Copilot Not Working

Fix Office Copilot Crashing on Chromebook When Reopening Word & Excel Files

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is experiencing application crashes with Office Copilot on an Android Chromebook, specifically when reopening newly created Word or Excel documents.

Product: Microsoft Office Copilot
Device & OS: Chromebook
Scenario: Attempting to reopen Word or Excel files after upgrading to the Office Copilot Android app on a Chromebook.
Observed behavior: Excel files close unexpectedly, and newly created Word or Excel documents fail to reopen, leading to a crash loop.

Before you start

Before proceeding with these fixes, make sure your Chromebook is connected to Wi-Fi and verify that any unsaved changes in your documents have synced to OneDrive to avoid data loss.

Solution 1Recommended

Update the App and Clear Cache

Updating the application and clearing temporary cached data is the most effective way to resolve crash loops and performance issues on ChromeOS Android apps.

Android apps running on Chromebooks can sometimes accumulate corrupted cache files, especially after a major feature upgrade like Office Copilot. Clearing this data forces the app to rebuild its temporary files, which often fixes unexpected closures.

Check for Updates

Open the Google Play Store on your Chromebook, tap your profile icon, go to 'Manage apps & device', and check if an update is available for Microsoft 365 or Office Copilot. Click 'Update' if prompted.

Access App Settings

Click the time widget in the bottom right corner of your Chromebook screen, select the 'Settings' gear icon, and navigate to 'Apps' > 'Manage your apps'.

Clear Cache and Data

Find and select the Office or Copilot app from the list. Click on 'More settings and permissions', select 'Storage and cache', then click 'Clear cache' followed by 'Clear storage'.

Restart Your Chromebook

Click the time widget again and select the 'Power' button to completely restart your Chromebook, then try opening a Word or Excel file.

Account Sign-In Required: Clearing the app storage will sign you out of your Microsoft account. You will need your email and password to log back in after restarting.

Solution 2

Reinstall the Application

If clearing the cache does not resolve the crashing issue, a fresh installation will eliminate any deep-rooted app corruption.

Solution 3

Contact Microsoft Support

If the app consistently crashes despite updates and reinstallations, the issue may be a specific compatibility bug with your Chromebook model.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Stable Chromebook Experience

If Office Copilot continues to crash on your Chromebook, WPS Office provides a highly stable, lightweight, and free alternative. It perfectly handles Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files natively without the heavy resource demands that cause unexpected closures.

1. Download from Google Play: Open the Google Play Store on your Chromebook, search for 'WPS Office', and click 'Install'.
2. Open Your Files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Word and Excel files from your local storage or cloud drive to continue working without interruptions.

Seamlessly opens, edits, and saves Microsoft Word (.docx) and Excel (.xlsx) formats.Lightweight architecture optimized for Chromebooks, preventing unexpected crashes or freezing.All-in-one suite design lets you manage documents, spreadsheets, and PDFs in a single tabbed window.Includes powerful, built-in AI writing and data analysis tools without the need for external add-ins.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do Excel files close unexpectedly on my Chromebook?

This usually occurs due to memory limitations, a corrupted app cache, or specific compatibility bugs between the ChromeOS Android subsystem and the Microsoft Office app. Clearing the app's cache and ensuring your OS is updated often resolves the problem.

Does Microsoft officially support the Office app on Chromebooks?

Microsoft has transitioned away from updating dedicated Android apps for ChromeOS, encouraging users to use the web-based versions (Office.com) instead. Using the web version or a highly compatible alternative like WPS Office often provides a more stable experience on Chromebooks.

Will I lose my Excel and Word documents if I clear the app data?

No. Clearing the app data only removes temporary files, local application settings, and sign-in information. As long as your documents were saved to your device's internal storage or synced to the cloud, they will remain completely safe.

Microsoft Copilot Issues