How to skip the Start screen in Microsoft Word 2016 for Windows

Microsoft Word 2016 for Windows automatically shows an annoying Start screen every time you open it, to provide quick access to a variety of document types. However, the majority of Word users use the same type of document 99 percent of the time, most likely the trusty "blank document." If you fit this bill and want to disable Word's default Start screen, a simple fix exists.

How to skip the Start screen in Microsoft Word 2016

1. Open any Word document, then click the File tab at the top of your screen, all the way to the left.
2. Click Options in the vertical menu on the left of your screen.

3. In the General section, scroll down to Start up options and remove the checkmark from the box next to Show the Start screen when this application starts.

4. Click OK to save your changes.

That's it. If ever you want to re-enable the Word Start screen, just follow this process again and recheck the Start screen box.

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