Is Microsoft Word Crashing on Windows? Here’s How to Fix It

If you use Microsoft Word to create and edit documents on a daily basis, experiencing issues with it can cost you both your time and effort. You might also end up losing a lot of work at a time!

A common problem recently faced by users is that Microsoft Word frequently crashes on their Windows PC. The problem has been reported by both Windows 10 and Windows 11 users. In this guide, we will take a look at why Word crashes and the solution to try to prevent that from happening.

What Causes Word to Crash on Windows?

Before we get into fixing the error, it is important to understand why the error occurs in the first place. In most cases, the crash is accompanied by an error code that states:

We’re sorry, but Word has run into an error that is preventing it from working correctly. Word will need to be closed as a result. Would you like us to repair now?

When the users click on the Repair button, Word closes automatically without starting the repair process. We had a look into this issue and discovered that this issue is commonly caused by the following few reasons:

1. Word is not up-to-date. Outdated apps can deal with several issues like compatibility problems and corruption errors that prevent you from running them properly. If this happens, the best way to fix the problem is by installing the pending updates.
2. The Word file you are trying to launch is corrupt. In some cases, it can also be because of corrupt Word cache files.
3. An installed add-in is interrupting Word’s processes. If you have installed external add-ins, then you can try disabling or removing them to see if that fixes the problem.

Now that you know about the potential causes of the error, you can proceed with the relevant solutions. However, before you get started with the troubleshooting methods, we suggest you restart your computer.

There are times when a temporary glitch in the system is causing apps like Word to crash. If this is the case in your situation, rebooting should fix the problem without having to go through any troubleshooting!

1. Disable Any Active Add-ins

Add-ins allow you to extend the functionality of your program by adding new features and commands. While typically, they work fine in the background, they also have a bad reputation for interrupting the app’s processes and causing issues like the one at hand.

If this scenario is applicable, then you can try disabling the add-ins in Word and check if that fixes the problem for you. If it does, you can remove the problematic add-in to prevent issues like this from occurring in the future.

Here is how you can do that:

1. Launch Word and click on the File option in the top-left corner.

2. Choose Options from the left pane.

3. In the following dialog, click on Add-ins.

4. Move to the right side of the window and click on the Go button associated with Manage at the bottom.

5. Now, uncheck the boxes associated with all the add-ins and click OK.

6. Once done, close Word and perform a reboot.

Upon reboot, hopefully, you will be able to use Word without any problems.

2. Update Microsoft Office

If you have an outdated Office suite, it can cause Office apps to crash. In this circumstance, updating the Microsoft Office application is the best course of action.

Here is how you can update Microsoft Office on your computer:

1. Launch any Microsoft Office application (like Word or Excel).
2. Head to the File option in the top-left corner.
3. Choose Accounts from the left pane in the following window.

4. Move to the right side of the window and expand the dropdown for Update Options in the Manage Account section.

5. Choose Update now from the list of options available. With this, Office will start looking for updates and downloading them.

6. Wait for the updates to install, and then check if you can use Microsoft Word without any problems.

While you are at it, we also recommend checking if your Windows is up-to-date; it’s a good Windows-related habit to cultivate. Downloading the latest version of Windows may also help fix your Word woes.

3. Repair Office

Another way to fix problems with Microsoft Office applications is by repairing the Office suite. Microsoft Office offers two forms of built-in repairs; Quick repair and Online repair.

It is a good idea to start with a Quick repair. If that does not fix the problem, you can proceed with the Online repair option. However, these options are available to users using the Office suite. If you are an Office 365 user, you will only be presented with the Quick repair option.

Here is how you can repair Office to fix the Word crashing issue:

1. Press Win + R to open Run.
2. Type “control” in the text field of Run and press Enter.
3. In the Control Panel window, choose Programs and features from the list of options available.

4. The following window should present you with a list of programs installed on your computer. Locate Microsoft Office and choose Change from the context menu.

5. Click Yes in the User Account Control prompt.
6. If your copy of Office is MSI-based, you will be redirected to the Change your installation window. There, choose Repair and click on the Continue button.
7. If the system finds issues, it will notify you or attempt to repair them automatically.
8. If you are using a “Click-to-run” copy of Office, choose Quick repair and click on the Repair button in the same dialog.

9. Wait for the process to complete and check if you can now use Microsoft Word. If the issue persists, you can proceed with performing an Online repair.

You can also consider reinstalling Word if nothing else helps.

Microsoft Word’s Crashing Issue, Resolved

There is nothing more frustrating than an app like Microsoft Word crashing while you’re typing away or editing a document. It does not just waste your time, but can also make you lose your important work.

We hope that the methods listed above help you figure out the cause of the problem and fix it instantly. If you are still facing the problem, then it is a good idea to report to the official Microsoft team about the issue and wait for them to launch an official fix. Until then, you can try using Microsoft Word alternatives like Google Docs.