All windows apps are not responding after update

Dave R 20 Reputation points
2025-11-14T06:08:42.0733333+00:00

I just updated Windows and now Word and Excel are not responding after I open a document. I've run both repairs, rebooted several times and nothing has fixed the problem. I even tried running Word in safe mode and it too would give the "not responding" message. Here is the version I currently have:

Edition Windows 11 Home

Version 24H2

Installed on ‎2/‎19/‎2025

OS build 26100.6899

Serial number PF33PE6X

Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.26100.253.0

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows
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Answer accepted by question author
GsN5034 - IA 76,570 Reputation points Independent Advisor
2025-11-14T07:51:31.23+00:00

Hello, thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A.

May I please know if you're experiencing this problem only with Office applications?

If you've already tried repairing Office applications,

Repair an Office application

  • You can reinstall Office applications again.
  • Uninstall Office apps by going into the Control Panel>Programs.
  • Once uninstalled, re-install Office apps by signing in with your Microsoft account here.

https://account.microsoft.com/services

If you're still having issues, open Command Prompt as Administrator.

Run the command below, then restart your computer.

Sfc /scannow

End all background applications in the Task Manager, then run the Office applications again.

Let me know if you still need more help.

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  1. AI answer

    2025-11-14T06:09:02.8333333+00:00

    It seems you are experiencing issues with Microsoft Word and Excel not responding after a Windows update. This problem can sometimes be related to graphics drivers or hardware acceleration settings. Here are a few steps you can try to resolve the issue:

    1. Update Graphics Drivers: Ensure that your graphics drivers are up to date. If you have an Intel graphics adapter, check if you have one of the affected driver versions that might cause Office applications to stop responding. The recommended version is 26.20.100.7262 or later.
    2. Disable Hardware Acceleration: If updating the graphics driver is not an option, you can manually disable hardware acceleration in Office applications:
      • Open any Office application (like Word or Excel).
      • Go to File > Options > Advanced.
      • Check the box for Disable hardware graphics acceleration.
      • Click OK and restart the application.
    3. Update Office: Make sure your Office installation is updated to the latest version. Some updates contain fixes for issues related to performance and responsiveness.
    4. Repair Office: Since you've already run repairs, ensure you are using the Online Repair option, which is more thorough than the Quick Repair.
    5. Check for Third-Party Software: If you have third-party software that manages graphics settings (like Nvidia Optimus), ensure it is configured correctly to use the appropriate graphics adapter.

    If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may want to check for any additional updates or patches from Microsoft that might address this specific problem.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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