How to Fix Word Keeps Crashing on Windows & Mac

Microsoft Word is an essential tool for many individuals and professionals. However, one of the most frustrating issues that users encounter is when Word keeps crashing. A lot of users often ask the question, “Why does my Word document keeps crashing?”. This problem can disrupt workflow, cause data loss, and lead to significant frustration.

Here, we will explore the potential causes of Word crashing, provide a one-stop solution to fix the issue on both Windows and Mac platforms, offer specific ways to address the problem on Windows and Mac, and more.

Table of Contents

01 Part 1: Why Word Keeps Crashing? Exploring Potential Causes

02 Part 2: One-stop Way to Fix “Word Keeps Crashing” Issue [Windows & Mac]

03 Part 3: How to Fix MS Word Keeps Crashing Issue on Windows

04 Part 4: Ways to Fix Word Keeps Crashing on Mac Issue

05 Part 5: Tips to Avoid Common Word Keeps Crashing Errors

Part 1: Why Word Keeps Crashing? Exploring Potential Causes

The issue of Microsoft Word keeps crashing can occur due to a lot of reasons. Users should have knowledge about these causes for smooth resolution of the problem.

1. Outdated Software: Using an outdated version of Microsoft Word may lead to compatibility issues with your operating system or other software, causing frequent crashes.

2. Large File Sizes: Working with extremely large documents or files in Word can overwhelm the program's resources, leading to crashes due to insufficient memory or processing power.

3. Corrupted Add-ins: Third-party add-ins or plugins in Word that are corrupted or incompatible can cause the program to crash unexpectedly during use.

4. Limited System Resources: Running multiple programs simultaneously or having insufficient RAM on your computer can strain resources, causing Word to crash due to lack of available memory.

5. Hardware Issues: Problems with your computer's hardware, such as a failing hard drive or overheating components, can disrupt Word's performance and lead to frequent crashes.

6. Virus or Malware: Malicious software on your computer can interfere with Word's functionality, causing crashes as part of its disruptive activities.

Part 2: One-stop Way to Fix “Word Keeps Crashing” Issue [Windows & Mac]

Wondershare Repairit - File Repair

Try It Free Try It Free

1,010,994 people have downloaded it.

• Repair damaged files with all levels of corruption, including Word keeps crashing, blank files, files not opening, unrecognizable format, unreadable content, etc.

• Perfectly repair corrupted word .docx files without modifying the original file.

• Provide an easy fix option for text, images, font, hyperlinks, header, footer, etc.

• Support Office 365, MS Word 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, and earlier versions.

• Support Windows 11/10/8/7/Vista, Windows Server 2003/2008/2012/2016/2019/2022, and macOS 10.10~macOS 14.

• Except Word, Repairit also supports all formats of PDF, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, ZIP, and Adobe files.

Repairing the corrupt Word file can help you in resolving the issue. Repairit File Repair the go-to tool for repairing corrupt Word files. With its advanced recovery capabilities, the tool empowers users to effortlessly restore their valuable Word documents, ensuring data integrity and peace of mind. The tool These are the steps fix the MS word keeps crashing issue using the tool:

Step 1: Navigate to the 'File Repair' section. Click the '+Add' button to select the corrupted Word file (s) for repair. You can also drag and drop the files onto the interface for convenience.

Step 2: After loading the corrupted Word files, press 'Repair' at the bottom. Repairit will start fixing them, with the time it takes depending on their size and damage level.

Step 3: Preview the fixed Word files to ensure they're restored. Look for any errors. If all looks good, click 'Save' and choose where to save them.

This video can help you fix your files with a step-by-step guide.

Part 3: How to Fix MS Word Keeps Crashing Issue on Windows

To fix the Microsoft Word keeps freezing issue on Windows, there are several methods. You can try these methods to troubleshoot the problem effectively.

Method 1: Update MS Word and Windows

Updating MS Word and Windows can help resolve the issue. Here are the steps for this method:

Step 1: Open Microsoft Word on your computer. Press the "File" tab located in the screen's upper left corner.

Step 2: Select "Account" from the options on the left side of the window.

Step 3: Click on "Update Options" and then select "Update Now" to check for and install any available updates for Microsoft Word.

Step 4: After updating MS Word, proceed to update Windows by clicking on the Start menu and selecting "Settings."

Step 5: In the Settings window, click on "Update & Security."

