Office Apps Crashing

Fix Office Share Command Spinning or Crashing in Word and Excel

Olivia Miller Oct 12, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where clicking the Share button in Office desktop apps results in an infinite loading screen or application crash.

Fix Office Share Command Spinning or Crashing in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Product: Microsoft Office
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Attempting to share a document directly from within a Microsoft Office desktop application like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
Observed behavior: The Share pane gets stuck on a spinning window and often causes the entire application to crash, even though sharing works fine via Office for the web and Windows File Explorer.

Before you start

Before attempting any repairs, ensure you have saved a local copy of your current documents to prevent data loss in case the application crashes during troubleshooting.

Solution 1Recommended

Update Microsoft Office to the Latest Build

Installing the newest software updates can patch known bugs that cause the Share command to freeze or crash.

Microsoft frequently releases patches to address interface bugs and stability issues. Updating your Office suite is the fastest way to resolve widely reported crashing problems.

Open Account Settings

Open any Office application such as Word or Excel, and click on 'File' in the top left corner, then select 'Account' from the bottom left menu.

Check for Updates

Under the Product Information section, click on the 'Update Options' dropdown menu and select 'Update Now'.

Restart the Application

Allow Office to download and install any pending updates. Once complete, restart your computer and test the Share command again.

Update Microsoft Office to the Latest Build

Update Availability: If you are part of a corporate network, your IT administrator may manage Office updates. You may need to contact them to push the latest build to your device.

Solution 2

Perform an Online Repair of Office

Running an Online Repair fixes deep software corruption that standard uninstallations via the Control Panel might miss.

Solution 3

Submit a Support Ticket to Microsoft

If standard repairs fail, you will need to provide specific version and account details to Microsoft Support for advanced troubleshooting.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Stable Document Sharing Experience

If Microsoft Office continues to crash or freeze when you try to share files, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a free, lightweight, and stable alternative that offers built-in file sharing without the frustrating crashes. Enjoy a highly familiar user interface and seamless migration for all your document needs.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button.
2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded setup file and follow the quick on-screen instructions.
3. Open and Share Seamlessly: Open your documents in WPS Office and use the robust, built-in Share button without experiencing freezes or crashes.

Free and lightweight office suite with a highly familiar user interfaceFully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formatsStable built-in cloud sharing and collaboration features that do not crash

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the Share command work in Office for the web but crash on the desktop app?

Office for the web operates entirely on Microsoft's cloud servers, bypassing any local software glitches, corrupt registry keys, or installation issues that typically cause the desktop applications to freeze or crash.

Will reinstalling OneDrive fix the Office Share crash?

Often, the issue lies within the Office application's core files rather than OneDrive. If reinstalling OneDrive does not resolve the spinning window, you should focus on updating or running an Online Repair on the Office suite itself.

How can I share my file if the Office desktop app keeps crashing?

As an immediate workaround, you can close the crashing application, locate your saved file in Windows File Explorer, right-click it, and use the Share option from the Windows context menu. Alternatively, you can upload the file to OneDrive and share it using your web browser.

Office App Problems