How do I access downloaded Avery label files?

Unless you absolutely need these, I recommend against using the Avery "templates" which are not Word templates but rather are documents.

Templates in Microsoft Word

Instead, under the Mailings tab, Labels > Options (button) choose a built-in template for your label. Most Avery labels can be found there.

If you are determined to use the one from Avery, open it and use File > Save As and choose the template file type (.dotx). Then it should be available when you use File > New and go to your custom templates folder. Then start your mail merge using the new document. You would be using that document, based on the template, as your primary mail merge document and have to enter the merge fields.

Hi Bob

I'm AnnaThomas and I'd happily help you with your question. In this Forum, we are Microsoft consumers just like yourself.

You can follow these steps:

Open Word and create a new blank document. Click on the Mailings tab in the ribbon. Click on Start Mail Merge and select Labels. In the Label Options dialog box, select Avery US Letter from the Label vendors drop-down list. Find and select the product number that matches the Avery label templates you downloaded, then click OK. Click on Select Recipients and choose the source of your recipient list (e.g., an existing list or a new list). Arrange your labels by adding placeholders for the recipient information (e.g., name, address) in the first label. You can do this by clicking on Insert Merge Field and selecting the field you want to add. Click on Update Labels to apply the same layout to all labels. Preview your labels by clicking on Preview Results. Complete the mail merge by clicking on Finish & Merge and selecting an option (e.g., Edit Individual Documents or Print Documents).

Learn more: https://www.avery.com/help/article/word-mail-merge

Note: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page seems to provide accurate and reliable information. Beware of advertisements on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as PUPs (potentially unwanted products). Do thorough research on any product advertised on the site before downloading and installing it.

I hope this helps ;-), let me know if this is contrary to what you need, I would still be helpful to answer more of your questions.

Best Regards,

AnnaThomas

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Yes, that is another way to use an Avery label template in Word. If the Avery label template you want to use is not available in the Start Mail Merge list, you can try to find a built-in template that matches your label.

If you cannot find a matching built-in template, you can use the Avery template by saving it as a Word template (.dotx) file. This will make it available when you use File > New and go to your custom templates folder. You can then start your mail merge using the new document based on the saved template.

You can follow Charles's suggestion.

Hi Anna. Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately though, I wasn't clear enough on my situation.

The Avery label I want to use is #94238, which does not show up in the Start Mail Merge list. I therefore downloaded the template from Avery and at the moment it sits in my Download folder. I wasn't optimistic that the Mail Merge would 'see' it there and sure enough it didn't. I don't know where the templates are stored nor do I know whether Mail Merge would see it if I simply moved it there. I assume there must be some process to get Mail Merge to be able to use my downloaded template.

Thanks, Bob