Office for Mac Issues

Fix High CPU Usage and Freezing in Word for Mac

Camila Milosovich Sep 30, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to fix an issue where Microsoft Word for Mac consumes excessive CPU and freezes while displaying a processing message on specific files.

How to Fix High CPU Usage and Freezing in Word for Mac

Product: Microsoft Word for Mac
Device & OS: macOS Sonoma
Scenario: Opening, scrolling, or searching within specific DOCX files.
Observed behavior: The application freezes, CPU usage spikes excessively, and a continuous 'Processing' message appears, even though other larger files work normally.

Before you start

Before uninstalling any software, save your work in other applications and open the macOS Activity Monitor to confirm that Microsoft Word is the specific process causing the high CPU usage.

Solution 1Recommended

Completely Uninstall and Downgrade Word for Mac

Remove the current problematic build of Word completely before installing a stable older version from Microsoft's update history.

Simply running an older installer will not downgrade the application if the newer version (e.g., 16.87) is still present. You must manually move the application to the Trash first so the system can properly install the older build.

Remove the current Word application

Open Finder, navigate to the 'Applications' folder, right-click on 'Microsoft Word', and select 'Move to Trash'.

Download an earlier build

Navigate to the official Microsoft Office for Mac update history webpage. Locate an earlier version, such as 16.85.2, and download the installation package.

Install and disable automatic updates

Run the downloaded installer. Once finished, launch Word, click 'Help' in the top menu bar, select 'Check for Updates', and disable the 'Automatically keep Microsoft Apps up to date' checkbox.

Completely Uninstall and Downgrade Word for Mac

Update settings saved: Disabling automatic updates ensures that the buggy version is not quietly reinstalled in the background while you wait for Microsoft to release a permanent fix.

Solution 2

Submit Feedback and Restore from Time Machine Backup

If the issue persists even with older versions, report the bug and restore your system state to a time before the problem started.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Lag-Free Mac Experience

If Microsoft Word for Mac continues to freeze or consume excessive CPU resources, switch to WPS Office. It is a lightweight, free alternative that perfectly handles complex DOCX files without bogging down your system.

1. Install WPS Office: Download the WPS Office installer for Mac from the official website and move it to your Applications folder.
2. Open your document: Launch WPS Office, select 'Writer' from the sidebar, and open your problematic DOCX file.
3. Edit smoothly: Scroll, search, and edit your document without experiencing freezes or high CPU processing messages.

Seamless format compatibility with all Microsoft Word DOCX and DOC filesLightweight architecture ensuring low CPU usage and fast opening speedsFamiliar interface making migration effortlessFree to use across macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word for Mac show a 'Processing' message and freeze?

This usually happens when a specific update (like version 16.87) encounters a bug while trying to parse complex formatting, embedded objects, or slightly corrupted elements within specific DOCX files, leading to an infinite processing loop and high CPU usage.

Why did my Word version remain at 16.87 after installing an older update?

macOS will not overwrite a newer application version with an older installer. You must completely delete the existing Microsoft Word app from the Applications folder before running the older installation package.

Will downgrading Word delete my personal documents?

No. Your DOCX files are saved separately from the application itself. Deleting and reinstalling Word will only affect the software, leaving your personal files perfectly intact.

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