How to Import a Chart Template in Excel and Apply It

To import a chart template in Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows, copy its .crtx file into your Excel chart templates folder, restart Excel, then select it from the Templates tab when inserting a chart or changing an existing chart type. You will need the .crtx file and the Excel desktop app; a chart template stores chart design and formatting, not the data itself.

What You’ll Need

Excel for Microsoft 365 desktop on Windows. The Excel app for the web does not provide the same process for installing and applying .crtx templates.
A chart template file ending in .crtx. If you received a ZIP file, extract it first so you can access the .crtx file.
A workbook with data ready to chart, or an existing chart you want to restyle.
Permission to copy a file into your Windows user profile. You do not normally need administrator access.

Step-by-Step

Check that the template file is available. Find the .crtx file in File Explorer. If it was downloaded in a compressed ZIP folder, right-click the ZIP file and choose Extract All, then look inside the extracted folder. Make sure the file extension is .crtx rather than .xlsx, .xls, .png, or .pdf. If Windows hides extensions, open File Explorer, select View > Show > File name extensions to check the full name. Avoid renaming another file type to .crtx; changing the name does not convert it into a chart template.
Open the Excel chart templates folder. Press Windows key+R to open the Run dialog, type %AppData%\Microsoft\Templates\Charts, and press Enter. This opens the Charts folder inside your Windows roaming profile if it exists. You can also paste that path into File Explorer’s address bar. The folder is usually under a path similar to C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates\Charts; AppData is hidden by default, so using the shortcut is often easier. If Windows says the location cannot be found, open %AppData%\Microsoft\Templates instead and create a folder named Charts.
Copy the .crtx file into the folder. In a second File Explorer window, locate the template file. Copy it, return to the Charts folder, and paste it there. Keep the .crtx extension. You can give the file a descriptive name, such as Quarterly Sales Blue.crtx, but renaming it is optional. If Windows asks whether to replace a file with the same name, check that you intend to overwrite the existing template before confirming.
Restart Excel so it can detect the template. Save any open work, close all Excel windows, then open Excel again. This refreshes the chart-template list. If you leave another Excel window running in the background, the new template may not appear immediately. If it still does not show up, confirm the file is in the Charts folder for the same Windows account you use to run Excel.
Apply the template to a new chart. Open the workbook and select the data, including the column or row headings you want to use as series names and category labels. Choose Insert > Recommended Charts, then select the All Charts tab in the chart dialog and choose Templates. Select the imported template and choose OK. Excel creates a chart from the selected data using the template’s chart type and formatting. Depending on the layout and version, you may see the template’s name or a thumbnail in the list.
Apply it to a chart that already exists. Click the chart to select it. On the ribbon, choose Chart Design > Change Chart Type. In the dialog, open the Templates category, select the template, and choose OK. This changes the chart’s type and styling while keeping the chart connected to its existing worksheet data. Check the result, because a template designed for a different number of series or a different kind of data may not look as expected.
Review and save the result. Check the title, legend, axis labels, colors, and data series. The template may carry design choices that do not suit your worksheet, and Excel may not reproduce every detail identically for a different chart structure. Make any changes using Chart Design or Format options, then save the workbook. Saving the workbook stores the chart with its formatting; the template file remains a separate item in the Charts folder.

Excel for Mac: The Windows Run command and AppData path do not apply. In many Microsoft 365 for Mac installations, chart templates are stored in ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/User Content/Chart Templates. In Finder, choose Go > Go to Folder and enter that path. Copy the .crtx file there, then restart Excel. Folder names and template support can vary by Office build, so if the folder is absent, create it only if your Excel version supports chart templates; alternatively, open the workbook in Excel for Windows to install the file. Excel for the web does not offer this desktop installation workflow.

Common Mistakes

Putting the file in the wrong folder: Saving the template beside the workbook, in Downloads, or in the general Templates folder will not necessarily make it appear in Excel’s chart-template gallery. Use the Charts subfolder under the Microsoft Templates location for the Windows account running Excel.

Using the wrong file type: A picture of a chart, an Excel workbook, or a theme file is not a .crtx chart template. If the download is a ZIP archive, extract it. Do not simply change an extension to make an unsupported file appear to be a template.