Step 6: Click on "Check for updates" and follow the on-screen instructions to install any available Windows updates.

Step 7: Restart your computer after updating both MS Word and Windows to see if the crashing issue is resolved.

Method 2: Repair MS Word When Word Keeps Crashing

Repairing MS Word is a proven way to troubleshoot Word keeps crashing error. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Close all open programs and applications on your computer.

Step 2: Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.

Step 3: Type "control panel" and press Enter to open the Control Panel.

Step 4: In the Control Panel, select "Programs" and then click on "Programs and Features."

Step 5: Locate Microsoft Word in the list of installed programs, right-click on it, and select "Change."

Step 6: Choose the "Repair" option and follow the on-screen instructions to repair Microsoft Word.

Step 7: Once the repair process is complete, restart your computer and check if the crashing issue is resolved.

Method 3: Disable Add-ins If MS Word Keeps Crashing

One more useful method is disabling add-ins. However, remember that disabling add-ins can limit functionality, reduce user experience, and potentially hinder productivity. The method involves the following steps:

Step 1: Open Microsoft Word on your computer. Select the "File" tab in the screen's upper left corner.

Step 2: Select "Options" from the list on the left side of the window. In the Word Options dialog box, select "Add-ins" from the left pane.

Step 3: At the bottom of the window, next to "Manage," select "COM Add-ins" and click on the "Go" button.

Step 4: Uncheck the boxes next to each add-in listed and click "OK" to disable them.

Step 5: Restart Microsoft Word to see if the issue persists. If the crashing stops, you can enable the add-ins one by one to identify the problematic one.

Part 4: Ways to Fix Word Keeps Crashing on Mac Issue

To fix the Word keeps crashing Mac issue, there exist many ways. Implementing these methods can help in fixing the issue with efficiency.

Method 1: Update Microsoft Word When Word Keeps Crashing on Mac

If Microsoft Word keeps crashing on your Mac, updating the software is a simple and effective solution. Outdated versions can have bugs or compatibility issues, leading to frequent crashes. Here’s how you can do it:

Step 1: Open Microsoft Word on your Mac. Click on the "Help" menu in the top toolbar.

Step 2: Choose "Check for Updates" to find out if there are any available updates.

Step 3: If updates are found, follow the on-screen instructions to download and install them.

Step 4: Restart Microsoft Word and see if the crashing issue is resolved.

Method 2: Disable Add-ins to Fix Word Keeps Crashing Issue

For resolving the issue on Mac, disabling add-ins is an effective method. Follow these easy steps:

Step 1: Open Microsoft Word on your Mac. Go to the "Word" menu in the top toolbar and select "Preferences."

Step 3: In the Preferences window, click on "Add-ins." Uncheck the box next to any add-ins that are enabled.

Step 5: Close the Preferences window and restart Microsoft Word to see if the crashing issue persists. If the issue is resolved, you can re-enable the add-ins one by one to identify the problematic one.

Method 3. Repair Microsoft Office

Repairing Microsoft Office is a valuable solution for addressing the error of Word crashing. This comprehensive process scans and identifies corrupted or damaged components within the Office suite, including Word. Follow these steps for this method:

Step 1: Close all Microsoft Office applications on your Mac. Open the "Applications" folder and locate the Microsoft Office application folder.

Step 2: Find and run the "Microsoft Office Reminders" tool or any similar tool provided by Microsoft.

Step 3: Follow the on-screen instructions to repair the Microsoft Office installation.

Step 4: Once the repair process is complete, restart your Mac and check if the crashing issue is fixed.

Part 5: Tips to Avoid Common Word Keeps Crashing Errors

One can avoid Microsoft Word keeps freezing errors by following certain tips. These tips should be followed on a regular basis to avoid these errors.

1. Software Updates: Keep your software and operating system up to date to prevent compatibility issues.

2. Manage Resource Usage: Avoid running too many programs simultaneously to reduce strain on your system.

3. Close Background Apps: Close unnecessary background applications to free up resources for the program.

4. Update Program: Check for any available updates or patches for the specific program experiencing crashes.

Conclusion

The issue of Word keeps freezing is a significant concern for many users. Addressing this problem effectively requires a comprehensive understanding of its potential causes and targeted solutions to resolve it. Following the necessary precautionary measures can help in avoiding this issue in the future.