Office Apps Not Opening

Fix Office 365 Apps Not Opening on Mac mini M1 (macOS Sonoma)

Chanuka Geekiyanage Oct 10, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where Microsoft Word and Excel refuse to launch on an Apple M1 Mac after updating the operating system.

How to Fix Office 365 Apps Not Opening on Mac mini M1 After macOS Sonoma Update

Product: Microsoft Office 365
Device & OS: Mac mini M1 (macOS Sonoma)
Scenario: Attempting to open Microsoft Office applications after upgrading the operating system from macOS Ventura to macOS Sonoma.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Word and Excel crash or fail to open entirely, whereas Microsoft Outlook continues to function normally. Standard reinstallations do not always fix the issue due to persistent add-ins.

Before you start

Ensure you have your Microsoft account credentials ready, as you may need to sign back into Office 365 after performing updates or a clean reinstallation.

Solution 1Recommended

Remove Interfering Office Add-ins

Incompatible third-party add-ins can block Office applications from launching correctly on newer macOS versions. Removing them often restores functionality.

Major macOS updates can break older Microsoft Office add-ins. Because add-in configuration files remain on your Mac even after dragging the application to the Trash, a standard reinstall will not solve the crash if the incompatible add-in is still loading at startup.

Close All Office Applications

Force quit any Microsoft Office applications that might be stuck in the background by pressing Option + Command + Esc and selecting the apps.

Access the Library Folder

Open Finder, click 'Go' in the top menu bar, hold down the Option key to reveal the hidden 'Library' folder, and click it.

Remove Startup Add-ins

Navigate to Group Containers > UBF8T346G9.Office > User Content > Startup. Look inside the 'Word' and 'Excel' folders. Move any files found here to your Desktop.

Relaunch Office

Try opening Microsoft Word or Excel again. If the app opens successfully, the add-in was the cause of the issue.

Add-in Isolation: If you need the add-in for your workflow, check the developer's website for an updated version that officially supports macOS Sonoma.

Solution 2

Install the Latest Microsoft AutoUpdate Package

Updating the Microsoft AutoUpdate (MAU) tool ensures you can download the latest macOS Sonoma compatibility patches for Office 365.

Solution 3

Perform a Clean Uninstall and Reinstall

A clean uninstall removes all background files, preference caches, and corrupted configurations that a standard uninstallation leaves behind.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for a Stable Mac Experience

If Microsoft Office continues to crash on your Mac mini M1 after updating macOS, WPS Office provides a highly optimized, lightweight, and hassle-free alternative. It bypasses complicated add-in conflicts while delivering robust functionality for all your document needs.

1. Download the Mac Installer: Visit the WPS Office website and download the macOS installer specifically optimized for Apple Silicon.
2. Install and Launch: Open the downloaded package, drag WPS Office to your Applications folder, and launch the program.
3. Open Your Documents: Drag and drop your existing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files into WPS Office to continue your work without losing any formatting.

Native performance optimization for Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) chipsSeamless compatibility with Microsoft Office formats including .docx, .xlsx, and .pptxLightweight architecture with zero heavy background processes or update loopsCompletely free to use with an intuitive, familiar user interface

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Word and Excel stop working after I updated to macOS Sonoma?

Major macOS upgrades introduce new system architectures and security protocols. If your installed version of Office or its third-party add-ins are not optimized for these changes, the apps may crash or fail to open upon initialization.

Will uninstalling Office on my Mac delete my saved documents?

No. Uninstalling Microsoft Office applications only removes the software files. Your personal documents, spreadsheets, and presentations saved on your hard drive or in iCloud/OneDrive will remain completely untouched.

How do I check which version of Office I am running on a Mac?

Open Finder and navigate to your Applications folder. Right-click on a Microsoft application (such as Word) and select 'Get Info'. The version number will be displayed in the General section of the pop-up window.

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