Office Apps Crashing

How to Fix Microsoft Word Crashing When Comparing Documents

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is attempting to use the Compare feature in Microsoft Word but experiences unexpected app closures, crashes, or the program opening a completely blank document instead of the comparison result.

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Comparing two versions of a document to review track changes and differences.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Word becomes unresponsive, crashes completely, or abruptly opens a blank document when the Compare feature is executed.

Before you start

Ensure you save all currently open documents and close any unnecessary background applications to prevent data loss while restarting Word or testing add-ins.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable and Isolate COM Add-ins

Third-party COM add-ins often conflict with Word's built-in Compare feature. Disabling them is the most effective way to identify and resolve this crash.

COM add-ins are external extensions designed to add functionality to Word. Occasionally, an outdated or incompatible add-in can disrupt complex processes like document comparison.

Open Word Options

Launch Microsoft Word, click on 'File' in the top left corner, and select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.

Access COM Add-ins

In the Word Options window, click 'Add-ins' on the left sidebar. At the bottom, change the 'Manage' dropdown to 'COM Add-ins' and click the 'Go...' button.

Disable Add-ins

Uncheck all active add-ins in the list and click 'OK'. Restart Microsoft Word and attempt to compare your documents again.

Isolate the Problematic Add-in

If the Compare feature works, return to the COM Add-ins menu and re-enable them one by one. Restart Word and test Compare after each to identify which add-in causes the crash. Once found, leave it disabled, update it, or remove it entirely.

Add-in Successfully Isolated: Once the conflicting add-in is removed or updated, Word's Compare functionality should resume operating smoothly.

Solution 2

Run Microsoft Word in Safe Mode

Safe Mode launches Word without any customized settings, macros, or add-ins, helping determine if the issue stems from the core program or an external factor.

Solution 3

Repair the Microsoft Office Installation

If Safe Mode does not prevent the crash, the core Microsoft Office installation files might be corrupted and require a system repair.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Compare Documents Seamlessly with WPS Office

If Microsoft Word continually crashes during document comparison, consider using WPS Office. It provides a stable, built-in document comparison tool that highlights differences accurately without performance hiccups, all while maintaining perfect compatibility with Microsoft Word files.

1. Open WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open WPS Writer.
2. Access the Compare Tool: Navigate to the 'Review' tab on the top ribbon and click on 'Compare'.
3. Select Documents: Choose your Original document and the Revised document, then click 'OK' to generate a detailed summary of differences.

Completely free and lightweight Office suiteFully compatible with Microsoft Word formats (.doc, .docx)Stable and fast Document Compare functionalityFamiliar user interface requiring no learning curve

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word open a completely blank document instead of the compared file?

This usually happens when Word experiences a background error or resource conflict during the comparison process, often triggered by a COM add-in interrupting the file generation before it can display the tracked changes.

Can a corrupted document cause Word to crash during comparison?

Yes, if either the original or the revised document contains corrupted formatting, hidden broken elements, or overly complex tables, Word's comparison engine may fail and crash. Try saving both files as plain text or a fresh .docx file before comparing.

How do I know which COM add-in is causing Word to crash?

The only reliable method is isolation. Disable all add-ins via File > Options > Add-ins, ensure the Compare feature works, and then re-enable them one at a time, testing the feature after each until the crash returns.

Will I lose my documents or settings if I run an Office Repair?

A Quick Repair will not affect your saved documents, custom dictionaries, or personal settings. However, an Online Repair is more thorough and may reset some customized application preferences, though your personal files will remain safe.

Office App Problems