word is not working

Question

what if word is not working, how to fix

it

Answer 1

Follow these steps in order until Word works again:

1. Make sure Office and Windows are updated
   Install all important and recommended Windows and Office updates, then restart the computer and try Word again.
2. Try starting Word in safe mode (/a switch)
   This helps check if add-ins or custom settings are causing the problem.
   1. Exit Word.
   2. Select Start > search for Run.
   3. In the Run box, type:

            winword /a
      

      then press Enter.
   4. If Word opens this way, the issue is likely with add-ins or the global template.
3. Disable add-ins manually
   If Word opens (either normally or with /a), disable add-ins:
   1. In Word, go to File > Options > Add-ins.
   2. At the bottom, in Manage, choose COM Add-ins (and other add-in types if listed), then select Go.
   3. Uncheck all add-ins, especially older ones such as ABBYY FineReader or Dragon Naturally Speaking.
   4. Select OK, close Word, then open Word normally.
   5. If Word now works, re-enable add-ins one by one to find the problem add-in and leave it disabled or remove it.
4. Repair Office from Windows settings
   If Word still will not start or shows “has run into an error” and the built-in “Repair now” does not help, run an Online Repair:
   1. Close all Office apps.
   2. Open Settings > System > Apps > Installed apps (or Apps & features).
   3. Find Microsoft Office (or Microsoft 365 Apps), select it, then choose Modify.
   4. Select Online Repair, then Repair and let it complete.
   5. Restart the computer and try Word again.
5. If Online Repair does not fix it
   1. Uninstall Office from Apps & features / Installed apps.
   2. Restart the PC (full restart, not shutdown).
   3. Reinstall Office from the Microsoft account or installation source associated with the subscription.

If Word opens but a specific document crashes or behaves strangely, use the damaged-document steps:

1. Start Word with default settings using winword.exe /a as above, then try opening the problem document.
2. Rename the Normal template (resets Word’s default template):
   1. Close Word.
   2. In File Explorer, go to:

            %userprofile%\appdata\roaming\microsoft\templates
      

   3. Find Normal.dotm, right-click it, choose Rename, and rename it to something like Oldword.old.
   4. Close File Explorer, start Word, and try the document again.
3. Change the document’s template if it opens but acts strangely:
   1. Open the damaged document.
   2. Select File > Options > Add-Ins.
   3. In Manage, choose Templates, then Go.
   4. Select Attach, choose Normal.dotm, then Open and OK.
   5. Close and reopen Word and the document.

If none of these steps work, the installation or document may be severely corrupted and a full reinstall plus using a backup copy of the document may be required.

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References:

• How to troubleshoot problems that occur when you start or use Word
• Troubleshoot problems that occur when you start or use Word
• I get a "stopped working" error when I start Office applications on my PC
• How to troubleshoot damaged documents in Word
• How to fix my MS Word? - Microsoft Q&A
• how to fix word error - Microsoft Q&A
• we are 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? - Microsoft Q&A
• How to fix MS Word has run into an error that is preventing from working properly. Word will need to be closed as a result. - Microsoft Q&A
• How can I get office 365 to work? - Microsoft Q&A