Fix Word for Mac Stuck on Verifying This Link Error
Question details
The user is unable to proceed or save a Word document due to a frozen application displaying a link verification error.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Attempting to work on or save a document when AutoSave is disabled.
- Observed behavior
- Word is blocked by a message saying "Verifying this link takes longer than expected," preventing the user from saving unsaved progress.
Before attempting to force-quit the application, ensure you check if any other open Office documents can be manually saved to avoid accidental data loss.
Attempt Manual Save and Content Transfer
Use keyboard shortcuts to force a save or copy your content to a fresh document before the application completely crashes.
When Word freezes on a specific popup, background shortcut keys may still function. By using these shortcuts, you can bypass the unresponsive interface and secure your unsaved work.
Press Command + S on your Mac keyboard to attempt a manual save. If successful, close the frozen document and reopen it to clear the error.
If the save fails, click into the document body, press Command + A to select all text, and Command + C to copy it to your clipboard.
Open a different text editor (like Apple Pages or TextEdit) and press Command + V to paste. Save this new file to secure your unsaved progress.
Force-Quit Word and Test Online
If the application is completely unresponsive, force quit Microsoft Word and check the file integrity using Word for the Web.
Avoid Freezing Issues with WPS Office for Mac
If Microsoft Word frequently freezes or gets stuck on link verification, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a highly compatible, lightweight, and free alternative that runs smoothly on macOS without heavy resource usage.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office for Mac from the official website.
- 2. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing Word document directly.
- 3. Edit without freezing: Edit and save your work natively in .docx format without worrying about background verification hangs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Word for Mac say 'Verifying this link takes longer than expected'?
This error usually occurs when Word attempts to resolve an external hyperlink, a connected network drive, or a linked object (like an Excel chart) embedded in the document, but the destination server or file is unresponsive.
Can I recover my unsaved work if I force quit Word on Mac?
If AutoSave was disabled, Word's AutoRecovery feature might still have generated a backup. After force-quitting and reopening Word, check the Document Recovery pane or manually navigate to the AutoRecovery folder in your Mac's Library folder.
How do I disable automatic link updating in Word for Mac?
To prevent this issue from happening on startup, go to Word > Preferences > General, and uncheck 'Update automatic links at open.' This stops the application from hanging on unresponsive links when you launch a document.
