How to Fix It When Microsoft Word Is Not Responding

Check for Updates

If you’re experiencing problems with Microsoft Word not responding, one of the first steps you should take is to check for updates. Microsoft regularly releases updates for their Office suite, including Word, which often address bugs and improve performance. Here’s how you can check for updates:

Open Microsoft Word.
Click on the “File” tab in the top-left corner of the screen.
From the drop-down menu, select “Account.”
On the right side, you will see an option called “Office Updates.” Click on it.
Now, click on the “Update Options” button, and then select “Enable Updates” or “Update Now.”

After initiating the update process, Microsoft Word will connect to the internet and check for any available updates. If there are updates available, they will be downloaded and installed on your computer. Once the updates are installed, restart Microsoft Word and see if the issue persists.

Updating Microsoft Word can help resolve software conflicts and compatibility issues, as well as fix known bugs that could be causing the program to become unresponsive. It’s important to keep your software up to date to ensure optimal performance and the best user experience.

If checking for updates and installing them does not resolve the issue, don’t worry. There are several other troubleshooting steps you can try to get Microsoft Word working normally again.

Close Other Open Programs

If you’re encountering issues with Microsoft Word not responding, one potential culprit could be other open programs or processes consuming too much system resources. Having multiple resource-intensive programs running simultaneously can overload your computer’s memory and CPU, leading to slowdowns and unresponsive applications. To address this, try closing unnecessary programs and processes to free up system resources. Here’s what you can do:

Save your work and close Microsoft Word.
Go to the taskbar or press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and select “Task Manager” from the options.
In the Task Manager window, navigate to the “Processes” or “Details” tab, depending on your Windows version.
Look for any programs or processes that are consuming excessive CPU or memory resources.
Select the programs or processes that you don’t need, and click on the “End Task” or “End Process” button to close them.

After closing unnecessary programs, restart Microsoft Word and see if it now responds smoothly. By closing resource-intensive applications, you will free up valuable system resources, allowing Word to run more efficiently.

It’s important to note that some processes are essential for the smooth functioning of your operating system, so exercise caution when closing programs in Task Manager. Focus on terminating programs that you recognize as non-essential or those consuming excessive resources.

If closing other open programs does not resolve the issue, continue with the following troubleshooting steps to further troubleshoot and fix the unresponsiveness problem in Microsoft Word.

Disable Add-ins

One possible reason for Microsoft Word not responding is incompatible or malfunctioning add-ins. Add-ins are additional programs or features that can be installed within Word to enhance its functionality. However, some add-ins may conflict with Word or become outdated, causing it to freeze or become unresponsive. Disabling these add-ins can help resolve the issue. Here’s how:

Open Microsoft Word.
Click on the “File” tab in the top-left corner.
Select “Options” from the drop-down menu.
In the Word Options window, click on “Add-ins” from the left-hand sidebar.
At the bottom of the window, find the “Manage” drop-down menu and select “COM Add-ins.”
Click on the “Go” button next to the drop-down menu.
A new window will appear, listing all the add-ins installed in Word.
Clear the checkmark next to each add-in to disable it.
Click “OK” to save the changes.

After disabling the add-ins, close and restart Microsoft Word to see if the problem is resolved. If Word responds normally after disabling the add-ins, it indicates that one or more of them were causing the unresponsiveness.

If the issue persists, you can try enabling the disabled add-ins one by one to identify the specific add-in causing the problem. This way, you can choose to permanently remove or update the conflicting add-in.

Remember, disabling add-ins is a common troubleshooting step for Word-related issues as they can significantly impact the performance and stability of the application. However, it’s always a good idea to keep your add-ins updated or remove any unnecessary ones to prevent future problems.

Start Word in Safe Mode

If you’ve tried the previous troubleshooting steps and Microsoft Word is still not responding, it may be helpful to start Word in Safe Mode. Safe Mode loads Word with minimal features and settings, which can help identify and isolate the cause of the unresponsiveness issue. Here’s how to start Word in Safe Mode:

Close Microsoft Word if it’s currently open.
Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
Type “winword /safe” (without the quotes) into the Run box and press Enter.

