Office For Mac Word Not Working



Summary

Microsoft Office Mac Crack 2017 Microsoft Visio 2013 Para Mac Reinstall Microsoft 360 Mac Microsoft Word 2016 Mac Tutorial Microsoft Web Lync App Mac Not Showing Shared Presentation Update Version Of Microsoft Word Mac For Free Will My Microsoft Office Products Work With Mac Os 10.14.4 Mac Microsoft Access Trial. Paste options in Word for Mac and Insert Signature in Outlook for Mac not working I've found that my Office for Mac suite (the most up-to-date version through Microsoft 365) has been a little bit buggy the whole time I've been working from home but this week's one has been the worst. The first thing that you need to fix Word not responding on Mac is either disable or remove the add-ins from your Mac. The incompatibility of the third party add-ins often causes crashing or other issues with Word. Even the 64-bit or 32-bit version of the Add-ins can affect the applications. Thus, you have to disable them as soon as possible. Most familiar Office Fluent Control Identifiers are compatible with Office for Mac. Some might not be available. For commands that are compatible with Office 2016 for Mac, see idMSOs compatible with Office 2016 for Mac. Support for COM add-ins that use custom ribbon controls: Available: Office 2016 for Mac doesn't support third-party COM add-ins. Remove Word Preferences to Open Frozen Word. Sometimes, it is the random words combination.

When Microsoft Word has stopped working or Microsoft Word not opening to opening for a document on Windows 10/8/7, don't worry. You can use methods on this page to resolve Microsoft Word has stopped working issue and use EaseUS file recovery software to repair and recover deleted Word files with ease.

These suggestions apply to Microsoft Word for Office 365, Word 2019, Word 2016, Word 2010, Word 2007, and Word for Mac.

There are eight methods in total for Microsoft Office Word has stopped working and Word file recovery and repair. These approaches can also be applied to fix similar issues on other Office apps, such as Excel, PowerPoint, etc.

Workable SolutionsStep-by-step Troubleshooting
Fix 1. Disable Add-ins in Safe ModeCertain add-ins may cause compatibility issues that cause a 'Word stopped working' error with Office apps...Full steps
Fix 2. Repair Office 2016If Word is damaged or corrupted. Try a quick repair first, and if that doesn't work, try the online repair...Full steps
Fix 3. Install Latest UpdateDownload and install the latest updates for your version of Office and Windows to fix Word not working ...Full steps
Fix 4. Insert Word into Another FileMicrosoft Word has stopped working error can occur while opening your previously saved documents...Full steps
More practical solutionsUpdate old printer drivers; remove or delete word registry keys; uninstall and reinstall MS office...Full steps

Issue: Microsoft Word Has Stopped Working 2016/2013/2010/2007

With the increasing fame of Microsoft Office, its applications like Word have gained worldwide users' favor. However, the more users there are, the more problems there are. 'Microsoft Office Word has stopped working' is one of the top concerned questions for many Word users.

Usually, when Microsoft word stopped working error shows up, you have two available options to undertake: check online for a solution or close the program. When you choose to close the application, you may run into the problem that Microsoft word not opening.

If you are also facing Microsoft word not working issue in Microsoft Office Word 2016, 2013, 2010, or 2007, read on and check the provided solutions below. Depending on your situation, the solution may be different. We hope one will work for you.

Also read:How to fix Excel not responding error

8 Useful Fixes for Microsoft Word Has Stopped Working Error in Windows 10/8/7

Once Microsoft Word stopped working, wait for the program to process firstly and try your best to save the editing document. If you've waited for a very long period with no progress, click 'Close the program' on the pop-up window in Word and follow the methods to fix the issue effectively.

Fix 1. Disable Add-ins in Safe Mode

Some incompatible add-ins may cause Word stopped working error with Office apps. A quick way to find out is by starting the Office app in Safe Mode and disabling the add-ins.

Step 1. Press Windows + R keys and type: winword.exe /a and hit Enter to open MS Word in Safe Mode without plugins. Or you can also use winword /safe to start Word in Safe Mode. If the Office Word cannot be launched in Safe Mode, the problem is not with add-ins. Try repairing Office or uninstalling and reinstalling it instead.

Step 2. If Word starts in Safe Mode, fix the problem by disabling the application add-ins and COM add-ins. Click 'File' > 'Options' > 'Add-Ins'.

