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How reduce Size of Word-Templates

Aleixa Gan 0 Reputation points
2026-01-11T19:15:17.9033333+00:00

I have a problem with some templates.

I use a lot of macros to speed up my routines. I also have a Quick Access Toolbar that directly calls the most frequently used macros.

When a template reaches the 2 MB limit, it starts to freeze.

In response to another similar question (Size of Word-Templates), it is recommended to copy with the ZIP extension and see which part is larger.

My current Normal is 1,928,237 MB. When converted to ZIP, two large files appear:

attachedToolbars.bin = 5,619,088 MB

vbaProject.bin = 2,990,080 MB

I have already exported (excluding) some macros to reduce the size of vbaProject.bin. But I don't know how to modify attachedToolbars.bin to reduce the size of Normal.dotm.

Thank you!!

Aleixa

Windows 11
Office 2024

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows
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  1. Jay Freedman 207.6K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2026-01-11T21:34:27.3933333+00:00

    The AI's recommendations are good and reasonably comprehensive. I'd move item 6 (Backup) to the beginning and repeat it often -- don't get stuck with a damaged template and no route back!

    It's usually better to keep most of your macros in one or more templates that are NOT the Normal.dotm template. The reason is that Normal.dotm is too easy to edit (e.g., marking a modified style as "New documents based on this template" when Normal.dotm is the attached template), and that risks a faulty file save. In a corporate setting, misguided IT staff have been known to overwrite users' Normal.dotm templates.

    Macros that are useful in many documents (and Quick Access Toolbar buttons that call them) should be stored in global templates that are stored in Word's STARTUP folder so they load during Word's initialization. Macros that are specific to documents based on other templates should be stored in those templates, so they load when the document is created or reopened, but not otherwise.

    I recommend reading https://www.addbalance.com/word/movetotemplate.htm.

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  2. Charles Kenyon 167.1K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2026-01-12T03:04:36.3466667+00:00

    This is to supplement Jay Freedman's response, which you should likely mark as an Answer.

    Here is a link to my writing on templates.

    It is seldom that you want that many macros in a document template. Unless your templates are particular to a special template, you do not want them in a document template.

    The default storage location for recorded macros is the Normal template, but that is seldom where you want to keep them. In addition to my page on moving/sharing customizations, take a look at:

    Storing customizations outside your Normal.dotm template makes them easier to back up and share. It places them in a less vulnerable location than the Normal.dotm template. The Normal template is great for macros that you are working on/developing because it easier to access them there for editing. Once it works though, for the most part, it should go into one or more document templates.

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  3. AI answer

    2026-01-11T19:15:30.1733333+00:00

    To reduce the size of your Word templates, particularly the attachedToolbars.bin and vbaProject.bin files, consider the following steps:

    1. Review and Optimize Macros: Since you mentioned using many macros, ensure that you are only keeping the ones that are essential. You can export and remove any unused or less frequently used macros to help reduce the size of vbaProject.bin.
    2. Simplify Toolbars: The attachedToolbars.bin file contains custom toolbar settings. Review your Quick Access Toolbar and remove any unnecessary commands or customizations. This can help decrease the size of the attachedToolbars.bin file.
    3. Use Built-in Features: Instead of relying heavily on custom macros and toolbars, consider utilizing built-in Word features that might achieve similar results without adding to the template size.
    4. Create Separate Templates: If certain macros or toolbars are only used for specific tasks, consider creating separate templates for those tasks. This way, you can keep your main template smaller and only load additional templates as needed.
    5. Regular Maintenance: Periodically check the size of your templates and perform maintenance by cleaning up unused macros and toolbars.
    6. Backup and Test: Always keep a backup of your templates before making significant changes, and test the functionality after each modification to ensure that you do not lose important features.

    These strategies should help you manage the size of your Word templates more effectively.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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