Saving template sjablon

Question

We are using Word document templates. When I create a new document based on a template on my windows laptop and then save the document directly to OneDrive, I receive the message: "Do you also want to save the changes to the document template?"

I do not want to modify or save changes to the template itself — only the new document. However, when I save the same document locally (for example to my desktop or local drive), this message does not appear.

Why does Word prompt to save changes to the template only when saving to OneDrive, and not when saving locally?

Answer 1

Hi @Adidza Tiebesl, 

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A forum. 

Thank you very much for reaching out regarding the message you’re seeing in Word asking whether you also want to save changes to the document template. I appreciate your patience and the detailed information you provided. 

I’d like to share some clarity on why this prompt appears specifically when saving the new document to OneDrive, even though you are only editing the new document and not the template itself. 

1/ Why Word prompts to save changes to the template (even when you only edit the new document) 

When you create a new document from a template, Word opens both the document you edit and the template in the background (to supply styles, building blocks, macros, etc.). 

Even if you don’t directly edit the template, Word can still flag the template as “changed” when template‑linked elements (e.g., styles auto‑updating, formatting inheritance, building blocks, or content controls) are involved. 

2/ Why this only happens when saving to OneDrive/SharePoint 

When the template (and/or the new document) is stored in OneDrive or SharePoint, AutoSave is active. In cloud scenarios, AutoSave tries to synchronize any file Word considers “changed.” If Word detects minor inherited updates to the template (even unintentionally), it marks the template as modified and asks: 

“Do you also want to save the changes to the document template?” 

This doesn’t mean you intentionally edited the template, it’s Word making sure cloud‑based templates stay in sync. 

3/ Why you don’t see this prompt when saving locally 

When saving to a local folder, AutoSave doesn’t attempt to sync the template, and templates are typically opened without cloud syncing triggers. As a result, Word doesn’t prompt to save the template.  

4/ Recommended next steps 

To prevent this prompt in the future, here are some common solutions, please: 

• Ensure “Automatically update document styles” is turned off in Developer > Document Template.
• Store templates locally (or restrict template permissions to Read Only) if you prefer not to have cloud synchronization affect them. 
• Use a .dotx template instead of .dotm if macros are not needed. 

For additional information, you can refer to this article: How to stop Word auto-saving directly to OneDrive on Windows 11 - Pureinfotech 

Please note that this information is being provided by the moderator solely for your convenience. The referenced sites are not managed or overseen by the moderator, and therefore we cannot guarantee the accuracy, security, or suitability of any software or content available there. We recommend reviewing all information carefully and ensuring you understand any associated risks before following suggestions from the provided link.   

I hope this information is helpful. Should you have any further questions or need additional assistance, feel free to reach out.   

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this.    

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Answer 2

Word online was written to be an adjunct helper app for people using the desktop application. It is a different program. It works with templates essentially treating them as documents.

I recommend using the desktop application to use templates to their full extent.

Here is my 5-page pdf on the different programs offered by Microsoft, all called Word.
https://addbalance.com/word/download.htm#MicrosoftWordPrograms

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This is a user-to-user support forum.

Microsoft is not hearing about your problems from what you post here. You are discussing a problem with your fellow users here. We can give good advice about how to work with Word as it is and give suggestions for making it work properly.

Designers and their supervisors do see feedback. (You will almost certainly not get a direct response to that feedback but they do see it.)

Here is more about that:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/giving-feedback-on-microsoft-word-or-other/8df81a9b-84aa-46ef-bf88-24fb7fec96ba

I suggest using the public feedback portal so other users can see your feedback, comment and vote. If you want, you can post the URL of your feedback with your question here to lead others with the same problem to your feedback. Be the “squeaky wheel” that gets fixed!

Answer 3

When you save a document based on a template to OneDrive, Word prompts you to save changes to the template because it treats the template as a shared resource that may be modified by multiple users. This is particularly relevant when the template is stored in a cloud location like OneDrive, where changes can affect all users who access that template. The prompt is a safeguard to prevent unintended modifications to the template itself.

On the other hand, when you save the document locally (e.g., to your desktop), Word recognizes that you are working with a local copy and does not prompt you to save changes to the template. This behavior is designed to streamline the saving process when working with local files, as it assumes that modifications to the template are not intended unless explicitly stated.

If you want to avoid this prompt when saving to OneDrive, ensure that you are only saving the document and not making any changes to the template itself. You can also check the settings related to template handling in Word to see if there are options to adjust this behavior.