Step 3. Click 'Manage' at the bottom and select COM Add-ins, click 'Go' to uncheck the problematic ones and click 'OK' to confirm. Some out-dated add-ins are more likely to cause problems. Uncheck these add-ins first if they are in your list: Abbyy FineReader, PowerWord, and Dragon Naturally Speaking.

After this, restart Word to check if the issue has been resolved.

Fix 2. Repair Office 2016/2013/2010/2007

According to some experienced users, when Microsoft Office contains errors, it would prevent users from opening a Word or edit any files. Then, you will get the Microsoft word has stopped working or Microsoft word not opening error.

The application would directly shut down no matter you want to create a new document or continue editing a file. The direct solution towards this issue is to repair Office installation with below steps:

Step 1. In Windows 10, 8 or 7, open Control Panel, click 'Programs and Features' and click on 'Microsoft Office'.

Step 2. Locate and select your Microsoft Office, and click 'Change' in the top menu.

Step 3. On the window, click 'Repair' and then 'Continue'.

For Newer versions of Microsoft Office users, you can choose 'Online Repair'or 'Quick Repair' and click 'Repair'.

Step 4. Let the repair finish and restart your computer.

When the repair process finishes, open your Word application to check if the error appears again.

Fix 3. Install Latest Windows Update or Office Update

Word For Mac Not Responding

When your Office version or Windows system is out of date, Microsoft Office Word may stop working and even crashes. Here are the steps to install the latest updates of Windows or Microsoft Office:

# 1. Install Latest Windows Update

Step 1. Press Windows + I to open Windows Settings.

Step 2. Click 'Update & Security' and select 'Check for updates' under Windows Update.

Step 3. If a new Windows update window pops up, click 'Install Now' and follow the instructions to install the available update.

# 2. Install Microsoft Office Update

For Office 2013 and newer versions:

Step 1. Open an Office application - Excel or Word, click 'File'.

Step 2. Click 'Account' > 'Product Information' > 'Update Options' .

Word not opening on mac

Step 3. Click 'Enable Update' and then select 'Update Now'.

Note: If the Enable Update button is not available, it means that the automatic update feature is enabled.

For Office 2010 or older versions:

Step 1. Open an Office application - Excel or Word, click 'File' > 'Help'.

Step 2. Click the 'Check for Updates' or 'Install Updates' option.

Follow the instructions to finish the process. After this, you can re-open a Word document or create a new Word file again.

Fix 4. Insert Word Document into Another File

Microsoft Word has stopped working error can sometimes occur while trying to open your previously saved documents. In this case, you can try inserting your document into another file to fix the issue. Do it by following these steps:

Step 1. Run Microsoft Office Word, and create a blank new file.

Step 2. Click 'Insert' from the top ribbon menu, click 'Text'.

Step 3. Click 'Object' and select ' Text from File'.

Step 4. Select the target Word document which is unopenable or not working, and click 'Insert'.

Step 5. Check the document content and save it as a new file on your PC.

Fix 5. Remove or Update Old Printer Drivers

Your printer drivers can interfere with Office and cause Microsoft Word has stopped working error to arise. So, sometimes you can fix this problem simply by removing or updating the default printer. To do that, follow these steps:

Step 1. Open Device Manager, and locate your printer.

Step 2. Right-click on your printer drivers and select 'Uninstall' or 'Update drivers'.

Step 3. Uninstall or update the old printer drivers.

Unable To Open Word Mac

  • For uninstalling driver - click 'OK' and restart PC.
  • For updating driver - click 'Search automatically for updated driver software' and follow the instruction to finish the process, and restart PC. Or, you can download a relative driver form your printer website and install it on your PC.

Fix 6. Remove or Delete Word Registry Keys

Some users have reported that Microsoft Word has stopped working error can appear due to problems with your registry. There is a key in the registry that stores frequently used options in Word. If you delete the key, Word rebuilds it the next time you start Word by using the default settings, thus fixing the problem.

Tip
Deleting the registry can be potentially dangerous, so we highly recommend you create a backup in case anything goes wrong.

Step 1. Bring up Registry Editor by typing regedit in the search bar and hit Enter.

Step 2. Click 'Yes' to open Registry and follow the path to locate the Word options key: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOffice16.0WordOptions.

Step 3. Locate and right-click the key, and select 'Export'.

Step 4. Save the Options key as 'Wddata.reg' and save it on your Desktop.

Step 5. Go back to Registry Editor and locate the Options key, and delete it from the menu.

Step 6. Exit Registry Editor.

After this, restart your Word and check if the problem is resolved. If the problem still exists, run the Wddata.reg on your Desktop to restore the deleted key.

