VBA & Macro Problems

Fix Microsoft Word 2016 Freezing When Running VBA Macros

Huda Qurayshi Oct 7, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is experiencing application freezes and unresponsiveness in Word 2016 when executing specific VBA macros.

How to Fix Word 2016 Hanging When Running VBA Macros

Product: Microsoft Word 2016 (32-bit)
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Running the CreateHangDocument macro followed by the Hang macro to test document automation.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Word 2016 stops responding and completely hangs after the macros are triggered.

Before you start

Ensure you have saved a backup of your document and macro code in a different location, as testing scripts that cause application freezes can lead to unsaved data loss.

Solution 1Recommended

Test the Macros in a Newer Version of Word

Since the freeze appears to be a bug specific to Word 2016 32-bit, testing the same VBA code in a modern version like Word 2021 can help determine if the issue has already been patched.

Many legacy VBA execution bugs and memory limitations found in older 32-bit Office environments have been resolved in newer releases. Users testing these exact macros have reported no crashes in Word 2021 Professional.

Transfer the document

Move the Word document containing your VBA macros to a computer with Word 2021 or Microsoft 365 installed.

Enable macros

Open the document and click 'Enable Content' if prompted by the yellow security warning banner at the top of the screen.

Run the script

Press ALT + F8 to open the Macro dialog, select 'CreateHangDocument' and run it, followed by the 'Hang' macro to verify if the application remains stable.

Test the Macros in a Newer Version of Word

Upgrade Recommended: If the macros run successfully in newer versions without hanging, upgrading your Office suite or switching to a 64-bit installation is the most effective permanent solution.

Solution 2

Report the Issue to the Office VBA Support Channel

If you must continue using Word 2016, you will need to submit a bug report to the official developer channel to seek a workaround or patch.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Stable Document Editing Experience

If Microsoft Word 2016 continues to freeze or crash, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative for handling complex documents without the performance lag of older software.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free WPS Office installer.
2. Install the software: Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to set up WPS Office on your computer.
3. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer, click 'Open', and select your problematic Word document to continue editing in a stable environment.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Word formats (.docx, .doc) to ensure seamless file migration.Lightweight architecture that runs smoothly even on older hardware without freezing.Familiar ribbon user interface allowing you to transition with zero learning curve.Built-in PDF editing, tabbed document viewing, and rich formatting tools.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do certain VBA macros cause Word to freeze?

VBA macros can cause Word to freeze if they contain infinite loops, process overly large datasets inefficiently, or if they trigger a specific software bug within the VBA engine of that particular Word version.

Does upgrading to 64-bit Office fix VBA hanging issues?

In many cases, yes. Upgrading to a 64-bit version of Office or a newer release like Word 2021 can resolve memory access limitations and legacy bugs that cause 32-bit versions to hang during script execution.

How can I force quit Word if a macro freezes the application?

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Windows Task Manager, locate Microsoft Word in the 'Processes' tab, click on it, and select 'End Task' to force the unresponsive application to close.

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