Save As Open XML in Compatibility Mode
Verified with Microsoft 365/Office 5568.1000 — updated on September 4, 2026
Supported on: At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7
Path in the GPO console
User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Microsoft Word 2016\Word Options\Save Description
This policy setting allows you to hide the "Maintain compatibility with previous versions of Word" checkbox. For any file format that is in Compatibility Mode, there will be a "Maintain compatibility with previous versions of Word" checkbox in the Save As dialog when saving to any of the Open XML file formats. This checkbox allows users to preserve the fidelity of documents that open in compatibility mode when saving those documents to any of the Open XML file formats. Checking this box will prevent conversion to the version of Word that is saving the file. Conversion maximizes fidelity with the version of Word that is saving the file, and it is recommended for users who want their Word documents to be compatible with this version of Word. However, conversion may impact the fidelity and compatibility of some features when the file is opened by a previous version of Word. If you enable this policy setting, the "Maintain compatibility with previous versions of Word" checkbox will be hidden. The Save As behavior for any of the Open XML file formats will always maintain compatibility with previous versions of Word. The file that is in compatibility mode will be prevented from being converted to the version of Word saving this file. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, the "Maintain compatibility with previous versions of Word" checkbox in the Save As dialog will be shown. Unless checked by the user, an Open XML file will be converted when the document is saved. Users will still, by default, be shown a final dialog when saving to confirm that the user wants to save the file without "Maintain compatibility with previous versions of Word" checked.
Registry
software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\word\options Value name: disablecompatmodecheckboxonsaveas
Enabled: disablecompatmodecheckboxonsaveas = 1
Disabled: disablecompatmodecheckboxonsaveas = 0
Export Builder
BETAConfigure the state, scope and options, then generate .reg, PowerShell, Intune and SCCM outputs — or add the setting to a multi-setting collection.
These exports write the registry — this is not a managed GPO. ⓘ
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Save As Open XML in Compatibility Mode
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\word\options]
"disablecompatmodecheckboxonsaveas"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Save As Open XML in Compatibility Mode
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
$path = 'HKCU:\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\word\options'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'disablecompatmodecheckboxonsaveas' -Value 1 -Type DWordIntune XML
No direct Policy CSP / OMA-URI mapping for this policy. Use the Intune Remediation tab, or ingest the ADMX in Intune.Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Save As Open XML in Compatibility Mode
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKCU:\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\word\options' -Name 'disablecompatmodecheckboxonsaveas' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Save As Open XML in Compatibility Mode
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
$path = 'HKCU:\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\word\options'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'disablecompatmodecheckboxonsaveas' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Save As Open XML in Compatibility Mode
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7
# SCCM Configuration Item guidance:
# Create a Configuration Item of type "Setting: Script".
# Discovery script: use the Detection script below.
# Remediation script: use the Remediation script below.
# Compliance rule: the Discovery script output equals 'Compliant'.
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Save As Open XML in Compatibility Mode
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKCU:\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\word\options' -Name 'disablecompatmodecheckboxonsaveas' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Save As Open XML in Compatibility Mode
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
$path = 'HKCU:\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\word\options'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'disablecompatmodecheckboxonsaveas' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.