Why can't i open MS Word

Question

I can't open MS word. it says there's an error in opening it.

Answer 1

What does the error message say?

One thing you can try is to restart your PC, and, if the problem remains, run a repair from Windows Settings. See https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/repair-an-office-application-7821d4b6-7c1d-4205-aa0e-a6b40c5bb88b .

Answer 2

If you are unable to open Microsoft Word and receive an error message, there could be several reasons for this issue. Here are some common causes and resolutions:

1. File Permissions: Ensure that you have the necessary permissions to access the document you are trying to open.
2. Memory and Disk Space: Check if there is sufficient free memory and disk space on your device. If not, try closing other applications or deleting unnecessary files to free up space.
3. Windows Firewall: This issue may occur if the Windows Firewall service is not running. You can start the Windows Firewall service by following these steps:
   • Press the Windows logo key + R to open the Run dialog box.
   • Type services.msc and select OK.
   • In the Services window, right-click Windows Firewall and select Start.
4. File Corruption: If the document is corrupted, you may need to repair it. Open Word, go to File > Open, select the file, and choose Open and Repair from the dropdown menu.
5. Path Length: Ensure that the file path does not exceed the character limits (259 characters for Word). If it does, try renaming the file or moving it to a location with a shorter path.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may want to consult additional resources or support for further assistance.

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References:

• Cannot open Word documents or Excel spreadsheets from an external source in Outlook
• You receive an error message when you try to open an Office document

Answer 3

Dear @Marycris Velez,

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum.

Before giving you the best solution, could you please confirm these questions below to help me diagnose the issue more effectively: 

• May I please double confirm if the account in question is a Microsoft 365 educational account which is provided by your college/institution?  
• Does the error occur for all documents or just one file?
• Do you see any error message, or does it just keep spinning? If possible, please kindly share the screenshot to me for better assist
• Have you tried signing out and back into your Microsoft 365 account?
• Is this happening only on your device, or have you tested on another browser or computer?
• Are you using Microsoft 365, Office 2021, or another version?
• Did this issue start after an update or any recent changes to your system?

In the meantime, here are some steps I recommend you try:

Step 1: Restart your device and Update Office

Open any other Office app (like Excel), go to File > Account > Update Options > Update Now.

Step 2: Start Word in Safe Mode

Press Windows + R, type winword /safe, and hit Enter. If Word opens, disable add-ins under File > Options > Add-ins. For reference: Open Office apps in safe mode on a Windows PC

Step 3: Repair Office installation (Follow Stefan Blom's suggestion)

If a Microsoft 365 application such as Word or Excel isn't working correctly, sometimes restarting it will fix the problem. If that doesn't work, you can try repairing it. When you're done, you might need to restart your computer. Please refer to the Microsoft Official Guide here: Repair an Office application

Moreover, here are some troubleshooting steps I recommend you try to troubleshoot problems that may occur when you start or use Microsoft Word. Use the following methods in the order in which they are presented. Please follow the Microsoft Official Guide here: How to troubleshoot problems that occur when you start or use Word

I hope this information is helpful. Please follow these steps and let me know if it works for you. If not, we can work together to resolve this. If I misunderstand anything, please feel free to reach out.

Please understand that our initial response does not always resolve the issue immediately. However, with your help and more detailed information, we can work together to find a solution.

Thank you for your patience and your understanding. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.

I'm looking forward for your reply.

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