Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Saving All Open Documents.

Saving All Open Documents

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated July 8, 2023)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003


Word allows you to open multiple documents at the same time. You can even view all of these documents at the same time. This makes it very easy to work on several files at once. After a long editing session, it is hard to remember which files you have changed and which you haven't. Word provides a way you can update all your open documents with one command.

To do this, hold down the Shift key as you open the File menu. You'll see a command that normally isn't there—Save All. (The command replaces the regular Save command; holding down the Shift key adds the "All" qualifier.) Select the command and you'll then be asked whether you want each document saved. You can click your answer on either the Yes or No buttons.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (286) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Saving All Open Documents.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

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