Document properties are file metadata such as Title, Author, Subject, and Keywords. In desktop Word, open File > Info to view them. Edit a visible property there, or open Properties > Advanced Properties for the full dialog.
Change standard properties
- Open the Word file and choose File > Info.
- In the Properties area, click a field such as Title or Tags/Keywords and enter the new value. Choose Show All Properties if the field is hidden.
- For Author, right-click the existing name and choose the available edit or remove option. Some properties are maintained automatically and are not edited like ordinary text fields.
- Return to the document and save. Reopen File > Info to confirm the intended value.
Use Advanced Properties
At the top of the Info page, choose Properties > Advanced Properties. The Summary tab lets you edit fields including Title, Subject, Author, Keywords, Category, and Comments. Use this dialog when a field is not shown in the compact Info panel.
Add a custom property
If you need a field Word does not list, such as a project name or client number, create a custom property.
- Choose File > Info > Properties > Advanced Properties.
- Open the Custom tab.
- Pick a suggested name from the Name list or type your own.
- Choose a Type, such as Text, Date, or Number, and enter the Value.
- Select Add, then OK, and save the document.
In Word for Mac, open the same dialog with File > Properties. The Summary tab holds the standard fields and the Custom tab holds your own.
Show a property in the document text
To display a property such as Title or Author in the body or a header, click where it should appear and choose Insert > Quick Parts > Document Property, then pick the property. Editing the inserted box updates the property as well. Filled-in properties like Tags also help you find the file later with a search in File Explorer or Finder.
To show the Company property in the text, you can insert the Company property as a field that stays in sync with the value you set in the document’s properties.
Properties are not the text on the page
Changing a metadata Title does not necessarily change the document’s visible heading or filename. Edit those separately if needed. Likewise, changing the Author property does not remove every trace of authorship or revision history. If you are preparing a copy for external sharing, use File > Info > Check for Issues > Inspect Document on a copy and review the results. Our metadata-removal guide explains that separate task. Microsoft warns that removed inspector data may not be recoverable.
Sources: Microsoft Support: View or change file properties; Microsoft Support: Inspect hidden document data.
Matt has been writing about Microsoft Windows and other Microsoft products since the days of Windows XP. He spends much of his time writing for sites like WindowBrain.com