Office Apps Crashing

How to Fix Microsoft Word Crashing with X-Author Add-in

Muhammad Talha Oct 9, 2026 870 views

Question details

Microsoft Word closes unexpectedly and without warning when the X-Author add-in is active, causing users to lose unsaved work.

Fix Microsoft Word Closes Unexpectedly When Using the X-Author Add-In

Product: Microsoft Word, X-Author Add-In
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Working on documents in Microsoft Word with the X-Author add-in enabled.
Observed behavior: Word crashes intermittently without error messages while the X-Author add-in is in use, resulting in the loss of unsaved progress.

Before you start

Before troubleshooting, ensure you have saved any open documents or enabled AutoRecover, as unexpected crashes can lead to data loss. Keep your exact Word and X-Author version numbers handy.

Solution 1Recommended

Temporarily Disable the X-Author Add-in to Test Stability

Disabling the add-in helps isolate whether X-Author is the direct cause of the intermittent crashes in Word.

Since the issue is intermittent, running Word without the add-in for a period of time is the best way to confirm if the add-in is the culprit.

Open Word Options

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

Navigate to Add-ins

In the Word Options dialog box, click on 'Add-ins' on the left-hand side panel.

Manage COM Add-ins

At the bottom of the window, ensure the 'Manage' dropdown is set to 'COM Add-ins', and click the 'Go...' button.

Disable X-Author

Uncheck the box next to the X-Author add-in. Click 'OK' to apply the changes, then restart Word normally and monitor it for crashes.

Temporarily Disable the X-Author Add-in to Test Stability

Using Safe Mode: If Word crashes immediately upon opening before you can reach the Options menu, press Windows + R, type 'winword /safe', and hit Enter to open Word in Safe Mode first.

Solution 2

Gather Diagnostic Information and Contact X-Author Support

Because the crash is intermittent and relies on an external plugin, the X-Author support team needs specific logs to identify compatibility bugs.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the X-Author add-in cause Word to crash?

Crashes are often caused by compatibility issues between the specific build of Microsoft Word and the version of the X-Author add-in, or conflicts with other installed COM add-ins or configuration settings.

Can I recover my work if Word closed unexpectedly?

If AutoRecover was enabled, Word will attempt to open recovered files the next time you launch the application. You can also check File > Info > Manage Document > Recover Unsaved Documents to look for drafts.

Should I reinstall Microsoft Word to fix this issue?

Reinstalling Word is usually not necessary if the issue is strictly isolated to the X-Author add-in. Try disabling or updating the add-in first, and contact the provider before attempting a full Office repair or reinstall.

How do I find my Word version to report to support?

Open Word, click on File, select Account, and look under the Product Information section. You will see the version and build number next to 'About Word'.

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