Default file format

UserNeeds changes for IntuneL_SaveWordfilesas

Supported on SUPPORTED_Windows7 (defined in the Windows templates)

5568.1000

What it does

This policy setting determines the default file format for saving files in Word. If you enable this policy setting, you can set the default file format from among the following options: - Word Document (*.docx): This option is the default configuration in Word. - Single Files Web Page (*.mht) - Web Page (*.htm; *.html) - Web Page, Filtered (*.htm, *.html) - Rich Text Format (*.rtf) - Plain Text (*.txt) - Word 6.0/95 (*.doc) - Word 6.0/95 - Chinese (Simplified) (*.doc) - Word 6.0/95 - Chinese (Traditional) (*.doc) - Word 6.0/95 - Japanese (*.doc) - Word 6.0/95 - Korean (*.doc) - Word 97-2002 and 6.0/95 - RTF - Word 5.1 for Macintosh (*.mcw) - Word 5.0 for Macintosh (*.mcw) - Word 2.x for Windows (*.doc) - Works 4.0 for Windows (*.wps) - WordPerfect 5.x for Windows (*.doc) - WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS (*.doc) - Word Macro-Enabled Document (*.docm) - Word Template (*.dotx) - Word Macro-Enabled Template (*.dotm) - Word 97 - 2003 Document (*.doc) - Word 97 - 2003 Template (*.dot) - Word XML Document (*.xml) - Strict Open XML Document (*.docx) - OpenDocument Text (*.odt) Users can choose to save presentations or documents in a different file format than the default. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, Word saves new files in the Office Open XML format: Word files have a .docx extension. For users who run recent versions of Word, Microsoft offers the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack, which enables them to open and save Office Open XML files. If some users in your organization cannot install the Compatibility Pack, or are running versions of Word older than Microsoft Office 2000 with Service Pack 3, they might not be able to access Office Open XML files. This policy setting is often set in combination with the "Save As Open XML in Compatibility Mode" policy setting.

What it writes

Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Registry key: software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\word\options

Why it needs changes for Intune

Policy references a Windows supportedOn definition.
ADMX-INTUNE-WINDOWS-SUPPORTEDON-REFERENCE

Options

Option	Type	Registry value	Allowed values
Save Word files asDefault: Word Document (*.docx)	Drop-down list	`defaultformat`	Word Document (.docx) Single Files Web Page (.mht)`WebArchive` Web Page (.htm; .html)`HTML` Web Page, Filtered (.htm, .html)`ReducedHTML` Rich Text Format (.rtf)`Rtf` Plain Text (.txt)`Text` Word 6.0/95 (.doc)`MSWord6Exp` Word 6.0/95 - Chinese (Simplified) (.doc)`MSWord6SCExp` Word 6.0/95 - Chinese (Traditional) (.doc)`MSWord6TCExp` Word 6.0/95 - Japanese (.doc)`MSWord6JExp` Word 6.0/95 - Korean (.doc)`MSWord95KExp` Word 97-2002 & 6.0/95 - RTF`MSWord6RTFExp` Word 5.1 for Macintosh (.mcw)`MSWordMac51` Word 5.0 for Macintosh (.mcw)`MSWordMac5` Word 2.x for Windows (.doc)`MSWordWin2` Works 4.0 for Windows (.wps)`MSWorksWin4` WordPerfect 5.x for Windows (.doc)`WrdPrfctWin` WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS (.doc)`WrdPrfctDos51` Word Macro-Enabled Document (.docm)`MacroEnabledDocument` Word Template (.dotx)`Template` Word Macro-Enabled Template (.dotm)`MacroEnabledTemplate` Word 97 - 2003 Document (.doc)`Doc` Word 97 - 2003 Template (.dot)`Dot` Word XML Document (.xml)`FlatXML` Strict Open XML Document (.docx)`DocxStrict` OpenDocument Text (*.odt)`ODT`

Configure and deploy

Choose a state and the option values; the output below is generated from the template for exactly that.

State Enabled Disabled Not configured

Options used when Enabled

Save Word files as

Enabled · User · template defaults

Registry file (.reg)

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\word\options]
"defaultformat"="\n              "

PowerShell

$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'

function Set-RegistryValue {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $PropertyType,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Value
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        New-Item -Path $Path -Force | Out-Null
    }

    New-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -PropertyType $PropertyType -Value $Value -Force | Out-Null
}

function Remove-RegistryValue {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
    )

    if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path) {
        Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    }
}

function Clear-RegistryKeyValues {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        return
    }

    foreach ($propertyName in (Get-Item -LiteralPath $Path).Property) {
        Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $propertyName -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    }
}

# Policy: Default file format
# Name: L_SaveWordfilesas
# Scope: User
# State: Enabled
# Source: word16.admx

Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\word\options' -Name 'defaultformat' -PropertyType 'String' -Value '
              '

The OMA-URI is an inferred ADMX-backed Policy CSP candidate derived from the source ADMX file name and policy name.
Some Microsoft policies use built-in Policy CSP pages whose area names don't match the ADMX file name, so verify the candidate against Microsoft Learn before deployment.

