Hello, I've had 'file format is not valid' issues for the past few weeks which I've just ignored to date but upon investigation, it seems 'someone' has created a duplicate Normal.dotm file. I can still see the original at ..... Roaming\Microsoft\Templates (last modified just under 12 months ago) but there is also a new one on my Data folder created on 12/1/22, (about the time I started using my new Dell laptop and playing around with installing Office). Problem is because this one is within my Dropbox folder it gets synced between new laptop, old laptop, new desktop and old desktop. I've just tried renaming the problem one Normal1.dotm but Excel still points to it and I get the same 'Normal1.dotm file format is invalid' message. So, can I delete it and hope the different versions of Excel and Word will then find the correct file on Roaming\Microsoft\Templates on their respective devices? Thanks Chris by the way, I can't find it now to confirm exact wording but each time I looked in to this, the properties said it was created by Dell (serial number) laptop. Is this significant?

Hi!

You must indicate Word where you want to find your Normal.dotm.

In order to do that, you go to File > Options, and on the left pane, select Advanced then under General > File Locations. Then modify the User Template.

Hope this works!

Souriane

Excel does not care at all about the Normal.dotm file. If you are getting an Error message in Excel this is an Excel problem best addressed in the Excel forum. Again, Excel has no use for the Normal.dotm template.

My normal.dotm file is stored on DropBox and this is not a problem for me.

You can choose where your Normal.dotm file is stored through your User Options/Preferences in Word. It is always stored in the folder designated as the User Templates folder. The one stored there is the only one that Word will recognize as its default template.

Charles is right. Sorry, I hadn't not figured out you had trouble with Excel! Normal.dotm has nothing to do with Excel!

Hello, still trying to solve this riddle but I'm doing so through Excel forum as suggested. Just posting this to say thanks for all the comments. Solved there.
Cheers
https://www.msofficeforums.com/excel...ormat-not.html