Office Apps Not Opening

Fix Office 2013 Word and Excel Files Not Opening After Updates

Maira Mehtab Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to open Word and Excel documents in Microsoft Office 2013 after potential system updates, as the applications continuously crash or display a repair error.

Product: Microsoft Office 2013
Device & OS: Windows 10 Home
Scenario: Attempting to open existing Word or Excel files for viewing and editing.
Observed behavior: When opening any Word or Excel file, an error message appears that locks the application until the user selects 'Repair' or 'Close'. The files completely fail to open.

Before you start

Ensure you have the login credentials for the Microsoft account associated with your Office 2013 purchase, as you may need to verify your license or reinstall the software.

Solution 1Recommended

Run the Built-in Office Repair Tool

Use the Windows Control Panel to run a Quick or Online Repair, which can fix corrupted Office program files without affecting your personal documents.

Open Programs and Features

Press the Windows key, type 'Control Panel', and press Enter. Navigate to 'Programs' and select 'Programs and Features'.

Locate Microsoft Office 2013

Scroll through the list of installed applications until you find your Microsoft Office 2013 installation. Right-click on it and select 'Change'.

Execute the Repair

Select 'Quick Repair' from the prompt and click 'Repair'. If the issue persists after a Quick Repair, repeat these steps and choose 'Online Repair'.

Solution 2

Reset Office Configurations via Registry Editor

Rename the Microsoft Office registry key to force the application to rebuild its default settings, which resolves deep-rooted configuration errors.

Solution 3

Reinstall Office 2013 via Microsoft Account

Uninstall the broken version of Office 2013 and perform a clean installation from your connected Microsoft account.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Use WPS Office to Open Word and Excel Files Instantly

If Microsoft Office 2013 continues to crash and you want to restore access to your documents without purchasing an expensive Microsoft 365 subscription, WPS Office provides a highly compatible, free alternative.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button.
2. Install the Software: Run the downloaded installer and follow the quick on-screen setup instructions.
3. Open Your Files: Double-click any existing Word or Excel file, or right-click and choose 'Open with WPS Office' to view and edit your documents without errors.

Seamlessly opens, edits, and saves Microsoft Word (.docx) and Excel (.xlsx) formats.Completely free to use with no mandatory subscription fees.Familiar user interface ensures a quick and easy transition.Lightweight installation runs incredibly fast on Windows 10 devices.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Office 2013 suddenly displaying repair errors on Windows 10?

This commonly occurs when recent Windows 10 system updates conflict with older Office 2013 application files, or when the system registry keys managing Office configurations become corrupted.

Will running the Office Repair tool delete my Word and Excel files?

No. The built-in Quick Repair and Online Repair tools only scan and fix the core program files and registry entries of the Office application itself. Your personal documents and spreadsheets are safe and will not be deleted.

How do I reinstall Office 2013 if I lost my product key?

If you originally linked your Office 2013 installation to a Microsoft account, you do not need the 25-character product key. You can simply log into your Microsoft account online, go to the 'Services & subscriptions' tab, and click 'Install' next to your Office 2013 product.

Office App Problems