Office for Mac Issues

Fix Microsoft Office Apps Closing on Mac When Chrome is Full Screen

Kushani Nimanthika Oct 9, 2026 868 views

Question details

User needs a solution for Microsoft Word and other Office applications closing unexpectedly on an M1 Mac when Google Chrome is running in full-screen mode.

Fix Microsoft Office Apps Closing on Mac When Chrome is Full Screen

Product: Microsoft Office, Google Chrome
Device & OS: M1 Mac / macOS
Scenario: Using Microsoft Office applications while Google Chrome is running in full-screen mode.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Word and other Office applications crash or close unexpectedly without warning.

Before you start

Ensure you save all your current work in open applications and have your macOS administrator password handy before proceeding with system updates or clearing application caches.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear Damaged Application Caches

Removing corrupted cache files forces Microsoft Office to recreate them, which often resolves unexpected app closures.

Over time, application cache files can become corrupted and cause conflicts, especially when interacting with macOS window management features.

Close Office apps

Ensure that Microsoft Word and all other Office applications are completely closed on your Mac.

Open Library folder

Open Finder, press Command+Shift+G on your keyboard, and enter '~/Library/Containers' in the dialog box.

Move container folder

Locate the folder named 'Microsoft Word' (or 'com.microsoft.Word') and drag it to your desktop.

Restart Mac

Restart your Mac, then reopen Microsoft Word to allow the system to generate fresh, error-free cache files.

Apply to Other Apps: You can repeat this process for other crashing Office apps by moving their respective container folders (e.g., Microsoft Excel or Microsoft PowerPoint) to the desktop.

Solution 2

Update macOS, Office, and Chrome

Running outdated software can cause severe compatibility issues on Apple Silicon (M1) Macs.

Solution 3

Test in a New User Account

Testing Microsoft Office in a fresh user account helps determine if the crashing issue is tied to your specific macOS user profile settings.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for a Stable Mac Experience

If Microsoft Office continues to crash on your Mac, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and seamless alternative that works perfectly on macOS without heavy resource usage.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the Mac version.
2. Install and launch: Follow the installation prompts and open WPS Office on your Mac.
3. Open existing files: Drag and drop your existing Microsoft Office documents directly into WPS to continue working.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats.Lightweight architecture ensures stable performance on M1 and Intel Macs.All-in-one suite to manage documents, spreadsheets, and PDFs in a single window.Free to use with a familiar user interface for a fast and easy transition.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to delete the Microsoft Word container folder on my Mac?

Yes, deleting or moving the container folder is completely safe. It only resets your application preferences and clears the cache. Microsoft Word will automatically create a new, healthy container folder the next time you launch the app.

Why does Google Chrome in full screen affect Office apps on an M1 Mac?

This conflict is often related to how macOS handles memory and window management between resource-heavy applications on Apple Silicon chips. Corrupted cache files or outdated software versions can exacerbate these resource conflicts, leading to crashes.

Can I restore my preferences if the cache deletion doesn't solve the problem?

Yes. Because you moved the container folder to your desktop instead of deleting it permanently, you can simply drag it back to the ~/Library/Containers folder, replacing the newly generated folder, to restore your previous settings.

Does WPS Office have similar crashing issues on M1 Macs?

WPS Office is highly optimized for macOS, including Apple Silicon chips. Its lightweight design generally prevents the heavy resource conflicts that can cause unexpected app crashes.

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