Expecting the template to include example data: A chart template is intended to provide a reusable chart design, not to import the workbook or data used to create it. Select your own worksheet data before creating a new chart, or apply the template to an existing chart.

Choosing a chart type that does not fit the data: A template may be built around a line chart, while your data is better represented by columns, or it may assume multiple series. Applying it can change the chart type and make labels or series difficult to read. Review the result instead of assuming the template is a universal style preset.

Looking for a separate Import command: Excel generally discovers desktop chart templates from the chart templates folder. Copying the .crtx file there, restarting Excel, and selecting it from Templates is the practical import process; it is not the same as importing worksheet data.

Tips

Keep a backup copy of the original .crtx file somewhere safe. If you later remove or replace the installed version, the backup makes it easy to restore.
Use distinct filenames for related templates, such as Sales-Column.crtx and Sales-Line.crtx. Clear names make the Templates list easier to use, especially when thumbnails look similar.
Test a new template on a copy of a chart or in a duplicate workbook first. That lets you compare the original and revised appearance without losing your existing formatting.
Check that your data range has clear headers and consistent categories before inserting a chart. Templates style a chart, but they cannot correct mislabeled columns, blank rows, or unsuitable data selections.
For a template you create yourself, select a finished chart and use Chart Design > Save as Template. Give it a recognizable name and save the .crtx file. You can then reuse or share that file by copying it to the appropriate Charts folder on another computer.
When sharing a workbook, remember that the chart’s applied formatting travels with the chart, but the reusable .crtx file may not. Share the template file separately if someone else needs to apply the same design to additional charts.

Troubleshooting

The template is missing from the Templates list: Check that the file ends in .crtx and is in the Charts folder under the same Windows profile used by Excel. Close all Excel windows and reopen the desktop app. If necessary, use Run with %AppData%\Microsoft\Templates\Charts to verify the exact location. If you created the folder yourself, confirm its name is Charts and that it is inside Microsoft\Templates, not directly inside Microsoft.

The file will not copy into the folder: Check that you have permission to write to your user profile and that the file is not being held open by another program. Try copying the file to your Desktop first, then pasting it into the Charts folder. If Windows displays a replacement prompt, do not overwrite a template unless you are sure the existing one is no longer needed.

The chart changes in an unexpected way: The template can include a chart type and formatting choices that do not match your data. Undo immediately with Ctrl+Z on Windows if the result is wrong, then use Chart Design > Change Chart Type to choose a better option or reapply a different template. If you have already made other changes, close without saving only if you are comfortable losing those changes; otherwise restore the original chart from a saved copy.

The template appears but its colors or layout look different: Excel adapts chart formatting to the selected data, workbook theme, and chart type. A design may also behave differently if the chart has a different number of series or category labels. Adjust the chart title, legend, axes, and colors after applying the template. If the same template renders differently on another computer, compare Excel versions and workbook themes, and check that the same .crtx file was installed.

You use Excel for the web: The web app does not provide the Windows folder-based installation route for .crtx files. Open the workbook in the Excel desktop app to install and apply the template. If you cannot use the desktop app, format the chart manually in the web version or ask someone with desktop Excel to apply the design, then review the saved workbook online.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an Excel chart template file?
A chart template is a .crtx file that saves reusable chart choices, such as chart type and formatting. It does not contain a copy of the worksheet data used in the original chart.

Can I import a chart template without restarting Excel?
Sometimes Excel may refresh the list, but closing and reopening the desktop app is the reliable way to make it detect a newly copied file. Save your work before restarting.

Can I apply a chart template to an existing chart?
Yes. Select the chart, choose Chart Design > Change Chart Type, open Templates, select the .crtx template, and confirm. Check that the resulting chart type suits the data.

Can I use a .crtx file in Excel for the web?
Excel for the web does not provide the same chart-template installation and selection workflow. Use Excel for Microsoft 365 desktop on Windows or Mac to install and apply the file.

How do I make my own chart template?
Format a chart, select it, and choose Chart Design > Save as Template. Choose a filename and save the .crtx file. You can then apply it again or share it with someone who uses a compatible desktop version of Excel.

Will the chart template change my worksheet data?
No. Applying a template changes the chart’s type or appearance, not the source cell values. Still, review the selected series and labels after applying it to make sure Excel is displaying the intended data.

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