Office Apps Crashing

Fix Word and Excel Crashing When Opening Files from Desktop or Documents

Phi Hung Vo Oct 14, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where Microsoft Office applications crash specifically when trying to open files from certain user profile folders.

Fix Word and Excel Crashing When Opening Files from Desktop or Documents

Product: Microsoft Office 2019
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Opening Word or Excel documents saved directly on the Windows Desktop or within the Documents folder.
Observed behavior: Office 2019 applications crash immediately when opening files from the current user's Desktop or Documents folders, whereas files stored on other drives or network locations open normally.

Before you start

Ensure you are logged in with an administrator account on your Windows PC, as you may need to modify system security settings or manage user accounts.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable Controlled Folder Access in Windows Security

Windows Security's Ransomware Protection can sometimes mistakenly block Office applications from accessing standard user folders like the Desktop and Documents.

Controlled Folder Access is designed to protect your files from malicious software. However, if it mistakenly identifies Microsoft Office as unauthorized, it will force the apps to crash when reading from protected directories.

Open Windows Security

Click the Start menu, type 'Windows Security', and open the application.

Navigate to Ransomware Protection

Click on 'Virus & threat protection' from the left sidebar, then scroll down and click 'Manage ransomware protection'.

Toggle Off Controlled Folder Access

Under 'Controlled folder access', toggle the switch to the 'Off' position. Alternatively, keep it on and click 'Allow an app through Controlled folder access' to explicitly whitelist the Word and Excel executables.

Test Office Applications

Restart Word or Excel and try opening a file directly from your Desktop.

Disable Controlled Folder Access in Windows Security

Security Check: If you use a third-party antivirus, check its specific ransomware or folder protection settings, as they might apply similar restrictions.

Solution 2

Test with a New Windows User Profile

A corrupted Windows user profile can cause localized crashes. Creating a new profile helps identify if the issue is system-wide or isolated to your current account.

Solution 3

Repair the Microsoft Office Installation

Use the built-in Microsoft Office repair tool to fix corrupted application files or broken registry keys that might trigger unexpected crashes.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for a Stable, Crash-Free Experience

If Microsoft Office 2019 continues to crash due to profile errors or security conflicts, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, stable, and completely free alternative that seamlessly handles your existing files without unexpected interruptions.

1. Download the Software: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package.
2. Install WPS Office: Run the setup file and follow the prompt to install the suite on your computer in just a few clicks.
3. Open Your Desktop Files: Navigate to your Desktop or Documents folder, double-click your existing Word or Excel files, and edit them smoothly in WPS Office.

Avoid frustrating crashes and folder access restrictions often tied to legacy Office installations.100% format compatibility with Microsoft Office files, including .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx.Lightweight architecture ensuring fast launch times even on older Windows devices.Familiar tabbed user interface for effortless navigation and zero learning curve.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do Word and Excel only crash when opening files from the Desktop or Documents folder?

This happens because the Desktop and Documents folders are special user profile directories. If Windows Defender's Controlled Folder Access restricts them, or if the Windows user profile itself becomes corrupted, Office fails to acquire read permissions and crashes.

Can I temporarily move my files to stop Office from crashing?

Yes. While you troubleshoot the root cause, you can move your affected files from the Desktop to the root of your C: drive (e.g., C:\TestFolder) or a secondary drive (like D:), where they will likely open without crashing.

Will updating my Windows system fix these Office crashes?

Sometimes. Installing the latest Windows updates can resolve compatibility bugs between Microsoft Office and the Windows security architecture. Always ensure both Windows and Office 2019 are fully updated.

Does this issue affect other Microsoft Office versions like Microsoft 365?

Yes, localized folder permission issues can cause applications to crash across multiple versions, including Office 2016, Office 2021, and Microsoft 365, as the core conflict lies within Windows folder restrictions.

Office App Problems