Fix 7. Replace the Normal.dot Global Template File

Microsoft Word stores formatting and macros in a global template file. When the global template file is corrupted, you'll get the Microsoft word stopped working error message. To resolve the problem, you need to rename the Normal.dot file.

Note: Modifying the global template file will lose some customization features, such as styles, macros, etc. To keep previous settings, you can copy the customization from one global template to another by using the Organizer. Do the following to replace Normal.dot file.

Step 1. Press Windows + X and select 'Command Prompt (Admin)'. Sign in if the program requires administrator permission.

Step 2. Enter the command below and hit Enter:

Step 3. Wait for the command to finish and exit Command Prompt.

After this, restart your Word application to check if you can use it to edit documents or create new files again.

Fix 8. Uninstall and Reinstall MS Office

Note: This fix may cause your activation key invalid after the reinstallation of MS Office. Make sure that your activation key can be used twice before taking the below steps.

Step 1. Keep your MS Office activation key and save it to another secure device.

Step 2. Open Control Panel, click 'Program and Features', then locate and select Microsoft Office.

Step 3. Click 'Uninstall' in the top menu.

Step 4. Re-install Microsoft Office on your PC and activate it with your serial key.

If your old key fails to activate the newly installed MS Office, please contact the Microsoft support team for help: https://support.microsoft.com/contactus.

Causes of Microsoft Word Has Stopped Working Error

Except for finding the right solutions to solve the Microsoft office has stopped working error on Windows PC, it's highly necessary to know the reasons that cause your Word malfunction. Here are the main reasons:

  • Office edition isn't compatible with the current OS on your PC.
  • Word is out of date.
  • The device driver is out of date.
  • Word Add-in issue.
  • Word file issue.

How to Recover Lost or Unsaved Word Documents

Another big issue that concerns users the most is the lost or unsaved Word file when Word stopped working. If you're editing a Word document when it happens, you're likely to lose documents that haven't been saved. In this section, you can learn how to recover unsaved Word documents with useful tips. What's more, a renowned file recovery tool is introduced to help you repair and recover lost Word documents in the simplest way.

How to Restore Unsaved Word Documents

If you lost unsaved Word documents due to Word crash, Word not responding, Word stopped working, Word keeps freezing, or other Word problems, there are three ways for you to recover unsaved Word documents in Windows 10. Link to the page to see details.

  • Fix 1. Recover from Temporary Files
  • Fix 2. Recover from AutoRecover
  • Fix 3. Use Document Recovery

For a Mac user, check this link to see how to recover unsaved Word document on Mac.

How to Restore Lost/Corrupted Word Document with File Recovery Software

If the Word has stopped working error lead to file corruption or if you have deleted some crucial Word documents and need to get them back, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is a great choice. This software will not only help you recover lost files but also help you repair damaged documents during the recovery process.

Download EaseUS file recovery tool to recover lost or corrupted Word document on HDD, USB flash drive, external hard drive, and more in only 3 simple steps.

Step 1. Choose the Word file location.

Do you know where you lost Word files? Choose the hard disk drive or a specific folder and click the San button. If it's on a USB flash drive or SD card, take one more step to connect it to your computer.

Step 2. Scan all lost data.

The software will start immediately scanning all lost data on the selected drive, and you'll see more and more data showing up in the scan results. After the scan, use the quickest way to the wanted Word documents by choosing 'Documents' from the drop-down list in 'Filter'.

Step 3. Select Word files and recover.

You're allowed to preview a Word file if you have Microsoft Word application installed on your computer. Finally, select the desired documents and click 'Recover'.

Useful Tips to Back Up and Protect Word File

If you are looking for a reliable method to fix 'Word has stopped working' error, solutions included in the above two parts are capable to help you out.

If you prefer a more comprehensive plan to protect your precious Word documents, stay here. Two reliable Word backup tips are available here for you to try:

# 1. Enable Auto-Save Feature in Word

Applies to: Back up and save editing Word document.

Step 1. Open MS Word application and create a new file, click 'File' > 'Option'.

Step 2. Click 'Save' and check the below two boxes:

  • 'Save AutoRecover information every * munites' (set a time for autosave - every 2 or 5 minutes will be good)
  • 'Keep the last autosaved version if I close without saving'

Step 3. Click 'OK'to confirm.

# 2. Back Up Saved Word File with File Backup Software

Applies to: Back up saved Word file on your local drive.

Reliable file backup software like EaseUS Todo Backup can help you effectively back up important files including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc. on a local drive with ease.

