Office Settings & Configuration

Fix a Word COM Add-In That Disables on Startup

Natalie Taylor Oct 12, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user needs to troubleshoot a Microsoft Word COM add-in that keeps disabling itself upon application restart.

How to Fix a Word COM Add-In That Becomes Unchecked on Startup

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Launching Microsoft Word and attempting to use a previously enabled COM add-in.
Observed behavior: The COM add-in becomes unchecked and unavailable each time Word starts, despite being enabled in the previous session.

Before you start

Ensure that you are running the Microsoft Word application as an administrator, as some COM add-ins require elevated privileges to write their startup state to the system configuration.

Solution 1Recommended

Re-enable from Disabled Items and Verify Compatibility

Word may have hard-disabled the add-in due to a previous crash or performance issue. You must re-enable it from the Disabled Items list and confirm its compatibility.

Microsoft Support has acknowledged this specific behavior, noting that incompatible or slow-loading add-ins are automatically unchecked by Word's safety mechanisms.

Navigate to Add-ins Options

Open Microsoft Word, click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner, select 'Options', and then click on 'Add-ins' in the left pane of the Word Options window.

Check Disabled Items

At the bottom of the window, change the 'Manage' dropdown menu to 'Disabled Items' and click the 'Go...' button. If your targeted add-in is listed here, select it and click 'Enable'.

Recheck COM Add-ins

Change the dropdown menu back to 'COM Add-ins', click 'Go...', check the box next to your add-in, and click 'OK'. Restart Word to see if the setting is retained.

Collect Information for Support

If the issue persists, document your Office version (File > Account) and the add-in details. You may need to contact Microsoft Support for further investigation on this known issue.

Re-enable from Disabled Items and Verify Compatibility

Support Acknowledgment: Because Microsoft Support has acknowledged this issue, keeping your Office installation updated to the latest version is crucial, as a patch may resolve it.

Solution 2

Modify the LoadBehavior Registry Key

Force the add-in to load at startup by adjusting its LoadBehavior value directly in the Windows Registry.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word automatically disable my COM add-in?

Word automatically disables add-ins that cause the application to load slowly, crash, or behave unexpectedly. This is a built-in telemetry and safety feature designed to protect the core application's stability.

Where can I find the exact version of my Office installation?

You can find your Office version by opening Microsoft Word, clicking on 'File', selecting 'Account' from the bottom left menu, and reviewing the version details under the 'About Word' section.

Are COM add-ins compatible with WPS Office?

WPS Office has its own dedicated ecosystem and does not natively support Microsoft Word COM add-ins. However, WPS provides a robust set of built-in features that often replace the need for third-party extensions.

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