'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
How to Fix Microsoft Office 2013 Starting and Stopping Unexpectedly
Question details
Microsoft Office 2013 applications crash or close themselves immediately after launching.
- Product
- Microsoft Office 2013
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Opening any Office 2013 application such as Word, Excel, or PowerPoint to start working.
- Observed behavior
- The application begins to load, but suddenly stops working and closes unexpectedly before the user can interact with the interface.
Ensure you have your Microsoft Office 2013 product key or Microsoft account credentials handy in case the troubleshooting steps require a complete reinstallation of the software.
Run Office 2013 in Safe Mode and Disable Add-ins
Starting Office in Safe Mode bypasses installed extensions, helping you identify if a faulty add-in is causing the application to crash.
Third-party add-ins are one of the most common reasons Office applications stop unexpectedly on startup. Safe mode allows you to isolate and disable the problematic extension.
Press and hold the 'Ctrl' key on your keyboard, then double-click the shortcut for the Office application (e.g., Word or Excel). Click 'Yes' when prompted to start in Safe Mode.
Once the application opens successfully, click on 'File' in the top-left corner, select 'Options', and then click on 'Add-ins' in the left sidebar.
At the bottom of the window, ensure 'COM Add-ins' is selected in the Manage dropdown menu, and click 'Go'. Uncheck all the boxes to disable the add-ins, then click 'OK'.
Close the Office application and open it normally without holding the Ctrl key. If it works, you can re-enable your add-ins one by one to find the culprit.
Repair the Microsoft Office 2013 Installation
Use the Windows built-in repair utility to fix corrupted Office program files that may be forcing the application to stop.
Disable Compatibility Mode
Running Office 2013 in compatibility settings designed for older Windows versions can cause the software to crash upon startup.
Switch to WPS Office for a Stable, Crash-Free Experience
If Microsoft Office 2013 continues to crash or you are looking to upgrade from an older, unsupported version, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and free alternative with a familiar interface that won't disrupt your daily workflow.
- 1. Download and install: Visit the official WPS website to download the free installer and follow the quick setup wizard.
- 2. Open your existing files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your old Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files without any formatting loss.
- 3. Work without interruptions: Enjoy a highly stable environment free from the legacy startup crashes of older software.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Microsoft Office 2013 close immediately after opening?
This behavior is typically caused by faulty COM add-ins, corrupted software system files, pending Windows updates, or running the application in an incorrect compatibility mode.
Will repairing Office 2013 delete my documents?
No. Running the Quick Repair or Online Repair from the Control Panel only replaces or fixes the software application files. Your personal documents, spreadsheets, and presentations will remain completely unaffected.
What should I do if Safe Mode doesn't fix the Office crash?
If the application still stops unexpectedly in Safe Mode, it rules out add-ins as the cause. You should proceed to update your Windows OS, repair Office via the Control Panel, or completely uninstall and reinstall Office 2013 using your original product key.
Are unavailable mapped network drives causing my Office apps to crash?
Yes, if Office is trying to access a recently used file or template on a mapped network drive that is currently disconnected or unavailable, the application may hang or stop unexpectedly. Disconnecting these unavailable drives in Windows File Explorer can resolve the issue.
