Problems with Word

Question

Since some time, i've been having some problems with word. Anytime i trie to open the software, it starts in security mode, and than, it closes by itself. I tried to reinstall several times, tried do modify, correct from windows itself, but nothing seems to work. Can you guys give me some direction?

Answer 1

Dear @Alberto Maximo,

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A Forum.

I understand that you're having an issue where Word starts in safe mode and then immediately closes. This specific behavior, even after attempting to reinstall and correct the software, strongly suggests a problem with a corrupted template or a conflicting add-in. Since the problem persists after reinstallation, the cause is likely rooted in persistent user-profile files or registry settings that the standard uninstall process does not fully clear.

Here are a few troubleshooting steps you can try, moving from least invasive to most effective for this type of problem:

 

1.Rename the Normal.dotm Global Template

The Normal.dotm template is the primary global template for Word. If it's corrupted, Word can't start correctly, even in safe mode. Renaming it forces Word to create a brand new, clean one on startup.

1. Close Word completely. Ensure it's not running in the background (you can check Task Manager).
2. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
3. Type the following path and press Enter: %appdata%\Microsoft\Templates
4. In the folder that opens, find the file named Normal.dotm.
5. Rename this file to something like Normal_old.dotm or Normal_backup.dotm.
6. Try to open Word normally. If it opens, a new clean Normal.dotm file has been created, and the issue is likely resolved.

2.Disable All Add-Ins

Safe mode disables most add-ins, but if the problem persists even after trying to open in safe mode, a problematic add-in could still be causing the immediate closure. If Word briefly opens (even in safe mode), you might be able to disable them.

Try to open Word by running the command to disable add-ins:

1. Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type: winword.exe /a and press Enter. (This forces Word to start without any add-ins or global templates, similar to safe mode).
3. If Word does open this way, you need to disable your COM and other add-ins:
   • Go to File > Options > Add-Ins.
   • At the bottom, next to Manage, select COM Add-ins from the dropdown and click Go....
   • Uncheck all items in the list and click OK.
   • Repeat for other types of add-ins if necessary (e.g., Word Add-ins).
   • Close and restart Word normally.

3.Use the Microsoft Office Online Repair Tool

Since Quick Repair didn't work, an Online Repair is a more comprehensive fix that downloads fresh files and should correct any system file errors related to Office that your previous attempts missed.

1. Right-click the Start button and select Installed apps or Apps and Features.
2. Find your Microsoft Office installation in the list.
3. Click the three dots (...) or the name, and select Modify or Change.
4. Choose Online Repair (this takes longer as it re-downloads and replaces core files).
5. Follow the prompts to complete the repair.
6. Restart your PC and try opening Word again.

4.Delete the Word Registry Key 

If none of the above work, the automated safe mode might be triggered by a stubborn setting in the Windows Registry. This step requires caution and is best performed after backing up your registry.

1. Close Word completely.
2. Press Windows key + R and type regedit, then press Enter.
3. In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following path (the 16.0 may be different depending on your Office version (e.g., 15.0 for Office 2013, 14.0 for Office 2010): HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Word
4. Right-click on the Word folder (key) and choose Export to create a backup file for that key (a safety measure).
5. Once backed up, Right-click the Word folder (key) again and select Delete.
6. Close the Registry Editor and try to open Word.

Deleting this key will remove all user-defined settings for Word, but a clean one will be created when Word starts.

For reference: How to reset user options and registry settings in Word - Microsoft 365 Apps | Microsoft Learn

If none of the above solutions work, let me know for further investigation. Please note 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 understanding. I'm looking forward to your reply.

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