Tame your computer - new year, no new Start

In her regular series for Cambridge Network members, software training expert Karen Roem offers handy tips to help you 'Tame your computer'. This week she describes how you can turn off the Start screen when you open Word, Excel or PowerPoint.

Roem tip tine logo

Hello and welcome to the first tip of 2022. Happy new year!

Speaking of new ... what do you make of the extra screen you get when you open Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project or Visio? It shows a list of templates and documents you recently worked on, but for years I’ve simply press ENTER to open a new blank document.

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So if – like me – you’d rather go straight to a blank document, you might want to turn off the start screen.

Here’s how:

  1. On the File tab, click on Options. (Or press ALT, F, T.)
  2. Under Start up options, uncheck Show the Start screen when this application starts.
  3. Press ENTER or click OK.

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This option can be switched off separately in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project or Visio, if perhaps you want to keep the Start screen for some of the Apps.

Related tips

Six productive things to do with CTRL + N(ew)

Last month’s #CleverClogsTipTime on LinkedIn; just in case you missed it…

PS It’s my 21st birthday this week!. No prizes for guessing I’m not talking about myself …  it’s 21 years ago that I decided to go it alone. The past two years have continued to be strange, so I’m thankful to everyone who helped me get here. When people think you offer something useful, it’s really gratifying!

These tips are written for Microsoft 365 desktop apps and Windows 10 users, but might also be useful in Office 2010, 2013 and 2016. I meticulously test every tip I write to make sure it is correct, easy to understand and time-saving. Let me know if something isn't clear or doesn't work.

4 January 2022

Karen Roem offers software training and support through her company Roem Ltd.  Contact her by email (Karen@roem.co.uk) or visit her website at www.roem.co.uk



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