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Fix Microsoft Word or Excel Crashing with EXC_BAD_ACCESS on Mac
Question details
The user needs to resolve an issue where Microsoft Word and Excel crash on a Mac equipped with an Apple M1 Max processor.
- Product
- Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- Mac (macOS Ventura)
- Scenario
- Launching or using Microsoft Word and Excel on macOS.
- Observed behavior
- The applications repeatedly crash, generating a crash report that references EXC_BAD_ACCESS, libcorecrypto.dylib, and WinCrypto. Reinstalling Office does not fix the problem.
Before attempting any fixes, do not delete any system or Office files based on the crash report. The WinCrypto component mentioned is a legitimate Microsoft cryptographic file, not a virus or malware.
Update macOS and Microsoft Office
Keeping your operating system and Office suite updated ensures maximum compatibility with Apple Silicon and patches known memory access bugs.
Software updates often contain essential bug fixes for EXC_BAD_ACCESS errors, which typically indicate memory management conflicts between the application and the OS.
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner, go to System Settings, select General, and click on Software Update. Install any pending updates for macOS Ventura.
Open a Microsoft Office application that is not crashing (or launch Microsoft AutoUpdate from Spotlight). Click 'Help' in the top menu bar, select 'Check for Updates', and install the latest patches.
Disable Third-Party Add-ins and Security Software
Third-party add-ins or aggressive antivirus software can interfere with Office's cryptographic processes like WinCrypto, triggering a crash.
Test with a New User Profile
Creating a new user profile helps determine if the crash is caused by corrupted user-specific preferences or caches that a standard reinstallation misses.
Experience Crash-Free Productivity with WPS Office for Mac
If Microsoft Office continues to experience EXC_BAD_ACCESS crashes on your Mac, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a highly compatible, lightweight, and free alternative that runs seamlessly on Apple Silicon without complex background service conflicts.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the Mac version optimized for Apple Silicon.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Open the downloaded file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
- 3. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Word or Excel files to continue your work without interruption.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WinCrypto in the Office crash report a virus?
No. WinCrypto is a legitimate Microsoft cryptographic component used within Office. Seeing it in a crash log does not indicate a ransomware or malware infection.
What does EXC_BAD_ACCESS mean on a Mac?
EXC_BAD_ACCESS is an error indicating that a program attempted to access a protected memory address or memory that is no longer available. This usually points to a software bug, an incompatibility, or a corrupted application process.
Why didn't reinstalling Microsoft Office fix the crash?
A standard reinstallation often leaves behind corrupted user preferences, outdated shared system libraries, or conflicting third-party add-ins. If these underlying issues remain on your Mac, the crash will persist even with a fresh install.
