How to set up LibreOffice Writer to work like Microsoft Word

If you're planning to switch from Microsoft Word to LibreOffice Writer but still want a similar experience, here's how you can customize this text editor.

One of the best features of LibreOffice Writer is that it allows users to customize it. If you are familiar with the settings and layout of Microsoft Word, you can make LibreOffice look like Word. Here's how to set up LibreOffice Writer to run like Microsoft Word .

How to set up LibreOffice Writer like Microsoft Word

• Change the ribbon menu
• Set default apps for the system
• Set default settings for the document
• Select file compatibility
• Enter Styles and Templates

Change the ribbon menu

Once you get used to using Microsoft's neat Ribbon menu, you may find it uncomfortable to switch to another Toolbar. However, that can be fixed in Office Writer. Go to View > User Interface > select Tabbed > Click Apply to Writer .

You can also change the icons to look like Microsoft Word with an extension. Download .oxt files from OneDrive. Next, copy the file C:\Program Files\LibreOffice\share\config . In LibreOffice Writer, go to the Extensions tab and select Manage .

In the Extensions menu , select Add > the .oxt file you just downloaded. You need to restart LibreOffice to see any changes. Finally, go to Tools > Options > LibreOffice > View > select Office13 from the Icon Style menu .

Set default apps for the system

One annoying thing when switching to a new program is that the computer keeps opening files with the old app. To avoid this, make sure LibreOffice Writer is the default application that opens all document file types.

In Windows 10, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps > Choose default apps by file type . Set the default app to open .doc , .docx , .rtf and .odt files as LibreOffice Writer. Don't forget to click Apply after completing your selection.

Set default settings for the document

The easiest way to avoid compatibility errors is to adjust save settings. Here's how to make them work like Microsoft Word.

To set .docx as the default file saving type, go to Tools > Options > Load/Save > General > Always save as and select .docx . After selecting a file type, click Apply .

To set OneDrive as the default save location, go to Tools > Options > LibreOffice > Paths . Select the My Documents path and select Edit . Navigate to the OneDrive folder and click Select Folder . Click Apply .

To set the default font, go to Tools > Options > LibreOffice Writer > Basic Fonts . Select Calibri as default and go to Calibri Light . Click Apply .

Select file compatibility

To make sure the file opens with another program without any problems, open Tools > Options > Load/Save . Check SmartArt to LibreOffice shapes or reverse and change Character Highlighting to Highlighting . Click Apply.

You'll also want to make sure files created in LibreOffice Writer can be opened in Microsoft Word. For example, Wrtier has several form creation options, but some of them don't work in Microsoft Word.

To limit it to only compatible form elements, go to Tools > Options > LibreOffice Writer > Compatibility > check Reorganize Form menu to have it MS compatible .

On the same menu, check Word-compatible trailing blanks . This action causes LibreOffice Writer to automatically add space between paragraphs, just like Word. If you use blank lines, there will be large spaces between paragraphs when imported into Word.

Click Apply to save changes.

Enter Styles and Templates

You can continue to use templates in Microsoft Word, even after you deactivate the product. You can do the same thing for each model preset, such as tweaking the header.

First, go to File > Templates > Manage Templates , or press CTRL+Shift+N . In the Templates menu , select Import . You need to choose a category or create a new one if there is no suitable preset.

• Templates loaded from Word are located in C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates
• Title, list style presets... are located in
  C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\QuickStyles

Remember to change USERNAME to the name you use.

Above are ways to adjust LibreOffice Writer to work like Word. Hope the article is useful to you.