Microsoft Word has Stopped Working [SOLVED]

Fix Microsoft Word has Stopped Working: Microsoft Office is one of the most important software packages that we all install on our system. It comes with a package of software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc. MS word which is used in creating doc files is one of the software that we use to write and store our text files. There are several other things that we do with this software. However, it happens that suddenly Microsoft word stops working sometimes. Also read 27 Best Alternatives to Microsoft Word here.

Fix Microsoft Word has Stopped Working

Did you ever face this problem with your MS word? While opening your MS word, it will crash and shows you error message “Microsoft Word has Stopped Working – A problem caused the program to stop working correctly. Windows will close the program and notify you if a solution is available”. Isn’t annoying? Yes, it is. However, it also gives you some options to find out solutions online but ultimately you end up crashing your software which is not opening.  Let us help you out by giving a set of methods that you can choose depending on your situation.

Fix Microsoft Word has Stopped Working

Method 1 – Start with Repair option for Office 2013/2016/2010/2007

Step 1 – To start with the repair option, you need to navigate to “Control Panel“. Just type “Control Panel” in the Windows search bar and open control panel.

Type control panel in the search

Step 2 – Now click on the Programs and Features > Microsoft Office and click on the “Change” option.

Select Microsoft Office and click on the Change option

Step 3 – You will get a pop-up window on your screen asking you to repair or uninstall the program. Here you need to click on the Repair option.

Choose Repair option to Fix Microsoft Word has Stopped Working Issue

Once you will start the repair option, it will take a while the program will restart. Hopefully, you will able to Fix Microsoft Word has Stopped Working issue but if the problem still persists, you can go ahead for other troubleshooting methods.

Method 2 – Disable all Plug-ins of MS Word

You might have never noticed that there are some external plugins that installed automatically and can cause a problem for the MS Word to start properly. In that case, if you start your MS word in Safe Mode, it will not load any Add-ins and can start working properly.

Step 1 – Press Windows Key + R then type winword.exe /a and hit Enter open MS Word without any plugins.

Press Windows Key + R then type winword.exe a and hit Enter open MS Word

Step 2 – Click on File > Options.

Click on File then select Options under MS Word

Step 3 – In the pop up you will see Add-ins option in the left sidebar, click on it

In the Word options window, you will see the Add-ins option in the left sidebar

Step 4 – Disable all the plug-ins or the ones that you think would be causing trouble for the program and restart your MS Word.

Disable all Plug-ins of Microsoft Word

For Active Add-ins, click on the Go button then uncheck the trouble-making add-in and click OK.

Click on Go to manage this add-in the trouble-making add-in & click OK

Once finished, reboot your PC to save changes and see if you’re able to Fix Microsoft Word has Stopped Working issue.

Also Read: How to Fix We’re Sorry But Word Has Run into an Error in Windows 10

Method 3 – Install Latest Files and Updates

Sometimes it is all about keeping your windows and programs updated with the latest files. It could be possible that your program needs updated files and patches to run smoothly. You can check the latest updates on Windows Update setting under the control panel and install if there are any important updates pending. Moreover, you can browse to the Microsoft office download center for downloading the latest service packs.

Check for Windows Updates

Method 4 – Delete Word Data Registry Key

If the above-mentioned methods are not helping you to solve your problem, here is another way to Fix Microsoft Word has Stopped Working issue. Whenever you open MS word, it stores a key in the registry file. If you delete that key, Word rebuilds itself next time when you start this pragma.

Depending on your MS word version, you can choose one of the below mentioned key registry option:

Word 2002: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft \Office\10.0\Word\Data
Word 2003: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\ Office\11.0\Word\Data
Word 2007: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\ Office\12.0\Word\Data
Word 2010: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Word\Data
Word 2013: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Word
Word 2016: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Word

Navigate to Microsoft Office key in Registry then choose MS word version

Step 1 – You just need to open registry editor on your system.

Step 2 – If you are using Windows 10, press Windows Key + R then type regedit and hit Enter to open Registry Editor.

Run command regedit

However, you need to be very cautious while making any changes in the registry key section. Therefore, you need to follow the exact methods mentioned here and do not try to tap anywhere else.

Step 3 – Once the registry editor is open, navigate to the above-mentioned sections depending on your word version.

 Step 4 – Right-click on the Data or Word registry key and choose the “Delete” option. That’s it.

Right-click on the Data or Word registry key & choose the Delete option

Step 5 – Restart your program, hopefully, it will start properly.

Method 5 – Remove recently installed software

Did you recently install any new software on your system (printer, scanner, webcam, etc)? You might be thinking that how installing new software which is unrelated to MS word cause this problem. Annoyingly, it happens sometimes that newly installed software can interfere with the working of previously installed software. You can check this method. Uninstall, the software and check whether the problem is solved or not.

Method 6 – Uninstall and Reinstall the MS Office

If nothing has worked yet, you can uninstall MS Office completely and Install it again. Maybe this method can help you to get the problem solved.

Uninstall and Reinstall the MS Office

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Hopefully, one of the above-mentioned methods will surely help you to Fix Microsoft Word has Stopped Working Issue and you again start working on your Microsoft Word. If you still have any questions regarding this article then feel free to ask them in the comment’s section.

1 thought on “Microsoft Word has Stopped Working [SOLVED]”

  1. Hello i have a problem my ms office one day suddenly started causing problem non of office software were working they crash in between and show the error message “ms word/power point has stopped working” and i get options of help close and repair when i tried repairing it even repairing gave errors both online and offline and when i tried re installing it it wont even do that even than errors i have refreshed my windows countless times it worked but for few hours or so and again same problem please help im desperate and worried if there is some kind of virus which may be preventing even tho completely refreshed my hardisk

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