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How to Fix Microsoft 365 Apps Crashing on Apple M1 Mac
Question details
Microsoft 365 applications are repeatedly crashing on an Apple Silicon Mac.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Device & OS
- macOS (Apple M1 Mac)
- Scenario
- Opening or working in Microsoft 365 apps on an Apple Silicon device.
- Observed behavior
- Applications crash unexpectedly, displaying EXC_BAD_ACCESS or crypto-library error codes.
Ensure you have saved all open documents to a local folder or cloud drive before completely uninstalling the current Microsoft 365 suite. You will also need your Microsoft account credentials handy to reactivate the software.
Revert to a Stable Microsoft Office Version
Completely remove the current unstable Office installation and download a previous compatible version designed for Apple Silicon.
Crashing issues with EXC_BAD_ACCESS on Apple M1 Macs are often tied to specific unstable updates of Microsoft 365. Reverting to a previously stable build is the most effective workaround until Microsoft releases a permanent fix for Apple Silicon compatibility.
Open the Finder, navigate to the Applications folder, and move all Microsoft 365 applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.) to the Trash. Empty the Trash to completely remove the apps.
Visit the official Microsoft Office for Mac Update History page (learn.microsoft.com/officeupdates/update-history-office-for-mac) and download the installer package for an older, stable version.
Run the downloaded installer package, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation, and open any Office app to sign in with your Microsoft account and activate the software.
Open Microsoft Word, go to Help > Check for Updates in the top menu bar, and uncheck 'Automatically keep Microsoft Apps up to date' to prevent the unstable version from reinstalling.
Use WPS Office for a Stable Experience on Mac
If Microsoft 365 continues to crash on your Apple M1 Mac, switch to WPS Office. It is highly optimized for Apple Silicon, completely free, and fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats, allowing you to work without interruptions.
- 1. Download the Mac installer: Visit the official WPS website and download the Mac version optimized for Apple Silicon.
- 2. Install the application: Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
- 3. Open your files directly: Launch WPS Office and open your existing Microsoft Office files without any conversion or formatting loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Microsoft Office apps throw an EXC_BAD_ACCESS error on M1 Macs?
This error typically occurs due to memory access violations caused by compatibility issues between newer Microsoft Office updates and the Apple Silicon architecture or its macOS environment.
Will I lose my Microsoft 365 files if I reinstall the apps?
No, uninstalling the applications does not delete your documents. Your files saved locally or on OneDrive will remain intact. However, it is always recommended to save any current unsaved work before uninstalling.
How do I stop Microsoft AutoUpdate from updating Office on Mac?
Open any Microsoft Office application, click on 'Help' in the top Apple menu bar, select 'Check for Updates', and uncheck the box that says 'Automatically keep Microsoft Apps up to date'.
