Skipping the Unnecessary Start Screen
When you launch Microsoft Word, the application typically opens a “Start Screen.” This screen displays your recently opened files on the left and a grid of various document templates on the right, requiring you to explicitly click “Blank document” before you can actually start typing. If you rarely use templates and almost always begin your work with a fresh page, this extra step is an unnecessary interruption to your productivity.
How to Boot Directly to a Blank Document
You can configure Word to completely bypass the Start Screen and immediately open a blank, ready-to-type document the moment you launch the application.
1. Open Microsoft Word and click on a Blank document to access the main interface.
2. Click the File tab located in the top-left corner of the ribbon.
3. At the very bottom of the left-hand sidebar, click on Options.
4. In the Word Options dialog box, ensure you are on the General tab.
5. Scroll down to the very bottom to find the Start up options section.
6. Untick the checkbox labelled Show the Start screen when this application starts.
7. Click OK to save your changes.
Applying This Change Across Office Apps
The next time you open Microsoft Word, it will skip the template gallery and instantly present you with a blank page. It is worth noting that Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint have identical Start Screens. If you want to streamline your workflow across your entire office suite, you can follow these exact same steps within the Excel and PowerPoint Options menus to force them to open blank spreadsheets and presentations automatically.