How to apply template to existing chart/workbook in Excel?

Applying a saved chart template to an existing chart allows you to achieve consistent formatting and style across multiple charts without repeated manual adjustments. This is especially useful for team reports, recurring presentations, or any scenario where multiple charts must adhere to a common design standard. Here’s how you can apply a previously created chart template to an existing chart in Excel. This method works for various chart types, though here we focus on scatter charts as an example.

Before starting, make sure you have already created and saved the desired chart template (.crtx file). If not, you should save your favorite chart’s format as a template first via right-clicking the chart and choosing “Save as Template”.

1. Right-click the existing chart you want to update. From the context menu, select Change Chart Type.

Tip: If you have trouble right-clicking the chart, ensure you are clicking precisely on the chart’s border, not within a data series or axis label, to bring up the correct context menu.

2. The Change Chart Type dialog box will open. On the left, click on Templates to view all your saved chart templates. Browse through the list and select the chart template you’d like to apply.

Note: Chart templates are stored locally for each user. If you do not see your desired template here, make sure it has been saved on this machine, usually under C:\Users\[Username]\Documents\Charts.

3. Click the OK button to confirm your selection and close the dialog box.

As a result, your existing chart is immediately reformatted to match the chosen template. You’ll see that elements such as icon markers, axis formatting like the “m/d” date format, colors, legend placement, and any custom styling are now applied to your chart.

Precautions: Applying a template modifies the chart’s format but does not change the underlying chart data. Templates may not always transfer every formatting nuance perfectly, particularly if the template was made on a different chart type. It is recommended to double-check the results and manually tweak minor details if needed.

If the “Templates” tab does not appear, or you encounter errors trying to select your template, ensure your Excel version supports chart templates and the .crtx file is accessible from your user profile.

Unlike charts, Excel does not provide a direct way to apply a full workbook template to an already existing file—templates (.xltx, .xltm) are designed for use when creating new workbooks. Still, you can effectively transfer the design, structure, and sample content from a template workbook into your existing file by copying template worksheets. This method is practical for updating report style sheets, budget forms, or standard company materials in legacy files.

Here’s how you can efficiently add template content to your current workbook:

1. Open the existing workbook you want to update with your preferred template content.

2. Next, you need to open a new workbook based on the template:

• For Excel2007 or2010: Click File > New > My Templates. In the "New" dialog, choose your desired template and click OK.
• For Excel2013 and newer: Go to File > New > Personal, then select your saved template.

Tip: If you do not see your template listed, ensure you have saved the template with the correct extension (.xltx) and placed it into your custom template folder.

3. In the newly-created workbook from the template, locate the worksheet(s) containing the template content you’d like to use. Right-click on the sheet tab and select Move or Copy.

4. In the Move or Copy dialog box, select the target workbook you want to update (your original file) from the To book drop-down. Check the Create a copy option, then click OK.

The selected worksheet(s) will now be inserted into your existing workbook, preserving all styles, formulas, and formatting as set in the template.

5. Save your updated workbook to make the changes permanent, and close the temporary workbook created from the template—saving is unnecessary unless you wish to keep changes in the template copy.

Note: Only worksheet-level content is transferred—document properties and workbook-level features from the template (such as macros or custom XML parts) will not move automatically. Be sure to review merged content for compatibility or duplication, especially when copying sheets to a workbook with similar sheet names or structures.