When I launch Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, I most often want a blank document. Configure Word, PowerPoint, and Excel to Open with a New Document The Document Gallery may be helpful for some, but as I said, microsoft word not opening mac so much for me. When the Preferences window opens, click General. For Microsoft Word, find the option labeled Show Word Document Gallery when opening Word and uncheck it: For Excel and PowerPoint, follow the same steps, except remember that this window has a different name in each application as referenced above. This time, each app should open microsoft word not opening mac to a new blank document instead of the Document Gallery or equivalent. What About Older Versions of Office. The steps in this tip apply to the latest version of Office as of the date of publication, which is Office 2016. What about older versions of Office, such as Office for Mac 2011. This version also has a Document Gallery, but it works a bit differently. On the General tab of the Preferences window, find the option labeled For New Documents and select Use template: Blank. As you may have guessed, if you prefer to launch these apps with your own custom template instead of a blank document, just click the Change Template button and select your desired document template. Configuring your productivity apps to launch directly to a new document seems like such a minor change, but I gotta tell you that it makes me happy to not have to pick that blank template every time I open Word. Not that I do any important things, you understand, but at least I could. Want news and tips from TekRevue delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up for the TekRevue Weekly Digest using the box below. Get tips, reviews, news, and giveaways reserved exclusively for subscribers.