Fix Microsoft Office Freezing Caused by Grammarly on Windows 11
Question details
The user needs to resolve severe lag, freezing, and application crashes in Microsoft Office programs caused by third-party background utilities.
- Product
- Microsoft Office
- Device & OS
- Windows 11
- Scenario
- Working on documents in Microsoft Word or other Office applications while running background utilities like Grammarly.
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft Office experiences severe lag, frozen dialog boxes, and complete application crashes due to interference from a background third-party utility.
Save any open work if possible, as troubleshooting frozen applications will require you to force-close Microsoft Office or end background processes.
Close Grammarly and Restart Microsoft Office
Force-stopping the Grammarly application will immediately prevent it from interfering with Microsoft Office, allowing your programs to run smoothly again.
In many cases, the standalone Grammarly desktop application conflicts with the native spelling and grammar check features built into Microsoft Word. Ending the process is the quickest way to verify if this is the root cause of the freezing.
Look at the bottom right corner of your Windows 11 taskbar. If you see the Grammarly icon, right-click it and select 'Quit' or 'Exit'.
If you cannot exit from the system tray, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open the Windows Task Manager.
Under the 'Processes' tab, scroll down to find 'Grammarly'. Right-click the process and select 'End task'.
Open Microsoft Word or your affected Office application again to verify if the freezing and lagging issues have been resolved.
Test Other Background Applications
If closing Grammarly does not fix the freezing, another third-party application or service might be causing the conflict.
Avoid Office Freezes with a Lightweight Alternative
If Microsoft Office continues to lag, freeze, or conflict with your essential background utilities on Windows 11, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly stable, fast, and resource-friendly environment for all your document needs.
- 1. Download and Install: Get the free WPS Office installer from the official website and run it on your Windows 11 PC.
- 2. Open existing files: Right-click your existing Microsoft Office files (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx) and choose to open them directly in WPS Office.
- 3. Work seamlessly: Enjoy a fast, crash-free editing experience while maintaining exact document formatting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Grammarly cause Microsoft Office to freeze on Windows 11?
Grammarly continuously scans text as you type. In some system configurations, this real-time background scanning conflicts with Microsoft Word's own spelling and grammar checks, leading to severe resource spikes, frozen dialog boxes, and application crashes.
Can I still use Grammarly with Microsoft Word without it freezing?
Yes. Ensure both Microsoft Office and the Grammarly desktop app are updated to their latest versions. Alternatively, you can disable the standalone desktop app and install the official Grammarly Add-in specifically designed for Microsoft Word to minimize system conflicts.
How do I report this freezing issue to Microsoft?
You can submit a detailed report to the Microsoft Word product team. Open Microsoft Word, navigate to Help > Feedback, and describe the freezing issue, making sure to mention that it is triggered by third-party background applications.
Are there other applications known to cause Microsoft Office to freeze?
Yes. Overly aggressive antivirus software, certain clipboard managers, outdated COM add-ins, and dictation utilities can also interfere with Office applications and cause severe lag or crashes.