Microsoft Word will now start in Safe Mode, and you’ll see “Safe Mode” in the title bar of the program. In Safe Mode, only the most essential features and settings are loaded, which can help isolate any problematic settings or add-ins causing the unresponsiveness.

Now, test whether Word is responsive in Safe Mode. If Word functions smoothly, it suggests that an add-in or customization is causing the issue. You can then proceed to disable add-ins or remove customizations to resolve the problem.

It’s important to note that using Word in Safe Mode is a diagnostic step, and it will not include all the features and functionality available in normal mode. Once you’ve identified and resolved the issue, you can exit Safe Mode and start Word normally to regain access to all features.

If Word continues to be unresponsive even in Safe Mode, consider trying the following troubleshooting steps to further investigate and fix the issue.

Repair Office

If Microsoft Word is still not responding, one effective solution is to repair the Office installation. This process will scan for and repair any corrupted or damaged files that may be causing the unresponsiveness. Follow these steps to repair Office:

Close all Office applications, including Microsoft Word.
Open the Control Panel on your computer. You can access it by pressing the Windows key + R on your keyboard, typing “control” (without the quotes) in the Run dialog box, and clicking OK.
In the Control Panel, set the view to Category and click on “Uninstall a program,” “Programs and Features,” or “Add or Remove Programs,” depending on your version of Windows.
Look for “Microsoft Office” or “Microsoft 365” in the list of installed programs and right-click on it.
Select “Change” or “Modify,” and the Office installation window will appear.
Choose the “Repair” option and follow the on-screen instructions to repair the installation. You may have the option to select a quick repair or an online repair. The quick repair option is usually sufficient, but if it doesn’t solve the issue, you can try the online repair.

Wait for the repair process to complete. Depending on your computer’s speed and the size of your Office installation, this may take some time.

Once the repair is finished, restart your computer and open Microsoft Word to check if it is now responding properly. The repair process can fix common issues by repairing or replacing any damaged or missing files within the Office suite.

If repairing Office does not resolve the problem, continue to the next troubleshooting step to attempt a more comprehensive solution.

Delete the Word Data Registry Key

If you’re still experiencing issues with Microsoft Word not responding, deleting the Word data registry key can help resolve the problem. The Word data registry key stores various settings and preferences for the application, and deleting it can reset any corrupt or conflicting data that may be causing the unresponsiveness. Follow these steps to delete the Word data registry key:

Close all Office applications, including Microsoft Word.
Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
Type “regedit” (without the quotes) into the Run box and press Enter. This will open the Registry Editor.
In the Registry Editor window, navigate to the following location: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\
Look for the specific version of Microsoft Office you have installed (e.g., 16.0 for Office 2016, 15.0 for Office 2013, etc.). Click on the corresponding folder.
Inside the Office folder, locate and click on the “Word” folder.
Right-click on the “Data” folder within the Word folder, and select “Delete“.
Confirm the deletion when prompted.

Once you have deleted the Word data registry key, close the Registry Editor and restart Microsoft Word. The application will recreate the necessary registry key with default settings, eliminating any potential conflicts or corruption.

Note that modifying the Windows Registry can have serious consequences if done incorrectly. Therefore, it’s crucial to follow the steps carefully and avoid making changes to other registry keys or values.

If deleting the Word data registry key doesn’t resolve the issue, proceed to the next troubleshooting step to try a different solution.

Disable Hardware Acceleration

If Microsoft Word is still unresponsive, one possible solution is to disable hardware acceleration. Hardware acceleration utilizes your computer’s GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) to improve the performance of certain applications, including Microsoft Word. However, in some cases, it can cause conflicts or compatibility issues, resulting in unresponsiveness or freezing. Disabling hardware acceleration can help alleviate these issues. Here’s how to disable it:

Open Microsoft Word.
Click on the “File” tab in the top-left corner of the screen.
Select “Options” from the drop-down menu.
In the Word Options window, click on “Advanced” from the left-hand sidebar.
Scroll down until you find the “Display” section.
Check the box next to “Disable hardware graphics acceleration.”
Click the “OK” button to save the changes.

