Fix Microsoft Word Won't Close or Update on Mac
Question details
Microsoft Word becomes completely unresponsive following a Mac App Store update attempt, stopping users from editing documents, closing the app, or deleting the software.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- Updating Microsoft Word via the App Store or attempting to edit a document when the application freezes.
- Observed behavior
- The application freezes, ignores normal close commands, and blocks the Mac App Store update or uninstallation processes.
Before forcefully closing Microsoft Word, check if you have any unsaved documents open in other applications, as restarting your Mac might close those programs as well.
Force Quit Word and Update via Microsoft AutoUpdate
Use the macOS Force Quit utility to close the frozen application, then bypass the Mac App Store by using Microsoft's dedicated update tool.
When the Mac App Store update process hangs, it can lock the Microsoft Word application, making it impossible to quit normally. Forcing the application to close and using Microsoft AutoUpdate is the most reliable way to break this loop.
Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your Mac screen, select 'Force Quit', choose Microsoft Word from the list of running applications, and click the 'Force Quit' button.
Click the Apple menu again and select 'Restart' to clear the system's active memory and ensure background processes associated with Word are terminated.
Open any other functional Office app (such as Microsoft Excel), click 'Help' in the top menu bar, and select 'Check for Updates' to launch Microsoft AutoUpdate.
Download and install the latest AutoUpdate version and the pending Word updates. Once the installation is complete, restart your Mac one final time.
Switch to WPS Office for a Seamless Mac Experience
If Microsoft Word frequently freezes or struggles with updates on your Mac, WPS Office offers a free, lightweight, and highly stable alternative. Enjoy a familiar interface and flawless format compatibility without the frustrating crashes.
- 1. Download and Install: Get the WPS Office for Mac installer from the official website and move it to your Applications folder.
- 2. Open Existing Documents: Right-click any .docx or .doc file on your Mac, select 'Open With', and choose WPS Office.
- 3. Edit and Save Seamlessly: Continue editing your documents with the same formatting and save them in standard Microsoft Office formats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Microsoft Word stuck on 'updating' in the Mac App Store?
The Mac App Store can sometimes get stuck due to cache conflicts or server connectivity issues. Using Microsoft AutoUpdate from within another Office app bypasses the App Store and often resolves the update loop.
Will force quitting Word delete my document?
Force quitting will not delete the file itself, but you will lose any unsaved changes made since the last AutoRecover save. Mac's AutoRecovery might recover the document upon reopening, though it is not guaranteed.
How do I completely uninstall a frozen Microsoft Word?
You cannot delete or move an application to the Trash while it is running. You must first force quit Microsoft Word from the Apple menu, then navigate to your Applications folder, move the app to the Trash, and empty the Trash.
