Office Apps Crashing

How to Fix Microsoft 365 Word and Excel Crashing When Save As Opens

Phi Hung Vo Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where Microsoft 365 applications crash or stop responding whenever the Save As dialog box is accessed.

How to Fix Microsoft 365 Apps Crashing When the Save As Dialog Opens

Product: Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel)
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Saving a document or spreadsheet using the 'Save As' command in Microsoft Office.
Observed behavior: Word and Excel crash or freeze upon opening the Save As dialog, occasionally displaying an MSVCP140.dll access-violation error. The issue persists despite repairing Office, reinstalling, running SFC scans, using Safe Mode, and disabling add-ins.

Before you start

Verify your exact Microsoft Office version under File > Account, and check if your colleagues are experiencing the same issue, as this can help determine if the problem is a localized system conflict or a widespread network environment issue.

Solution 1Recommended

Perform a Windows Clean Boot to Identify Software Conflicts

A clean boot starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs, helping you determine if a background application is interfering with the Microsoft Office Save As dialog.

Since standard Office troubleshooting steps like Safe Mode and add-in removal did not resolve the issue, the MSVCP140.dll crash is likely caused by third-party background software clashing with the Windows file explorer dialog triggered by Office.

Open System Configuration

Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog, type 'msconfig', and press Enter.

Hide Microsoft Services

Navigate to the 'Services' tab, check the box at the bottom left that says 'Hide all Microsoft services', and then click the 'Disable all' button.

Disable Startup Items

Go to the 'Startup' tab and click 'Open Task Manager'. In Task Manager, right-click each enabled startup item and select 'Disable'. Close Task Manager when finished.

Restart and Test

Click 'OK' in the System Configuration window and restart your computer. Open Word or Excel and test the 'Save As' function.

Perform a Windows Clean Boot to Identify Software Conflicts

Re-enabling Services: If the crash stops after a clean boot, you will need to re-enable your services and startup programs one by one (or in small batches) to isolate the exact software causing the conflict.

Solution 2

Test with a New Windows User Profile

Creating a new Windows user profile helps determine if the MSVCP140.dll access-violation error is caused by corruption within your current user profile data.

Solution 3

Contact IT Support for Device Redeployment

If you are in a managed corporate environment where creating a new user profile is blocked by IT policies, the device may need to be redeployed.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Stable, Crash-Free Experience

If Microsoft 365 continues to crash due to deep-rooted Windows profile errors or DLL conflicts that your IT environment prevents you from fixing, WPS Office is the perfect alternative. It operates smoothly without relying on the same system dependencies, ensuring your workflow remains uninterrupted.

1. Download and Install: Get the free installer from the official WPS website and run it on your Windows device.
2. Open Your Existing Files: Right-click your existing Word or Excel documents, choose 'Open with', and select WPS Office.
3. Save Without Crashing: Edit your documents and use the Save or Save As functions securely without triggering the MSVCP140.dll errors.

Free to use with no expensive subscriptions requiredHighly compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx), Excel (.xlsx), and PowerPoint (.pptx) formatsLightweight application that runs smoothly even on older or restricted Windows systemsFamiliar user interface allowing for a seamless transition with zero learning curve

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the MSVCP140.dll access-violation error mean?

MSVCP140.dll is a file associated with the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package. An access-violation error means that an application, like Word or Excel, tried to read or write to a memory address linked to this file but was blocked, usually due to file corruption, software conflicts, or permission issues.

Why does Microsoft Office only crash when I click 'Save As'?

The 'Save As' function forces Microsoft Office to call upon the Windows File Explorer shell to open a directory browsing window. If there is a conflict with shell extensions, a disconnected network drive, or corrupted background software hooking into File Explorer, the app will crash at this specific moment.

What should I do if my IT environment prevents me from creating a new Windows profile?

If your organization restricts the creation of local user profiles, you cannot perform this diagnostic step yourself. You will need to contact your IT administrator, explain the troubleshooting steps you have already taken, and request that they remotely reset your user profile or redeploy your machine.

Will reinstalling the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable fix the issue?

In some cases, yes. Since the error specifically mentions MSVCP140.dll, downloading and reinstalling the latest Visual C++ Redistributable packages (both x86 and x64 versions) from the official Microsoft website can repair corrupted DLL files causing the crash.

Office App Problems