What to Do When Microsoft Word Won’t Open on Windows
If you are a Windows user, you might have found yourself in a situation where Microsoft Word won’t open. This can be frustrating, especially if you need to access important documents. However, there are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and fix the issue. Here are some tips on what to do when Microsoft Word won’t open on Windows.
- Check for updates
The first thing you should do is check if there are any updates available for Microsoft Word. Sometimes, updates can fix bugs and improve the performance of the software. To check for updates, open Microsoft Word and click on File > Account > Update Options. Click on Update Now to check for updates. If there are any available, download and install them.
- Repair Microsoft Word
If updating Microsoft Word doesn’t solve the issue, you can try repairing the software. To do this, go to Control Panel > Programs and Features. Find Microsoft Office in the list of installed programs and click on it. Click on Change, and then select Repair. Follow the instructions to repair the software. When the repair is complete, try opening Microsoft Word again.
- Disable add-ins
Add-ins can sometimes cause Microsoft Word to crash or not open. To disable add-ins, open Microsoft Word in safe mode. To do this, press and hold the Ctrl key while you click on the Microsoft Word icon. This will open the software in safe mode, which disables all add-ins. If the software opens in safe mode, disable each add-in one by one to identify the one causing the issue.
To disable add-ins permanently, go to File > Options > Add-ins. Select COM Add-ins from the Manage drop-down list and click on Go. Clear the checkbox next to each add-in, and then click OK. Close and reopen Microsoft Word to see if it opens correctly.
- Try opening in a new user profile
Sometimes, Microsoft Word won’t open because of user profile issues. You can try opening it in a new user profile to see if it works. To create a new user profile, go to Control Panel > User Accounts > Manage another account. Click on Add a new user in PC settings and follow the instructions to create a new user profile. Log in to the new user profile and try opening Microsoft Word.
