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How to Fix EXC_CRASH SIGABRT Errors When Opening Microsoft Office on Mac
Question details
Users experience immediate crashes when trying to open Microsoft 365 applications, accompanied by an EXC_CRASH or SIGABRT error code.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 / Office for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Attempting to launch Word, Excel, or PowerPoint after the Microsoft Office suite was inadvertently installed twice on the same Mac.
- Observed behavior
- The selected Office application fails to open and crashes instantly, displaying a crash report indicating an EXC_CRASH or SIGABRT fault.
Ensure you have saved any work in other stable applications and use the Force Quit menu (Option + Command + Esc) to completely close any unresponsive Microsoft programs before proceeding.
Launch Office in Safe Mode and Update
Opening the application in Safe Mode bypasses problematic background services and duplicate conflicts, allowing you to access the app and install critical updates.
Running the app in Safe Mode isolates the software from conflicting system extensions or corrupted preferences that often trigger SIGABRT errors.
Ensure all Microsoft Office programs are completely closed. Right-click their icons in the Dock and select 'Quit'.
Open 'Finder' from your Dock, navigate to the 'Applications' folder, and find the specific Microsoft app (e.g., Word or Excel) that is crashing.
Press and hold the 'Shift' key on your Mac keyboard. While holding 'Shift', double-click the application icon. Continue holding the key until the application successfully opens.
Once the application is open, click on 'Help' in the top macOS menu bar and select 'Check for Updates'. Follow the prompts in Microsoft AutoUpdate to install the newest bug fixes.
Switch to WPS Office for a Stable Mac Experience
If Microsoft 365 continues to crash on your Mac due to duplicate installations or system conflicts, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly stable environment for creating documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.
- 1. Download the Mac Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free macOS version.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
- 3. Open and edit your files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files with zero compatibility issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes the EXC_CRASH SIGABRT error in Office for Mac?
This error is typically triggered by corrupted installation files, conflicting background processes, or registry-level confusion when Microsoft Office is installed multiple times on the same Mac.
Will holding Shift to use Safe Mode delete my Microsoft Office documents?
No. Launching an application in Safe Mode is purely a diagnostic step. It temporarily disables add-ins and background extensions to isolate startup issues, but it does not delete or modify your saved files.
How do I completely remove duplicate Office installations on my Mac?
To perform a clean removal, open Finder, navigate to Applications, and drag all Microsoft Office apps to the Trash. You must also remove Microsoft-related files from the hidden Library folder (~/Library/Containers) before reinstalling a fresh, single copy.
