Update & Upgrade Problems

Fix Microsoft 365 Keeps Asking to Restart Office After Update

Adam Davis Sep 30, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is experiencing an endless loop where Microsoft 365 applications continuously prompt for a restart after a recent update.

How to Fix Microsoft 365 Keeps Asking to Restart Office After an Update

Product: Microsoft 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Launching Word, Excel, or other Office applications immediately after a Microsoft 365 software update has been installed.
Observed behavior: The application displays a prompt asking the user to restart Office. However, restarting the applications and rebooting the computer fails to clear the prompt.

Before you start

Before attempting to revert your Office installation, make sure all ongoing work is saved and completely close all Microsoft Office applications running in the background.

Solution 1Recommended

Revert Microsoft 365 to a Previous Version via Command Prompt

This is a known Click-to-Run update glitch. Rolling back to a previous, stable version of Office is the most effective temporary workaround until an official patch is released.

Since this continuous restart prompt is tied to a buggy Click-to-Run update, utilizing the command line to roll back your Microsoft Office installation to an earlier build can bypass the error. Use caution when applying this fix, particularly if you have the Outlook desktop application installed, as reverting may affect recent email configurations.

Close All Office Applications

Ensure all Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Excel, Outlook) are completely closed. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager and end any lingering Office background processes.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator

Click the Windows Start menu, type 'cmd', right-click on 'Command Prompt' in the search results, and select 'Run as administrator'.

Navigate to the Click-to-Run Folder

In the Command Prompt window, type 'cd %programfiles%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun' and press Enter.

Execute the Revert Command

Type 'officec2rclient.exe /update user updatetoversion=16.0.xxxxx.xxxxx' (replace the x's with the specific build number of your previous working version) and press Enter to begin the rollback process.

Temporarily Disable Updates: After successfully reverting, open any Office app, go to File > Account > Update Options, and choose 'Disable Updates' to prevent the buggy update from automatically reinstalling.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office to Avoid Update Interruptions

Tired of software bugs and update loops disrupting your workflow? WPS Office is a highly compatible, lightweight, and free alternative to Microsoft 365 that offers seamless productivity without the constant troubleshooting.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click on the free download button.
2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded installer file and follow the on-screen instructions to set up the software.
3. Open Your Existing Files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Microsoft Office documents without worrying about formatting loss.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Office formats including DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX.Free and lightweight, avoiding bulky updates and frustrating restart loops.Familiar user interface ensuring a zero-learning-curve transition.All-in-one comprehensive suite with Word, Excel, Presentation, and robust PDF tools.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Microsoft 365 keep asking me to restart after an update?

This is typically caused by a glitch in the Office Click-to-Run update mechanism. A background process fails to register that the update has been completed, causing the software to trigger an endless restart prompt.

How do I find the correct previous version build number to revert to?

You can find the official release history and build numbers for Microsoft 365 Apps on the Microsoft Learn website under the 'Update history for Microsoft 365 Apps' section. Select the build released immediately prior to your current version.

Will reverting my Office version delete my personal files or data?

No. Reverting the Office software version only rolls back the application files. Your personal documents, spreadsheets, and Outlook data files will remain perfectly intact.

Installation & Activation