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Fix Microsoft Word for Mac Severe Lag When Opening Documents
Question details
The user is experiencing severe slowness in Microsoft Word, including 10 to 12-second document loading times and significant typing delays.
- Product
- Microsoft Word for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Opening documents and typing text in Microsoft Word after applying a recent Office for Mac update.
- Observed behavior
- Word for Mac takes up to 12 seconds to open files and suffers from command and typing delays. Restarting the application or the Mac only provides temporary relief despite having sufficient storage.
Ensure you have saved all open documents and completely closed Microsoft Word for Mac before attempting to modify or downgrade your application version.
Downgrade Microsoft Word to Version 16.84 or Earlier
Reverting to an older, stable version of Microsoft Word can bypass the performance bugs introduced in recent updates.
Multiple users have reported severe performance drops, including typing lag and slow document loading, after recent Office for Mac updates. Since basic troubleshooting like restarting the Mac does not resolve this update-specific bug, the most effective solution is to temporarily downgrade to version 16.84 or an earlier stable release until Microsoft releases an official patch.
Open the Applications folder on your Mac, locate Microsoft Word, and drag it to the Trash. Empty the Trash to completely remove the application.
Navigate to the official Microsoft Office for Mac Update History page in your web browser. Scroll down to find version 16.84 (or an earlier stable build) and download the standalone Microsoft Word installer package.
Double-click the downloaded .pkg file and follow the on-screen instructions to install the older version of Microsoft Word onto your Mac.
Open Microsoft Word, click on 'Help' in the top menu bar, and select 'Check for Updates'. Uncheck the option to automatically keep Microsoft Apps up to date so your Mac does not immediately reinstall the problematic version.
Experience Lag-Free Document Editing with WPS Office for Mac
Tired of dealing with severe lag and slow loading times in Microsoft Word for Mac? Switch to WPS Office, a highly optimized, free, and lightweight alternative that runs smoothly on macOS while maintaining full compatibility with Microsoft Office formats.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free WPS Office installer designed specifically for macOS.
- 2. Install and Launch: Follow the straightforward installation prompts. Once installed, launch the WPS Office application from your Mac's Launchpad.
- 3. Open Your Documents: Click 'Open' on the WPS home screen and select your existing Word documents (.docx) to start editing them instantly without any lag.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Microsoft Word suddenly so slow on my Mac?
Recent updates to Microsoft Office for Mac have introduced unexpected performance bugs for some users, which results in delayed typing, slow command execution, and extended document loading times.
Will downgrading Word for Mac delete my saved documents?
No, downgrading the application only replaces the software files in your Applications folder. Your personal documents and files stored on your Mac's local drive or iCloud will remain safe and completely unaffected.
How do I stop Microsoft AutoUpdate from reinstalling the buggy version?
After downgrading, you must open Microsoft Word, go to the top menu, select 'Help' > 'Check for Updates', and turn off the 'Automatically keep Microsoft Apps up to date' feature until a confirmed fix is released.
