Fix Microsoft Word Not Opening and Update 16.61 Failing on Mac
Question details
Microsoft Word fails to open on a Mac and the 16.61 update cannot be downloaded or installed, despite other Microsoft 365 applications functioning normally.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- Trying to open Microsoft Word or update the application to version 16.61 using the Microsoft AutoUpdate tool.
- Observed behavior
- Word becomes unresponsive or fails to launch entirely, and the AutoUpdate tool returns a download error for the 16.61 update.
Ensure your Mac is connected to a stable internet network, as AutoUpdate failures are frequently caused by intermittent connection drops or network congestion.
Manually Uninstall and Reinstall Microsoft Word
Bypass the Microsoft AutoUpdate tool by manually removing the corrupted Word application and reinstalling it from the official installer.
Microsoft AutoUpdate may occasionally be unable to complete a download due to server congestion or local cache corruption. Since other Microsoft 365 applications updated successfully, isolating and reinstalling Word is the most effective approach.
Ensure all Microsoft 365 applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, are fully closed on your Mac.
Open Finder and navigate to your 'Applications' folder. Locate 'Microsoft Word.app', right-click it, and select 'Move to Trash'.
Right-click the Trash icon on your Dock and select 'Empty Trash' to permanently delete the corrupted application files.
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select 'Restart' to clear out temporary system caches.
Visit the official Microsoft website or the Mac App Store to download the latest standalone Microsoft Word installer. Run the installer and follow the on-screen prompts.
Switch to WPS Office for a Seamless Mac Experience
If Microsoft Word continues to crash or fail during background updates, consider trying WPS Office. It is a highly compatible, free, and lightweight alternative that handles your Word documents flawlessly without heavy update services that slow down your Mac.
- 1. Download WPS Office for Mac: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installer tailored for macOS.
- 2. Install and Launch: Open the downloaded file, drag the WPS Office icon to your Applications folder, and launch it.
- 3. Open Your Word Documents: Simply double-click your existing .docx files or drag them into the WPS Office workspace to resume working immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Microsoft AutoUpdate fail to download the Word update on my Mac?
AutoUpdate failures are typically caused by network congestion, temporary Microsoft server outages, or a corrupted local cache from a previously interrupted download.
Will moving Microsoft Word to the Trash delete my saved documents?
No. Moving the Microsoft Word.app to the Trash only uninstalls the software application. Your saved .docx files remain safely untouched in your Mac's Documents folder or on your OneDrive.
What should I do if reinstalling Word does not fix the unresponsiveness?
If a manual reinstallation does not resolve the issue, you may need to boot your Mac in Safe Mode to isolate background software conflicts, or contact Microsoft Support directly and provide them with your specific error codes.
