How to open Microsoft Word from Command Prompt

Like most applications, you can launch Word from Command Prompt. However, Word also supports some optional switches to control the boot process. Starting Word with additional parameters allows you to do things like running Word in Safe Mode to troubleshoot or start with a specific template.

1. The procedure to open Microsoft Office 2013/2016 in Safe Mode
2. Tips for reading Word files without opening them
3. Summary of common Microsoft Word shortcuts

Use Command Prompt to launch Word

Before using the Command Prompt to open Word, we need to find the folder containing the file winword.exe. You can perform manual searches or use Command Prompt. To find the folder using CMD, open Command Prompt from the Start menu by typing cmd and selecting the appropriate result.

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When the Command Prompt opens, you will see the user account folder. To find the file winword.exe you need to go deeper into the Program Files directory by entering the following command and press Enter :

 cd'program files (x86)' 

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You will now be in the Program Files folder, the next step is to determine the folder containing the file winword.exe by entering the following command and pressing Enter .

 dir winword.exe /s 

When you enter this command, the Command Prompt will locate the directory for you.

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After you know the directory containing the file winword.exe, you can use the cd command to open the file path. In this example, you need to enter the following command:

 cd Microsoft OfficerootOffice16 

You will be in the folder containing the file winword.exe.

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Parameters and switch command line Word common

Below is a list of some ways to open Word, along with the corresponding command.

1. / safe: Open Word in Safe Mode. This means that Word is opened without add-ins, templates, and other options. This is useful when troubleshooting in Word.

You can also start Word in Safe Mode by holding down the Ctrl key while launching Word from the Start menu, creating shortcuts with this parameter for easier access.

1. / q : Open Word without displaying the Word Splash screen.
2. / ttemplatename : Open Word with a new document based on another template with Normal pattern.

Example: Suppose you want to open a document stored on drive C named example.docx, type the following command:

 /tc:example.docx 

Note: Do not set a space between the switch and the file name.

1. / t filename : Start Word and open an existing file.

For example: To start Word and open the example.docx file stored on drive C, enter the following command:

 /tc:example.docx 

To open multiple files, example.docx and example2.docx, located in the C drive at the same time, enter the following:

 /tc:example.docx c:example2.docx 

1. / f filename: Start Word with a new document based on an existing file.

For example: To start Word and create a new document based on the example.docx file, stored on the desktop, enter the following:

 /f 'c:Documents and SettingsAll UsersDesktopexample.docx 

1. / h http:/// filename : Start Word and open a read-only copy stored on Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services page, on a computer that is running Word 2007 or later or Windows SharePoint Services 2.0 or later.

For example: To start Word and open a copy of the example.docx file, stored in the document library at http:/// MySite / Documents, enter the following command:

 /h http://MySite/Documents/example.docx 

Note: If the document is checked, switch / h has no effect. Word opens the files you can edit.

1. / pxslt : Start Word and open an existing XML document based on the specified XSLT.

For example: To start and apply the XSLT MyTransform stored on drive C, enter the following command:

 /pc:MyTransform.xsl c:Data.sml 

1. / a : Start Word and prevent common add-ins and templates (including Normal templates) from loading automatically. Switch / a also locks installation files.
2. / ladd-in: Open Word and then download a specific Word add-in.

For example: To open Word and load the add-in Sales.dll, stored on the C drive, enter the following information:

 /ic:Sales.dll 

Note: Do not leave spaces between the switch and the add-in name.

1. / m : Start Word without running any AutoExec macros.
2. / mmacroname : Open Word and run a specific macro. Switch m / also prevents the word from running any AutoExec macros.

For example: To start Word and then run the Salelead macro, enter the following:

 /mSalelead 

Note: There is no space between the switch and the macro name.

1. / n : Open a new version of Word without opening the document. Documents opened in each version of Word will not appear as options in the Windows switch list of other versions.
2. / w : Start a new version of Word with a blank document. Documents opened in each version of Word will not appear as options in the Windows switch list of other versions.
3. / r : Re-register Word in the Windows registry. This switch starts Word, runs Office Setup, updates the Windows registry.
4. / x: Open Word from the operating shell so that Word only responds to a DDE request (for example, to print documents programmatically).
5. / ztemplatename : Display exactly as switch / t. However, you can use switch / z in Word to create Startup and New events while switch / t only creates Startup events.

You should now be able to open Word in different ways by following the above commands.

I wish you all success!