Office for Mac Issues

Fix Microsoft Word for Mac Keeps Crashing After Update

Algirdas Jasaitis Sep 29, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where Microsoft Word for Mac closes unexpectedly or crashes repeatedly after a recent software update.

How to Fix Microsoft Word for Mac Crashing After an Update

Product: Microsoft Word for Mac
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Opening or using Microsoft Word for Mac after installing macOS or Office software updates.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Word closes unexpectedly, freezes, or crashes, preventing normal document editing and usage.

Before you start

Save any open work in other applications and ensure you have administrative access to your Mac, as troubleshooting will require accessing hidden Library folders to modify configuration files.

Solution 1Recommended

Reset Microsoft Word Preferences and Cache Files

Corrupted preference files are a common cause of post-update crashes. Resetting them forces Word to build fresh, stable settings.

When Word updates, existing configuration files can occasionally become incompatible or corrupted. Manually moving these preference files to the Desktop allows macOS to generate clean versions the next time the application launches.

Close all Office applications

Quit Word and all other Office applications. Open the Activity Monitor utility on your Mac to ensure no Microsoft processes are running in the background.

Access the Library folder

Open Finder, click on "Go" in the top menu bar, select "Go to Folder", and type ~/Library/Preferences to access the hidden preferences directory.

Move preference files

Locate the files named com.microsoft.Word.plist and com.microsoft.office.plist, then click and drag them to your Desktop.

Clear application containers

Navigate to ~/Library/Containers and ~/Library/Group Containers. Move the corresponding Microsoft Word and Office folders to the Desktop, then restart Word to see if it remains stable.

Reset Microsoft Word Preferences and Cache Files

Safe to delete later: If Word runs smoothly after performing these steps, you can safely move the files and folders from your Desktop to the Trash.

Solution 2

Update macOS and Disable Incompatible Add-ins

Outdated macOS versions or third-party add-ins may conflict with the latest Microsoft Word update.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for a Stable Mac Experience

If Microsoft Word continues to crash on your Mac despite troubleshooting, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly stable, and free alternative that won't disrupt your workflow with unexpected update crashes.

1. Download the installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free version optimized for macOS.
2. Install WPS Office: Open the downloaded package and follow the on-screen instructions to install the software on your Mac.
3. Open your Word documents: Launch WPS Office Writer and seamlessly open, edit, and save your existing .docx files without losing any formatting.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx), Excel (.xlsx), and PowerPoint (.pptx) formats.Highly stable performance on macOS, avoiding the frequent update crashes seen in other software.Lightweight installation that runs smoothly without heavily draining Mac system resources.Familiar, tabbed user interface making it incredibly easy to switch without a steep learning curve.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find the crash logs for Microsoft Word on Mac?

You can locate Word crash logs by opening Finder, pressing Command+Shift+G to open 'Go to Folder', and entering ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports. Look for recent crash report files starting with 'Microsoft Word'.

Will moving preference files to the Desktop delete my Word documents?

No, preference files only store application settings like custom toolbars, window positions, or default views. Moving or resetting them will not delete or affect your saved documents.

How do I completely reinstall Microsoft Word on my Mac?

To perform a clean reinstall, move the Microsoft Word application from the Applications folder to the Trash. Then, clear the associated Library containers, empty the Trash, and download a fresh installer from your Microsoft account.

Why does Word only crash when opening one specific document?

If Word only crashes on a single file, the document itself is likely corrupted. Try using Word's 'Recover Text from Any File' option in the Open dialog, or try opening the file in a compatible alternative like WPS Office.

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