Fix Word and Excel Crashing After Updating to macOS Monterey
Question details
Microsoft Word and Excel applications fail to launch or crash immediately after updating the operating system to macOS Monterey.
- Product
- Microsoft Word and Excel
- Device & OS
- macOS Monterey
- Scenario
- Opening Word or Excel after a recent macOS upgrade.
- Observed behavior
- The applications stop opening, freeze, or crash unexpectedly upon launch.
Ensure your Mac is connected to the internet to download any necessary updates. Reinstalling or updating Office will not delete your saved personal documents.
Check Compatibility and Update Office
Older versions of Office are not compatible with macOS Monterey. Checking your version and updating is the primary fix.
macOS Monterey drops support for older 32-bit applications and requires newer frameworks. Office 2011 (version 14) and earlier are completely incompatible with this operating system.
Open Finder and navigate to the Applications folder. Right-click on Microsoft Word or Excel and select 'Get Info' to check the version number.
If the version is 14 or earlier, the software is incompatible with macOS Monterey. You will need to upgrade to a newer Office suite or use an alternative.
For version 15, download and install the latest Microsoft AutoUpdate tool from the official Microsoft website to patch the software.
For version 16, open an Office app if possible, go to the Help menu, and select 'Check for Updates' to install the latest Monterey-compatible patches.
Clear Application Containers
Corrupted preference files or cached data from the previous OS version can cause crashes. Clearing containers resets these caches.
Boot in Safe Mode and Reinstall Office
If updating and clearing caches fail, testing in Safe Mode helps identify conflicts, followed by a clean reinstall.
Try WPS Office for Mac
If your current version of Microsoft Office is incompatible with macOS Monterey and you prefer not to purchase a new license, WPS Office is a highly compatible, free, and lightweight alternative. It runs smoothly on macOS Monterey and offers a familiar user interface, making the switch effortless.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the Mac version of WPS Office.
- 2. Install the Application: Open the downloaded file and drag the WPS Office icon to your Applications folder.
- 3. Open Your Files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Word and Excel documents without losing formatting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will uninstalling Office delete my saved Word and Excel documents?
No, your saved documents are stored separately on your hard drive or in your cloud storage. Uninstalling or updating the Office applications does not affect your personal files.
Why is my Office version 14 not working on macOS Monterey?
Office for Mac 2011 (version 14) and older are 32-bit applications or rely on outdated system frameworks. macOS Monterey only supports 64-bit applications, which requires newer Office versions like Office 2019, 2021, or Microsoft 365.
What should I do if the Microsoft AutoUpdate tool is also crashing?
If Microsoft AutoUpdate crashes upon launch, you need to manually download the latest version of the AutoUpdate package directly from Microsoft's official download center, install it, and run it again to update your Office apps.