Disabling hardware acceleration instructs Microsoft Word to use software rendering instead, which can help resolve any conflicts or issues related to GPU acceleration.

After disabling hardware acceleration, close and restart Microsoft Word to see if the problem is resolved. If Word is now responsive, you can continue working without the GPU acceleration. However, if you experience decreased performance or other graphics-related issues, you can always re-enable hardware acceleration using the same steps and unchecking the corresponding option.

Keep in mind that hardware acceleration might not be available in older versions of Microsoft Word or on certain operating systems. In such cases, this troubleshooting step may not apply.

If disabling hardware acceleration doesn’t solve the problem, let’s move on to the next troubleshooting step to further diagnose and fix the unresponsiveness issue in Microsoft Word.

Run a Virus Scan

If you’re still encountering issues with Microsoft Word not responding, it’s important to consider the possibility of a virus or malware infection. Viruses or malware can disrupt the functioning of applications, including Microsoft Word, and cause unresponsiveness or other abnormal behavior. Running a thorough virus scan can help detect and remove any potential threats. Here’s how you can do it:

Ensure that you have a reliable antivirus program installed on your computer. If you don’t have one, consider installing a reputable antivirus software.
Open your antivirus program and ensure it is up to date with the latest virus definitions. If there are any updates available, download and install them.
Run a full system scan using your antivirus program. The location of this scan option may vary depending on the software you are using, but it is typically found in the main dashboard or scan settings.
Allow the antivirus software to scan your entire system, including all files and folders. This process may take some time depending on the size of your hard drive and the number of files on your computer.
If any viruses or malware are detected during the scan, follow the instructions provided by your antivirus program to quarantine or remove the threats.

Once the virus scan is complete, restart your computer and open Microsoft Word to see if it responds normally. If the unresponsiveness was caused by a virus or malware, removing the threat should restore normal functionality to Word.

It’s essential to regularly update your antivirus software and perform scheduled scans to prevent and detect any potential security threats. Additionally, exercise caution when downloading files or opening email attachments to minimize the risk of malware infections.

If running a virus scan does not resolve the issue, proceed to the next troubleshooting step to further troubleshoot and fix the Microsoft Word unresponsiveness problem.

Uninstall and Reinstall Word

If all other troubleshooting steps have failed to resolve the issue of Microsoft Word not responding, you may need to uninstall and reinstall the application. Reinstalling Word can help fix any underlying issues, including corrupted or missing files, that may be causing the unresponsiveness. Here’s how you can uninstall and reinstall Word:

Close Microsoft Word and any other Office applications that are running.
Open the Control Panel on your computer. You can access it by pressing the Windows key + R on your keyboard, typing “control” (without the quotes) in the Run dialog box, and clicking OK.
In the Control Panel, set the viewing mode to Category and click on “Uninstall a program,” “Programs and Features,” or “Add or Remove Programs,” depending on your version of Windows.
Locate “Microsoft Office” or “Microsoft 365” in the list of installed programs and click on it.
Click on the “Uninstall” button at the top of the list.
Follow the on-screen instructions to uninstall Microsoft Word and the rest of the Office suite.
Once the uninstallation process is complete, restart your computer.
After rebooting, open a web browser and navigate to the official Microsoft Office website.
Login with your Microsoft account or enter your product key if prompted.
Select the version of Office you want to install (such as Office 2019 or Microsoft 365).
Follow the instructions provided by Microsoft to download and install the Office suite, including Microsoft Word.

Once the installation is complete, launch Microsoft Word and check if it is now responsive. Reinstalling Word will provide you with a fresh installation and resolve any software-related issues that were causing the unresponsiveness.

Remember to activate your Office suite using your product key or sign in with your Microsoft account to access all the features and functionality.

If reinstalling Word does not fix the problem, it may be necessary to seek further assistance from Microsoft’s support or consider other troubleshooting options.