The back up will be a lifesaver to immediately bring your hard word back once you lose it due to unknown reasons.

Download and follow below 3 steps to safely back up your Word file with ease:

Step 1: Launch EaseUS Todo Backup software and then choose 'File Backup', 'Disk/partition Backup' or 'System Backup' for different backup purpose.

Step 2: Choose the system, disk partition, files or apps that you want to back up. Then select a destination where you want to store the backup file.

Step 3: Click 'Proceed' to start the data backup process.

FAQs About Microsoft Word Has Stopped Working

Here are a few questions related to Microsoft Word has stopped working. If you also have any of these problems, you can find the methods here.

1. How do I fix Microsoft Word has stopped working?

When MS word has stopped working, you can fix it by repairing Office installation.

Step 1. Open Control Panel, click “Programs and Features' and click on 'Microsoft Office'.

Step 2. Locate and select your Microsoft Office, and click 'Change' in the top menu.

Step 3. On the window, click 'Repair' and then 'Continue'. For Newer versions of Microsoft Office users, you can choose 'Online Repair' or 'Quick Repair' and click 'Repair'.

Step 4. Let the repair finish and restart your computer.

2. Why is my Microsoft Word not opening?

When there are a few corrupted documents, or you have an issue with a Word or 3rd party add-on, your Word maybe not opening.

3. How do you restart Microsoft Word?

Step 1. Go to the Tools Menu, then Customize, then click options.

Step 2. Choose the option for the Reset menu and toolbar usage data. This will put your toolbars back to the original settings. If you would like to reset your settings further, move on to the steps below.

4. Why has my office 365 stopped working?

When Microsoft Office 365, 2016 or 2013 stops working or not opening on your PC, you can also use the Office repair feature to get the problem fixed in Windows 10/8/7: right-click on Office 365, Office 2016 or Office 2013 > Select Change; click Online Repair > click on Repair button.

5. How do I fix Outlook has stopped working?

When you happen to encounter Outlook 2016 Not Responding in Windows 10, you can try to fix by using Outlook recovery software; start Outlook in Safe Mode; install Outlook updates; repair Office program, or repair Outlook data files.

Oct 26, 2020 • Filed to: Solve Mac Problems • Proven solutions

'I was trying to use MS Word, but it crashed unexpectedly. Now my Microsoft Word will not open on my Mac, and I don't know what to do. I keep trying to open different files, but every time, it crashes after a few seconds. How can I fix it?'

Just like any other software program, MS Word is also susceptible to issues. You will find unlimited queries on forum sites asking, 'why won't my Word document open on my Mac.' Most of the people have no idea why their Microsoft Word stopped working randomly. If you are also facing a similar situation, you will have to look for an appropriate solution to fix this issue.

In this article, we will discuss the potential fixes that can resolve the Microsoft Word, not working issue.

Part 1. Why Won't Microsoft Word Open on Mac Computer?

As MS Word is a widely used program, a malfunction could get tragic real soon. Before you get to solutions, you must go through the reasons for this problem first. The common causes of these issues are.

  • Inappropriate shutdown or system crash
  • Shift + Delete, and the file is deleted permanently from the device.
  • Formatted drives
  • Damaged and corrupted files
  • Virus or malware attack
WorkingWorking

Unless you have a brief idea about what caused the problem, you won't be able to steer away from the common errors. The user's listed common symptoms that lead to the 'word won't open on my Mac' issue are given below:

  • The application keeps closing without any warning.
  • MS Word encounters an unknown issue and needs to close.
  • Erase, Install, or re-install factory version of OS X
  • MS Word file can't open due to an error.
Related: Further, read and get 8 specific solutions to 'Word Keeps Crashing Mac.'

When you face a situation like this, don't pain and look for solutions on the internet. If you are lucky, then you'll come across real fixes soon. Otherwise, you might have to struggle to find an ideal fix.

Part 2. How to Fix 'Microsoft Word Not Opening Mac'?

With so many versions and updates on MS Word, it can get hard to simplify the solutions for all versions. Here is a summarized list of solutions that can work when Microsoft Word is not opening on Mac. All these methods are useful and easy to carry out. So, give them a try one by one.

Solution 1. Remove Word Preferences to Open Frozen Word

Sometimes, it is the random words combination or special characters that lead to such issues. It can be resolved if you follow the steps below.

