Is Microsoft Word Crashing on Windows? Here’s How to Fix It
Introduction:
Microsoft Word is an essential tool for many users, but occasionally, the program may crash on your Windows computer. This issue can be frustrating and disruptive, especially if it occurs while you’re working on an important document. Fortunately, there are several ways to troubleshoot and fix Microsoft Word crashes on Windows. In this article, we’ll explore potential solutions to get you back up and running.
1. Restart Your Computer:
The first step in resolving any software issue should be restarting your computer. This simple action can resolve many problems by closing unresponsive applications and refreshing the system’s memory.
2. Update Microsoft Office and Windows:
Updating your Microsoft Office suite and Windows operating system can address known issues and improve performance. To check for updates in Office, open any Office application, go to “File” > “Account” > “Office Updates” > “Update Now.” For Windows, go to “Settings” > “Update & Security” > “Windows Update” > “Check for updates.”
3. Repair your Office Installation:
If the problem persists after updating, it’s possible that your Microsoft Office installation may be faulty. To repair it, go to “Control Panel” > “Programs” > “Programs and Features,” right-click on your Office installation, and select “Change.” Choose either “Quick Repair” or “Online Repair” and follow the instructions.
4. Disable Add-ins:
Incompatible or outdated add-ins can cause issues within Microsoft Word. Disable add-ins by opening Word in Safe Mode (hold the CTRL key while starting Word) which prevents add-ins from launching. If Word functions well in Safe Mode, try disabling add-ins by going to “File” > “Options” > “Add-Ins.” Select each add-in one by one and click the “Remove” button.
5. Restore Word Defaults:
Resetting the default settings in Word can solve crash issues stemming from incorrect settings. To restore defaults, go to “File” > “Options” > “Advanced.” Scroll down to the bottom and click “Reset all Word preferences to default settings.” Remember that this will affect any customization you’ve made to Word.
6. Delete Normal.dotm Template File:
A corrupted “Normal.dotm” file, which stores template settings, can cause Word crashes. Locate and delete it by navigating to
C:\Users\<YourUserName>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates. Restart Word, and it will create a new default template file.
7. Run System File Checker:
System File Checker (SFC) is a utility tool within Windows that scans for corrupt system files and replaces them with correct versions. To run SFC, open the Command Prompt as an administrator and type “sfc /scannow,” then press Enter.
Conclusion:
Microsoft Word crashes on Windows can be frustrating but following these troubleshooting steps should help you resolve the issue and get your software running smoothly again. Remember to always back up your documents to protect against data loss in case of software instability or crashes.