Fix Microsoft Word for Mac Launching Slowly After Big Sur Update
Question details
Microsoft Word takes an unusually long time to open or fails to load the selected document on the first attempt after upgrading to macOS Big Sur.
- Product
- Microsoft Word for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS Big Sur 11.2.3
- Scenario
- Opening Microsoft Word or double-clicking a specific document after performing a macOS system update.
- Observed behavior
- Word launches very slowly or opens a blank instance without the requested document, often requiring a second double-click to load the file properly.
Ensure your Mac is connected to a stable internet connection so you can download necessary system and application updates, and save any open work in other programs.
Install the Latest macOS and Microsoft 365 Updates
Keeping both your operating system and Office suite fully up to date is the most effective way to resolve compatibility bugs introduced by major macOS updates.
Major macOS updates can sometimes cause unexpected compatibility issues with older versions of Microsoft Office. Installing the latest patches for both macOS and Microsoft 365 ensures you have the official bug fixes.
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, select 'System Preferences', and click 'Software Update'. Install any pending macOS updates.
Open Microsoft Word. From the top menu bar, click 'Help' and then select 'Check for Updates'.
Follow the prompts in the Microsoft AutoUpdate tool to download and install the newest version of Microsoft 365.
Once all updates are installed, click the Apple menu and select 'Restart' to ensure system-level changes are fully applied.
Boot in Safe Mode and Check Third-Party Security Software
Running your Mac in Safe Mode or temporarily disabling background security tools helps identify conflicts causing slow application launches.
Switch to WPS Office for a Faster Mac Experience
If Microsoft Word continues to launch slowly or struggle with macOS compatibility, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a highly optimized, lightweight productivity suite that runs perfectly on macOS without lagging.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Word require a second double-click to open my document on Mac?
This glitch often occurs when the Word application takes too long to initialize in the background, causing macOS to time out the document handoff. The first click manages to launch the application, and the second click forces the system to load the specific file.
Can third-party antivirus software slow down Word on a Mac?
Yes, active scanning by security software such as Malwarebytes can delay application launches as it scans the program files in real-time. Temporarily disabling the protection can help verify if it is the cause of the slow launch.
Will reinstalling Microsoft Office fix the slow launch issue?
Reinstalling can resolve issues caused by corrupted program files. However, you should always try updating both macOS and Office first, as performance issues following a system update are usually resolved via official developer patches rather than a full reinstall.