  1. Open library and type Library in the Go to the Folder and hit the Go button.
  2. Look for a folder that says 'Preferences.' This folder contains the preferences file you set for the MS Word program.
  3. Open the folder, search for a file named- 'com.microsoft.Word.plist,' and move the file to the desktop. Now, try opening the Word file and see if the problem persists. If it does, then move the file to its original location and move on to the next step.
  4. Exit every Microsoft program running on your Mac and click on the Word option in the Apple Menu. Tap on the 'Preferences' option from the list.
  5. Choose the File Locations option and select the 'User templates.'
  6. Locate the file which saved as Normal and moves it to the desktop.

Solution 2. Open and Repair Microsoft Word

Everyone knows how to open Microsoft Word on Mac, but we do not talk about just opening and closing the files. You can also repair the MS Word files with the following steps.

  1. Start MS Word and click on the File menu. Choose the Open option, and it will open up a dialog box where you can select the Word file which needs repair.
  2. While you are selecting the file, at the right bottom side of the window, choose the Repair option and click on the Ok button.

The Mac utility will automatically repair the not opening Word file, and you will be able to use it now.

Solution 3. Run Disk Utility to Repair Word

Besides the above methods fail, you can also run the Disk Utility to repair the Word file if the Microsoft Word is not opening on your Mac computer.

Word
  1. Inside the Go menu, choose the Utility option and start the Disk Utility program.
  2. Ensure that you choose the Primary hard disk of your Mac and then click on the 'First Aid' tab.
  3. You will get a pop-up option that asks you to run First Aid on the drive. Hit the Run option, and the Disk Utility will repair the Disk volume errors and permissions issues.

When the process finishes, click on 'Done' and check whether the problem is fixed or not. There are maximum chances that the problem will be resolved. But if MS Word is still not responding correctly to commands, then there is one 100% guaranteed solution left to recover your Word Documents.

Solution 4. Recover Not Opening Word Files on Mac

While you are trying to repair the drive and Word files, it is common that the solutions don't work as expected, and the files get deleted from Mac. Here is the perfect solution if getting stuck in such circumstances without any recovery option.

The best tool available for Word file recovery on the internet is Recoverit Word Recovery software. This software is capable of recovering various kinds of deleted or lost data. For example, Word documents, PowerPoint, Excel files, PDF, photos, videos, songs, audios, and many more. It is a faster, easier, and 100% secure data recovery tool with the market's highest recovery rate.

How to Fix Microsoft Word Won't Open on Mac

Now, let's have a look at the simple steps on Word document recovery. You only need to launch the Word file recovery software and do a few clicks.

Step 1: Select a location storing the Word file.

To recover the not opening document caused by accidental deletion, you need to select the drive where the data files are lost. Then, click the 'Start' button.

Step 2: Scan the Word location for files

Typically, the software will run an all-around scan and search for the lost and deleted files on the entire drive. If you perform an emptied trash recovery or HFS+ data rescue, you can even try the deep scan mode.

Why Is Microsoft Word Not Working

Step 3: Preview and recover Word documents.

When the scan completes, the files will be listed on the screen. The software will sort out the files according to format to make the search easier. You can select multiple files at a time and have a preview of them.

Not

Office For Mac Word Not Working Together

Part 3. Tips Against 'Microsoft Word Won't Open on Mac.'

If you don't want to go through this problem, you should have to take care of a few things. This way, you will be successful in avoiding the Microsoft Word won't open on Mac issue in the future. So, here are some tips that you need to follow:

Why Is My Microsoft Office Not Working

  • Avoid relying on automated tools to clean up the cache or redundant files on your Mac. These tools often end up deleting the important files on the device.
  • In case you use the Command Line to delete a file, be careful as a single mistake can lead to bigger issues.
  • Never format a drive before creating a backup; otherwise, you might end up losing important files.
  • Stay focused while partitioning the drives on your Mac. Improper partitioning can lead to corruption of data files stored on the drive.
  • Avoid rushing commands on MS Word. If you pass on multiple commands at once, then Word might get confused, and the file might become inaccessible due to some random mistake.

Even a little mishandling can lead to major working issues in MS Word. Instead of worrying about how you can rescue the data, try keeping the data safe on the first hand.

Office 2019 Mac Word Not Working

Now you know how to open Word on Mac along with the process of repair. And if you are facing a dilemma and then want to recover Word files, you can always think of using Recoverit Data recovery software.

What's Wrong with Mac

Office For Mac 2019 Word Not Responding

Recover Your Mac
Fix Your Mac
Delete Your Mac
Learn Mac Hacks