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How to Fix Microsoft Word Error 0xc0000142 After an Update
Question details
The user is unable to launch Microsoft Word after a recent update and receives an application error popup.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Attempting to open Microsoft Word after a forced system or application update.
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft Word fails to start and displays a dialog box indicating WINWORD.EXE application error 0xc0000142.
Ensure you have an active internet connection if you plan to use the Online Repair option, and close any other running Office applications like Excel or PowerPoint.
Use the Microsoft Office Repair Tool
Running the built-in Windows repair utility for Microsoft Office is the most effective method to fix corrupted application files causing error 0xc0000142.
Windows provides two repair options for Microsoft Office: Quick Repair and Online Repair. Quick Repair runs quickly offline to fix common corruption issues, while Online Repair performs a comprehensive re-download and reinstallation of the application files.
Right-click the Windows Start button on your taskbar and select 'Apps and Features' or 'Installed apps' from the menu.
Scroll through the list of installed programs to find your version of Microsoft Office (e.g., Microsoft 365, Office 2019, or Office 2021). Click on the three dots next to it and select 'Modify'.
When the repair prompt appears, select the 'Quick Repair' radio button and click 'Repair'. Wait for the process to complete, then try opening Microsoft Word.
If Quick Repair fails to resolve error 0xc0000142, repeat the steps above but select 'Online Repair'. Note that this will take longer and requires a stable internet connection.
Use WPS Office to Open Your Documents Without Errors
If Microsoft Word remains stuck with error 0xc0000142 and you urgently need to read or edit your documents, WPS Office is a completely free, highly compatible, and reliable alternative.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click 'Download WPS Office Free' to get the lightweight installation file.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the installer and follow the straightforward setup wizard to install the software in under a minute.
- 3. Open Your Word Files: Double-click your existing .docx files to open them seamlessly in WPS Writer and resume your work immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly does the WINWORD.EXE application error 0xc0000142 mean?
Error 0xc0000142 generally signifies that a program could not be initialized properly. For WINWORD.EXE, this typically happens when core Office executable files or dependent dynamic-link libraries (DLLs) become corrupted during an interrupted background update.
Will running an Office Repair delete my saved Word documents?
No. Both Quick Repair and Online Repair only reinstall and fix the Microsoft Office application files. Your personal documents, custom templates, and stored data remain completely safe and untouched on your local drive.
What should I do if the Online Repair tool fails to fix the error?
If both repair options fail, you will need to completely uninstall Microsoft Office. You can use the official Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant (SaRA) to cleanly remove all residual files, and then reinstall a fresh copy of Office from your Microsoft account dashboard.
