AskVG

[Fix] Microsoft Word Always Shows “[Compatibility Mode]” Text in Titlebar

- Last updated on by

Recently an AskVG reader “Prajwal” contacted me regarding an strange problem in Microsoft Office suite. Here is the email content:

Whenever I open Office Word 2013 (blank document), it always opens in compatibility mode. It doesn’t happen in PowerPoint or Excel programs. Can you help me in solving this problem?

Its a known problem in Microsoft Word program and I have received lots of emails in past regarding the same issue.

Advertisement

“Compatibility Mode” was a new feature introduced by Microsoft in Office 2007 version. It was developed to support old documents and files which were created using previous versions of Office suite such as Office 2003, etc. When you try to open a document created in older version of Word in a new version of Word program, the document window shows [Compatibility Mode] text in titlebar as shown in following screenshot:

Compatibility_Mode_Text_Word_Titlebar.png

But the problem occurs when the [Compatibility Mode] text always appears in titlebar of all Word documents whether its a new document or an existing document.

This problem can occur in any version of Microsoft Word which provides Compatibility Mode feature such as Word 2007, 2010 or 2013.

If you are also facing this issue, following methods will definitely help you in fixing it:

  • METHOD 1: Using Microsoft Word Options
  • METHOD 2: Deleting Default Document Template
  • METHOD 3: Using Registry Editor

METHOD 1: Using Microsoft Word Options

It might be possible that you changed the default file format to save new documents in Word which caused this issue. Follow these steps to restore the default file save format:

1. Open Microsoft Word, click on File Menu or ORB and then click on Options.

Advertisement

2. Now go to “Save” tab and select “Word Document (*.docx)” from the drop-down list given in “Save files in this format” section.

Change_Default_File_Save_Format_Microsoft_Word.png

3. Apply the changes and restart Word. Now it should not show [Compatibility Mode] text in titlebar.

PS: Also try to uncheck “Open e-mail attachments and other uneditable files in reading view” option present in General tab.

METHOD 2: Deleting Default Document Template

If the above method doesn’t work, it might be possible that you upgraded Office suite from an older version in your system instead of a clean install. Sometimes upgrading from previous version can make the default document template file corrupt and it starts creating all new documents in Compatibility Mode.

In such situation, you’ll need to reset the default template for creating new documents using following steps:

1. Type %appdata%\Microsoft\Templates in RUN dialog box and press Enter. It’ll open Templates folder in Windows Explorer.

2. Look for Normal.dotm file in the folder. Either delete the file or rename it to some other name.

Reset_Default_Document_Template_Microsoft_Word.png

3. That’s it. Open Word and it’ll automatically create a new Normal.dotm file in Templates folder which will solve the issue.

METHOD 3: Using Registry Editor

If above mentioned 2 methods don’t work for you, here is a Registry tweak to fix the issue:

1. Type regedit in RUN dialog box and press Enter. It’ll open Registry Editor.

2. Now go to following key:

for Office 2007: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Word\Options
for Office 2010: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Word\Options
for Office 2013: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Word\Options

3. In right-side pane, look for a DWORD CompatMode. If you find it, delete it. If it doesn’t exist, create a new DWORD and set its name to CompatMode and set its value to 0

Disable_Compatibility_Mode_Microsoft_Word.png

4. Close Registry Editor and restart Word. It should solve the problem.

Published in: Microsoft Office, Troubleshooting Guides

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

You are here: Home » Microsoft Office » [Fix] Microsoft Word Always Shows “[Compatibility Mode]” Text in Titlebar

Comments

NOTE: Older comments have been removed to reduce database overhead.

  1. I seem to have fixed my problem.

    I found and uninstalled two old M/S office related programmes- an office 2003/2007 compatibility pack and a Powerpoint viewer. Word .docx files now open properly i.e. not in compatibility mode.

