exist .docx, .dotx, .docm, or .dotm). The old file will be replaced past the converted version.

METHOD 2 – use the Save Equally dialog box to convert a certificate to the current Word version

If a document has been set to maintain the compatibility with earlier versions of Word, y'all can have it converted to the current version of Give-and-take as follows:

1. Open the Salvage As dialog box (File > Save Every bit or press F12).
2. Turn off the cheque box Maintain compatibility with previous versions of Word. See Figure vii below.
3. If you want to keep the old version besides, blazon a new name in theFile name field. If you want to overwrite the onetime version, go on the same proper noun.
4. Click Save.

Figure vii. In the Salvage Asouth dialog box, turn off Maintain compatibility with previous versions of Word and click Relieve.

How to change a document to Compatibility Fashion and why y'all might want to exercise that

In that location may be situations where y'all want to set up a certificate back to Compatibility Mode. This could be the instance if you want to be able to turn on a special compatibility option that was available in an earlier version of Discussion and that is not available in the electric current version. Yous will observe a detailed overview of all Word compatibility options in my commodity Word Layout Options & Compatibility Options.

The situation may as well exist that you rely on Word add-ins or macros that are not compatible with your version of Word.

You may also want to set a certificate dorsum to a specific Compatibility Manner if users elsewhere need to work with the document and if those users are using an earlier version of Word.

You tin can set a document dorsum to a specific Compatibility Way using a macro. Y'all will find macros for that purpose in my commodity How to Fix Word Compatibility Options via VBA.

What to practice if all new documents you create are in Compatibility Mode

As mentioned earlier, you lot may not demand to do annihilation about documents in Compatibility Fashion. Even so, you tin modify the state of affairs, if you lot desire.

What to do if new, blank documents you create in Give-and-take are in Compatibility Mode

If Word starts with a bare document in Compatibility Mode, it indicates that the template Normal.dotm is in Compatibility mode. To gear up that, y'all need to open the Normal.dotm template and convert it to the version you are using:

1. Start Word.
2. SelectFile >Open, browse to the folder where Normal.dotm is institute, select it and clickOpen up.

      The default location in Windows 10 is:
   C:\Users\[user name]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates

      If you can't encounter the folder AppData, run into How to brand hidden files and folders visible.

3. Convert Normal.dotm. Come across how to convert a certificate to a higher place.
4. Salve Normal.dotm and shut the file.

New, blank documents you create from now on will no longer be in Compatibility Way.

What to do if new documents you create using other templates than Normal.dotm are in Compatibility Mode

If you create new Word documents based on other templates than Normal.dotm and if such documents are in Compatibility Manner, it indicates that the template(s) in question are in Compatibility Mode.

To convert a template so it is no longer in Compatibility Mode:

1. Beginning Word.
2. SelectFile >Open up, browse to the folder where the template is found, select it and click Open up.

      The default location for custom templates in Windows 10 is:
   C:\Users\[user proper noun]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates

   If y'all tin can't come across the folder AppData, see How to make subconscious files and folders visible.

      Note that your template may be saved in another folder. If the agile document is attached to template, you tin find the template path via Developertab > Certificate Template. The path is shown in the topmost field in the Templates and Add together-ins dialog box. If needed, encounter How to show the Developer tab in Word.

3. Convertthe template. Run across how to catechumen a document above.
4. Save and close the template.

From now on, new documents yous create based on that template will no longer exist in Compatibility Style. Repeat the steps above for all templates that need to be converted.

What to do if new documents change to Compatibility Mode when saving

If all new documents y'all create alter to Compatibility Mode when you salvage the document, the cause is most probable the setting of a specific Salve option in Word. Practice as follows:

1. In Word, selectFile >Options.
   In example of Word 2007: Office push button > Word Options.
2. SelectSave to get access to the save options. Come across Figure 7 beneath.
3. Click theSave files in this formatlist and select the first option,Give-and-take Document (*.docx). Run into Figure 7 below.
4. Click OK.
5. In the next dialog box that opens, clickYesif you want to alter the default setting for all Office applications. Run into Figure ix below.

From now on, new documents you save volition be in .docx format uniform with your current Discussion version.

Figure 8. Fix Salve files in this format to the first option to have all new documents saved in .docx format uniform with your current version of Give-and-take.

Figure 9. Select whether y'all desire to change the default setting for all Office applications.

Special compatibility issues with tables – before and after Word 2013

Since Word 2013, tables have behaved differently than in Discussion 2010 and earlier versions. This is due to a Microsoft pattern change:

• Discussion 2010 and before versions: Left and right cell margins exceed folio margins.
• Word 2013 and newer versions: Left and right prison cell margins do non exceed page margins.

This ways that the width of tables with left and correct cell margins that were created in Word 2010 or earlier (or created in documents in Word 2010 Compatibility Mode), will be reduced if the document is converted to Discussion 2013 or newer format. A reduced tabular array width may cause dissimilar line breaks in cells and may cause row heights to increase. Such changes may also cause different page breaks. Therefore, y'all should bank check documents with tables carefully to right issues, if needed.

Encounter the illustration beneath.

Effigy 10. Example showing a tabular array with left and right prison cell margins, before and after converting from Word 2010 format to a newer format. The ruby-red lines show where the margins are. For further details, read the text in the tables in the illustration.

What to exercise if you need to convert to a newer format than Give-and-take 2010 and, at the aforementioned time, preserve the table widths and left alignment

If you need to convert documents that include a lot of tables created in Word 2010 or before, and if y'all – for whatsoever reason – demand to preserve the tabular array widths and left alignment unchanged, it requires quite a lot of work.

You will accept to reduce the left table indent corresponding to the cell margin of the left-well-nigh cell(due south). In add-on, you must compensate for the reduced cavalcade widths. Not all tables may exist regular. If in that location are merged cells, different prison cell margins, and other irregular layout, it rapidly becomes complex. It is possible to write VBA macros to handle the corrections. If all kinds of possible variations are to be taken into account, it isn't piece of block. Personally, I have had to handle such changes in very big and complex documents – I know by experience how many variants and details need to be taken into business relationship.

If at all possible, I recommend that you conform the tables to compensate for too narrow columns, inappropriate line breaks or page breaks and that you don't try to make the tables await totally as before.

Personally, I notice that the certificate layout looks much cleaner when the tables are aligned to the margins instead of exceeding the margins. Until Give-and-take 2010, I always set up the cell margins to 0 (naught) and added indentation to the styles I used in tables in social club to accept the table and margins align.

Related information

Come across my commodity Word Layout Options & Compatibility Options for a detailed overview of all compatibility options in Word, including information near which options are institute in which versions of Word.

Setting compatibility options via VBA (macros): My article How to Set up Word Compatibility Options via VBA includes macros ready for utilise. The macros let you ready all Discussion compatibility options, change the Compatibility Mode of a certificate, and more.

For an overview of changes in Discussion features between versions, see the Microsoft article Compatibility changes between versions.

For information on setting Compatibility Way via Group Policy, see Manage compatibility mode for Office.

Source: https://www.thedoctools.com/word-macros-tips/word-tips/word-compatibility-mode/

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