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How to Fix Microsoft AutoUpdate Crashing on Mac
Question details
The user needs to stop the Microsoft AutoUpdate tool from repeatedly crashing on their Mac.
- Product
- Microsoft Office for Mac / Microsoft AutoUpdate
- Device & OS
- MacBook Air, Apple silicon, macOS Sonoma
- Scenario
- Attempting to run or update Microsoft Office applications on a Mac device.
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft AutoUpdate crashes every few seconds, generating an EXC_BAD_INSTRUCTION error in the Microsoft Update Assistant.
Before making changes to your Office installation, ensure you have backed up any important unsaved documents and have your Microsoft account login credentials handy in case a reinstallation is required.
Manually Update or Reinstall Microsoft AutoUpdate
Downloading and installing the newest version of Microsoft AutoUpdate directly from Microsoft can often overwrite corrupted files and resolve persistent crash loops.
Often, an outdated AutoUpdate tool struggles to run correctly on newer operating systems like macOS Sonoma. Manually updating this utility specifically can bypass the EXC_BAD_INSTRUCTION error.
Open your web browser and navigate to the official Microsoft download page to get the latest Microsoft AutoUpdate package for Mac.
Double-click the downloaded .pkg file and follow the on-screen prompts to install the updated tool over your current version.
Open any Office application like Word or Excel, navigate to the 'Help' menu at the top, and select 'Check for Updates' to verify the crash is resolved.
Completely Reinstall Microsoft Office
If updating the AutoUpdate tool doesn't work, corrupted Office support files may be to blame, requiring a clean reinstallation.
Use WPS Office to Avoid AutoUpdate Crashes
Tired of dealing with frustrating Microsoft AutoUpdate crashes on your Mac? Switch to WPS Office, a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative that offers seamless word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations without heavy background update assistants.
- 1. Download the Mac version: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the installation package designed specifically for macOS.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Open the downloaded file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
- 3. Open existing documents: Launch WPS Office and open your .docx, .xlsx, or .pptx files seamlessly without any conversion issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes the EXC_BAD_INSTRUCTION error in Microsoft Update Assistant?
This error usually occurs due to corrupted update files, software conflicts, or compatibility issues with newer macOS updates like macOS Sonoma, causing the background update process to fail abruptly.
Can I turn off Microsoft AutoUpdate completely on my Mac?
While not officially recommended because you will miss important security patches, you can disable automatic updates by opening Microsoft AutoUpdate, unchecking the 'Automatically keep Microsoft Apps up to date' box, and closing the app.
Where are the Microsoft AutoUpdate support files located on a Mac?
They are typically located in the system Library folder. You can find them by opening Finder, pressing Command+Shift+G, and entering the path '/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/'.
Will uninstalling Microsoft Office to fix the update crash delete my Word documents?
No, uninstalling the Microsoft Office applications will only remove the software itself. Your personal Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents saved on your Mac or in OneDrive will remain completely intact.
