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How to Fix Microsoft Word and Excel Closing Unexpectedly
Question details
The user needs to resolve an issue where Microsoft Word and Excel close abruptly due to an application error, even after a standard Office repair has been attempted.
- Product
- Microsoft Word and Excel
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Working on documents or spreadsheets when the Microsoft Office applications suddenly crash or shut down with an error.
- Observed behavior
- The applications close unexpectedly, indicating that essential Office components might be damaged or missing and require a comprehensive repair.
Ensure you have an active and stable internet connection, as the Online Repair tool needs to download replacement components directly from Microsoft's servers.
Perform an Online Repair for Microsoft Office
Use the built-in Windows Settings to run an Online Repair, which performs a thorough reinstallation of Office components to fix persistent crashing issues.
While a standard Quick Repair attempts to fix localized file issues, an Online Repair is much more comprehensive. It connects to Microsoft's servers to download and replace any missing or heavily corrupted Office files that are causing Word and Excel to close unexpectedly.
Click on the Start menu in the bottom left corner of your screen and select the 'Settings' gear icon.
Click on 'Apps' from the Settings menu, and then select 'Apps & features' or 'Installed apps' depending on your specific version of Windows.
Scroll through the list of installed programs to locate your Microsoft Office installation. Click on it (or click the three dots next to it) and select 'Modify'.
A window will prompt you to choose how you would like to repair your Office programs. Select 'Online Repair' and then click the 'Repair' button to initiate the process.
Once the Online Repair has finished downloading and installing the necessary components, restart your computer to apply all changes and test Word and Excel.
Switch to WPS Office for a Stable and Lightweight Experience
If Microsoft Word and Excel continue to crash or run slowly, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly stable, lightweight, and completely free alternative that is perfectly compatible with all major Microsoft Office file formats.
- 1. Download the Free Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded file and follow the quick installation wizard to set up the suite on your computer.
- 3. Open Your Existing Files: Right-click your existing Word or Excel files and choose to open them directly with WPS Office without losing any of your original formatting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Quick Repair and Online Repair in Microsoft Office?
Quick Repair runs faster and operates entirely offline to fix minor registry or corrupted file issues. Online Repair is much more thorough; it completely uninstalls and then reinstalls the Office components by downloading clean versions from the internet.
Will I need my product key again after running an Online Repair?
In most modern versions of Microsoft Office and Microsoft 365, your license is tied to your Microsoft account, so you won't need a product key. You may just be prompted to sign back into your Microsoft account when you launch Word or Excel for the first time after the repair.
How long does an Online Repair typically take?
The duration of an Online Repair depends heavily on your internet connection speed and computer hardware. Generally, it takes anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes to complete the full reinstallation.