ADMX profile candidate (OMA-URI)

./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_word16/L_SaveWordfilesas

ADMX SyncML candidate

<SyncML xmlns="SYNCML:SYNCML1.2">
  <SyncBody>
    <Replace>
      <CmdID>1</CmdID>
      <Item>
        <Meta>
          <Format>chr</Format>
          <Type>text/plain</Type>
        </Meta>
        <Target>
          <LocURI>./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_word16/L_SaveWordfilesas</LocURI>
        </Target>
        <Data>&lt;enabled/&gt;
&lt;data id="L_savewordfilesas3" value="
              "/&gt;</Data>
      </Item>
    </Replace>
    <Final/>
  </SyncBody>
</SyncML>

Intune remediation scripts

Detection

$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
$reasons = [System.Collections.Generic.List[string]]::new()

function Test-RegistryValueExists {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        return $false
    }

    return $null -ne (Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue)
}

function Test-RegistryValueEquals {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Kind,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Expected
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        return $false
    }

    $valueObject = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    if ($null -eq $valueObject) {
        return $false
    }

    $actual = $valueObject.$Name
    switch ($Kind) {
        'String' { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
        'ExpandString' { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
        'DWord' { return [uint32]$actual -eq [uint32]$Expected }
        'QWord' { return [uint64]$actual -eq [uint64]$Expected }
        'MultiString' {
            $actualArray = @($actual)
            $expectedArray = @($Expected)
            if ($actualArray.Count -ne $expectedArray.Count) { return $false }
            for ($index = 0; $index -lt $actualArray.Count; $index++) {
                if ([string]$actualArray[$index] -cne [string]$expectedArray[$index]) { return $false }
            }
            return $true
        }
        'Binary' {
            $actualArray = [byte[]]$actual
            $expectedArray = [byte[]]$Expected
            if ($actualArray.Length -ne $expectedArray.Length) { return $false }
            for ($index = 0; $index -lt $actualArray.Length; $index++) {
                if ($actualArray[$index] -ne $expectedArray[$index]) { return $false }
            }
            return $true
        }
        default { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
    }
}

# Policy: Default file format
# Name: L_SaveWordfilesas
# Scope: User
# State: Enabled
# Source: word16.admx

$isMatch = Test-RegistryValueEquals -Path 'Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\word\options' -Name 'defaultformat' -Kind 'String' -Expected '
              '
if (-not $isMatch) {
    $reasons.Add('Value mismatch: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\word\options\defaultformat') | Out-Null
}

if ($reasons.Count -eq 0) {
    Write-Output 'Compliant'
    exit 0
}

$reasons | ForEach-Object { Write-Output $_ }
exit 1

Remediation

$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'

function Set-RegistryValue {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $PropertyType,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Value
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        New-Item -Path $Path -Force | Out-Null
    }

    New-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -PropertyType $PropertyType -Value $Value -Force | Out-Null
}

function Remove-RegistryValue {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
    )

    if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path) {
        Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    }
}

function Clear-RegistryKeyValues {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        return
    }

    foreach ($propertyName in (Get-Item -LiteralPath $Path).Property) {
        Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $propertyName -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    }
}

# Policy: Default file format
# Name: L_SaveWordfilesas
# Scope: User
# State: Enabled
# Source: word16.admx

Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\word\options' -Name 'defaultformat' -PropertyType 'String' -Value '
              '

History 1 retained release

5568.100010 Aug 2026
- Already present in the first release ChangeIntel keeps.

Template

Internal name: L_SaveWordfilesas
Namespace: word16.Office.Microsoft.Policies.Windows
Template file: word16.admx
Release: Microsoft 365 Apps 5568.1000 · file set 8be05d876aae137d…

