Fix Microsoft Word Crashing on macOS Big Sur
Question details
Users experience unexpected application closures and random crashes when attempting to edit documents in Microsoft Word after upgrading their Mac to macOS Big Sur.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- macOS Big Sur
- Scenario
- Editing and saving documents after upgrading the Mac operating system to macOS Big Sur.
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft Word randomly closes or crashes unexpectedly during use due to compatibility issues present in older Office builds.
Before attempting to update your system or software, make sure your Mac is connected to a reliable internet connection and plugged into a power source, as system updates can take some time to download and install.
Update Microsoft Office and macOS System
Upgrading Microsoft Office to version 16.44 or later and installing the latest macOS updates will resolve known compatibility bugs on Big Sur.
Microsoft and Apple have identified and fixed the compatibility bugs causing Word to crash on macOS Big Sur. To permanently resolve the issue, you must ensure both your operating system and the Office application are running their respective patched versions.
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, select 'System Preferences' (or 'About This Mac'), and click on 'Software Update'. Install macOS 11.1 or any newer available update.
Open Microsoft Word. In the top menu bar, click on 'Help' and then select 'Check for Updates' from the dropdown menu.
Allow the Microsoft AutoUpdate tool to search for available patches. Click 'Update' to install Office version 16.44 or later.
Once both macOS and Microsoft Word have been successfully updated, restart your Mac to apply the system changes, then launch Word to verify the crashing has stopped.
Switch to WPS Office for a Stable Mac Experience
If you are frustrated with Microsoft Word constantly crashing on your Mac, WPS Office provides a highly optimized, lightweight, and completely free alternative. It ensures smooth document editing on macOS without the compatibility hiccups.
- 1. Download for Mac: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the macOS version.
- 2. Install and Launch: Open the downloaded installer and follow the on-screen prompts to install WPS Office on your Mac.
- 3. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing .docx files to continue working immediately without compatibility errors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Microsoft Word crash specifically on macOS Big Sur?
macOS Big Sur introduced significant changes to the operating system's architecture. Older builds of Microsoft Word were not fully optimized for these changes, resulting in memory management and compatibility bugs that trigger unexpected crashes.
How can I check my current version of Microsoft Word on Mac?
Open the Microsoft Word application. In the top-left menu bar next to the Apple logo, click on 'Word', then select 'About Microsoft Word'. A dialog box will appear displaying your current release version.
Will I lose my work when Word crashes on Mac?
If AutoRecover is enabled, Word periodically saves a copy of your document in the background. When you reopen Word after a crash, the Document Recovery pane should appear automatically, allowing you to restore the most recent AutoRecover file.
What should I do if Word still crashes after updating to version 16.44?
If the crashes continue, try starting your Mac in Safe Mode to check if background software is interfering with Word. If that fails, completely uninstalling the Microsoft Office suite and downloading a fresh installer from your Microsoft account may resolve corrupted installation files.
