Bug Report: Right-Click menu option for Word template creates a new document when Open is chosen

Question

Windows 11's right-click context menu, when used with a Word template (.dotx or .dotm file), creates a NEW document based on the template when OPEN is chosen in the menu.

This is a change from the behavior in all previous versions of Windows. I am aware that I can click on Show more options and get the old context menu where Open actually means Open but the Open command on the first menu should do that.

I posted this last June in Microsoft Answers under:

• Windows 11 and
• Word

I posted feedback at:

• Feedback Hub 1
• Feedback Hub 2

In November, the feedback hub said this was fixed. It was not as of January 24, 2023. Please comment and vote.

I am aware that a registry hack is out there that will restore the older context menu that works (the same one you get when you click more options). However, what I want is for Open to mean Open and not New when applied to a Word template.

There is over 25 years of documentation (online and books) telling people to right-click and pick Open to open a template for editing. There is no reason for Open to not mean Open!

Answer 1

Hi,

I tested in Windows 10 and Windows 11, I can reproduce this behavior in Windows 11.

I tried the Shift+right click in Windows 11, nothing happened. Cannot find the Editing option in Windows 11 as the same as in Windows 10.

Then I found you can click the file first and then press Shift+F10 can help you open the whole options, you can try this method.

It seems the feature is changed in Windows 11.

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Answer 2

This problem has been fixed.