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: Renaming a Macro.

Renaming a Macro

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated April 19, 2025)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003

A macro is nothing more than a series of instructions you want the computer to execute. It is a program which is run in the context of the application you are using. As you create macros, you will probably come across a need to rename a few of the existing macros. To do this, follow these steps:

Choose the Macro option from the Tools menu, and then choose Macros from the resulting submenu. Word displays the Macros dialog box.
Click Organizer. The Organizer dialog box appears with the Macro tab selected. (Depending on your version of Word, the tab may have a different name, but it will still be the tab related to macros.)
From the macro list at the left side of the dialog box, select a macro you want to rename.
Click the Rename button. You will see the Rename dialog box.
Enter a new name for the macro.
Click on OK.
To rename other macros, repeat steps 3 through 6.
When you are finished renaming macros, click on Close.

Some versions of the Organizer don't allow you to rename individual macros, but only to rename entire modules (collections of macros). If you want to rename individual macros, then you need to work directly with the VBA Editor itself. Follow these steps to rename a macro:

Choose the Macro option from the Tools menu, and then choose Macros from the resulting submenu. Word displays the Macros dialog box.
In the list of available macros, choose the one you want to rename. The Edit button should become active.
Click Edit. The VBA Editor is started, and you see the macro you chose to edit.
At the top of the macro you'll see the procedure definition, consisting of the word "Sub" followed by the name of the macro. Change the actual name in this line.
Close the VBA Editor.

That's it; the macro is now renamed to whatever name you used in step 4.

Note:

If you would like to know how to use the macros described on this page (or on any other page on the WordTips sites), I've prepared a special page that includes helpful information. Click here to open that special page in a new browser tab.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1131) 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: Renaming a Macro.

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. Learn more about Allen...

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