Definition, editor controls and support

Definition

<policy class="User" displayName="$(string.L_SaveWordfilesas)" explainText="$(string.L_SpecifiesthedefaultfileformatthatWordusestosaveadocument)" key="software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\word\options" name="L_SaveWordfilesas" presentation="$(presentation.L_SaveWordfilesas)" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="word16.Office.Microsoft.Policies.Windows:L_Save" />
      <supportedOn ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:SUPPORTED_Windows7" />
      <elements>
        <enum id="L_savewordfilesas3" valueName="defaultformat">
          <item displayName="$(string.L_Worddocumentdoc)">
            <value>
              <string>
              </string>
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.L_SingleFilesWebPagemht)">
            <value>
              <string>WebArchive</string>
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.L_WebPagehtmhtml)">
            <value>
              <string>HTML</string>
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.L_WebPageFilteredhtmhtml)">
            <value>
              <string>ReducedHTML</string>
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.L_RichTextFormatrtf)">
            <value>
              <string>Rtf</string>
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.L_PlainTexttxt)">
            <value>
              <string>Text</string>
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.L_Word6095doc)">
            <value>
              <string>MSWord6Exp</string>
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.L_Word6095ChineseSimplifieddoc)">
            <value>
              <string>MSWord6SCExp</string>
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.L_Word6095ChineseTraditionaldoc)">
            <value>
              <string>MSWord6TCExp</string>
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.L_Word6095Japanesedoc)">
            <value>
              <string>MSWord6JExp</string>
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.L_Word6095Koreandoc)">
            <value>
              <string>MSWord95KExp</string>
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.L_Word9720026095RTF)">
            <value>
              <string>MSWord6RTFExp</string>
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.L_Word51forMacintoshmcw)">
            <value>
              <string>MSWordMac51</string>
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.L_Word50forMacintoshmcw)">
            <value>
              <string>MSWordMac5</string>
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.L_Word2xforWindowsdoc)">
            <value>
              <string>MSWordWin2</string>
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.L_Works40forWindowswps)">
            <value>
              <string>MSWorksWin4</string>
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.L_WordPerfect5xforWindowsdoc)">
            <value>
              <string>WrdPrfctWin</string>
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.L_WordPerfect51forDOSdoc)">
            <value>
              <string>WrdPrfctDos51</string>
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.L_MacroEnabledDocument)">
            <value>
              <string>MacroEnabledDocument</string>
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.L_MacroFreeTemplate)">
            <value>
              <string>Template</string>
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.L_MacroEnabledTemplate)">
            <value>
              <string>MacroEnabledTemplate</string>
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.L_Word972003document)">
            <value>
              <string>Doc</string>
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.L_Word972003Template)">
            <value>
              <string>Dot</string>
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.L_Word2007XMLDocumnt)">
            <value>
              <string>FlatXML</string>
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.L_WordOOXMLStrictDocument)">
            <value>
              <string>DocxStrict</string>
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.L_ODT)">
            <value>
              <string>ODT</string>
            </value>
          </item>
        </enum>
      </elements>
    </policy>

Editor controls

<presentation id="L_SaveWordfilesas" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
        <dropdownList defaultItem="0" noSort="true" refId="L_savewordfilesas3">Save Word files as</dropdownList>
      </presentation>

Supported platforms and category

word16.Office.Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:L_MicrosoftOfficeWord
<category displayName="$(string.L_MicrosoftOfficeWord)" name="L_MicrosoftOfficeWord" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
word16.Office.Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:L_Save
<category displayName="$(string.L_Save)" name="L_Save" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="word16.Office.Microsoft.Policies.Windows:L_WordOptions" />
    </category>
word16.Office.Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:L_WordOptions
<category displayName="$(string.L_WordOptions)" name="L_WordOptions" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="word16.Office.Microsoft.Policies.Windows:L_MicrosoftOfficeWord" />
    </category>
word16.Office.Microsoft.Policies.Windows:unresolved:Microsoft.Policies.Windows:SUPPORTED_Windows7
<unresolved reference="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:SUPPORTED_Windows7" />
word16.Office.Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:L_MicrosoftOfficeWord
<category displayName="$(string.L_MicrosoftOfficeWord)" name="L_MicrosoftOfficeWord" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="word16.Office.Microsoft.Policies.Windows:L_MicrosoftOfficeWord">Microsoft Word 2016</string></strings>
word16.Office.Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:L_Save
<category displayName="$(string.L_Save)" name="L_Save" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="word16.Office.Microsoft.Policies.Windows:L_WordOptions" />
    </category>
<strings><string id="word16.Office.Microsoft.Policies.Windows:L_Save">Save</string></strings>
word16.Office.Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:L_WordOptions
<category displayName="$(string.L_WordOptions)" name="L_WordOptions" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="word16.Office.Microsoft.Policies.Windows:L_MicrosoftOfficeWord" />
    </category>
<strings><string id="word16.Office.Microsoft.Policies.Windows:L_WordOptions">Word Options</string></strings>