  2. I had these problems a few months ago when I upgraded to the new Office 365 provided by my university. Using the steps above resolved the issues, at least until I upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 10 recently. Paul’s suggestion, to uninstall the old Office Compatibility Packs and PowerPoint Viewers, worked for me!

  4. I have a problem that if I open a word document from the word ikon on the taskbar, it opens in word 2010 as it is supposed too. However if I double-click on the same a word document name in a folder, it always opens it in word 2003. I have tried your three solutions above and none have solved the problem. I also get the normal.com error recurring even when I delete or rename it.
    Drives me c.zy, hope you can suggest something.

  5. Method 2: I only have a “Normal” file. If I delete it & go back into word, it creates another “Normal” file.

    Method 1: The 2 boxes were already checked.

    I’ve had Word 10 for 2 years. FIVE MINUTES AGO, all my Word 10 files were fine. Now when I go back into the same files, they’re all opening in compatibility mode. I had to have just hit a button by mistake?

  6. My solution is to reinstall the whole MS 365 Office program. It works– until you open any MS Word document online which the program feels compelled to open in “compatibility mode”. It will then continue to open all documents in “compatibility mode” (even those created on one’s own computer) until one reinstalls again.

    Why can’t Microsoft fix this if everyone knows about it?

  10. THANKS!!!

    Method 2 did the trick (pasted “%appdata%\Microsoft\Templates” into “Search Windows”)

    I installed Word2010 (trying to work around a problem) on a Win10 machine already running Word2016, then UNinstalled Word2010, but then Word2016 now opened all new docs in [Compatibility Mode]. Deleted Normal.dotm file, and it’s back to normal.

  11. If you’ve modified your normal.dotm file significantly, deleting it isn’t an option. I simply opened my template file, converted it up, then saved it.

  13. Had the same issue on another computer of mine and Method #2 worked once again.

    Thanks again!

  15. Thank you AskVJ. #1 worked for me — had looked at several websites (including MS.com) and yours was the only one that seriously assessed the question and whose answers made sense and didn’t repeat the obvious, such as “click on the picture” … well duh!!??

    Appreciate your insights.

  16. Hello! I have tried method 1 but to no avail. For method 2, there is no Normal.dotm but instead only Normal (therefore, I couldn’t change anything from there). For method 3, there’s no similar code which I need to alter (i.e., compat mode).

    I have tried restarting my PC; but whenever I open my Word 2016 for new blank documents, it always says “Document 1 [Compatibility Mode]. I’m not used to it and I think something must be really wrong.

  17. Thanks ! Method 2 works. I upgraded to Office 365 ProPlus offered by my school and I had this little issue when I open a new document.

  18. One solution is to save files as ppsx rather than pptx. That at least means that when they are transferred to another computer the powerpoint show will work, including video clips.

  19. Thank you! Method No. 2 worked for me. Odd though, as it used to open as a “normal” 2016 document………………… I train others to use MS Office so perhaps one of my students clicked something at some point. I’m just glad it’s sorted 🙂

  21. Thanks so much. Option 2 resolved the issue of new documents opening in compatibility mode, and Option 3 stopped older files from always opening in compatibility mode.

  22. Thanks, VG! My wife and I both had the problem since updating from Office 2010 to 2016. Method 2, renaming the normal.dotm fixed the problem. I’m a happy camper.

    Kip, try Method 2, and when the window opens with file names, try clicking the View tab, then click “File name extensions”. Otherwise the .xxxx extensions won’t show.

  23. hello sorry can help me fix bugs always show save as dialog in microsoft office word 2010

  25. Thank you, method 2 worked wonders for me. Just deleted the “normal” file and it’s good!
    Of course, Microsoft couldn’t give us this solution themselves.

  27. Method 2 worked — Even though the latest version of Word mentioned on this post is 2013, I figured it couldn’t hurt to try it with Word 2019. Thanks!

  29. Thank you!
    Recently upgraded to 2019 Pro Plus and had the same issue.
    Option 2 worked perfect.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

NOTE: Your comment may not appear immediately. It'll become visible once we approve it.