Office Apps Crashing

Fix Microsoft Word Crashing and Closing Unsaved Documents

Phi Hung Vo Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is experiencing repeated crashes in Microsoft Word, which forcefully close unsaved documents and risk data loss.

How to Fix Microsoft Word Crashing and Closing Unsaved Documents

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to work on Word documents without losing progress due to unexpected application crashes.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Word repeatedly crashes and closes without saving, potentially caused by incompatible add-ins, corrupted files, or Office installation issues.

Before you start

Before proceeding with the troubleshooting steps, manually save any currently open work if possible, and back up your important accessible documents to a different folder to prevent permanent data loss during the repair process.

Solution 1Recommended

Launch Word in Safe Mode and Disable Faulty Add-ins

Starting Word in Safe Mode helps determine if third-party add-ins are responsible for the sudden application crashes.

COM add-ins are a common culprit for Microsoft Word instability. By running Word in Safe Mode, the application bypasses these add-ins, allowing you to isolate and disable the problematic extension.

Open Word in Safe Mode

Press Windows + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box. Type 'winword /safe' and press Enter to launch Microsoft Word in Safe Mode.

Access Add-in Settings

Click on 'File' in the top-left corner, select 'Options', and then navigate to the 'Add-ins' tab on the left sidebar.

Disable COM Add-ins

At the bottom of the window next to Manage, select 'COM Add-ins' from the drop-down menu and click 'Go'. Uncheck all active add-ins, click 'OK', and restart Word normally to see if the issue is resolved.

Launch Word in Safe Mode and Disable Faulty Add-ins

Identify the Culprit: If Word functions perfectly after disabling all add-ins, enable them one by one and restart Word each time to identify exactly which add-in is causing the crash.

Solution 2

Run the Microsoft Office Repair Tool

Use the built-in Windows repair utility to fix missing or corrupted Microsoft 365 installation files.

Solution 3

Check for Office Updates

Installing the latest Office updates can patch known software bugs that cause Word to close unexpectedly.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for a Stable and Crash-Free Experience

If Microsoft Word continues to crash and disrupt your workflow, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly stable environment for all your document processing needs without the heavy resource usage of Microsoft 365.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package.
2. Install the Software: Run the downloaded executable file and follow the straightforward on-screen instructions.
3. Open and Edit: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing .docx files to continue working seamlessly.

Free and lightweight alternative to Microsoft OfficeExceptional stability to prevent unexpected crashes and document lossFully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx), Excel, and PowerPoint formatsFamiliar, user-friendly interface that requires no learning curve

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Microsoft Word keep closing on its own?

Word typically closes unexpectedly due to corrupted third-party add-ins, outdated Office installations, file-specific corruption, conflicts with other background software, or a damaged Windows user profile.

Can I recover an unsaved document after Word crashes?

Yes. Open Word, go to File > Info > Manage Document, and click Recover Unsaved Documents. You can also manually check the AutoRecover file location found under File > Options > Save.

How do I view crash logs for Microsoft Word?

You can view crash details using the built-in Windows Event Viewer. Press Windows + X, select Event Viewer, and navigate to Windows Logs > Application to look for Error events related to WINWORD.EXE.

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