Office Apps Crashing

How to Fix Microsoft Word Error That Prevents It From Working

Elise Williams Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users are encountering a critical error message stating that Word has run into an error that prevents it from working correctly, resulting in the application crashing or failing to open.

How to Fix the Word Error That Prevents the Application From Working

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Launching the Microsoft Word application or attempting to edit a document.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Word abruptly stops functioning, displays an error prompt stating it is prevented from working, and subsequently closes.

Before you start

Ensure all Microsoft Office applications are completely closed and save any pending work in other programs before initiating a repair process.

Solution 1Recommended

Run Office Quick Repair or Online Repair

Use the built-in Windows repair tool to fix damaged Office components that are causing the Word error.

Microsoft Office includes a built-in repair utility that can scan for and replace corrupted application files. Quick Repair runs locally and resolves most common issues, while Online Repair performs a comprehensive re-installation of damaged components.

Open Windows Settings

Right-click the Windows Start button and select 'Apps and Features' (or 'Installed apps' in Windows 11).

Locate Microsoft Office

Scroll through the list of installed applications to find your Microsoft Office installation. Click on it, or click the three dots next to it, and select 'Modify'.

Run Quick Repair

Select the 'Quick Repair' option and click 'Repair'. Follow the on-screen prompts to allow the process to complete, then restart your computer.

Run Online Repair (If Needed)

If Word still displays the error after a Quick Repair, repeat these steps but select 'Online Repair' instead for a more thorough fix.

Run Office Quick Repair or Online Repair

Online Repair Duration: Online Repair may take significantly longer than Quick Repair and requires an active, stable internet connection to download replacement files.

Solution 2

Test Word in Safe Mode to Disable Add-ins

Starting Word in Safe Mode bypasses faulty add-ins or customizations that might be causing the application to crash.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Experience Crash-Free Document Editing with WPS Office

If Microsoft Word continues to crash or display recurring application errors, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a free, lightweight, and highly stable alternative that guarantees smooth performance while supporting all your existing documents.

1. Download the Application: Visit the official WPS website to download and install the free WPS Office suite on your computer.
2. Open WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and click on the 'Docs' icon to open WPS Writer, the word processing module.
3. Access Your Files: Click 'Open' and select your existing Word documents to continue your work without experiencing application errors.

Lightweight installation ensures stable performance without frequent application crashes or errors.Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx) formats, ensuring zero formatting loss.Familiar user interface requires no learning curve, allowing for a seamless transition.Includes a built-in PDF editor and comprehensive office suite tools in one application.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word say it has encountered an error preventing it from working correctly?

This error typically occurs due to corrupted Office installation files, conflicting third-party add-ins, or problematic Windows updates that interfere with the application's core processes.

Will repairing Microsoft Office delete my Word documents?

No, running a Quick Repair or Online Repair only restores and fixes application system files. Your personal documents, templates, and saved data will remain entirely untouched.

What should I do if Safe Mode doesn't fix the Word error?

If Word still crashes while running in Safe Mode, the issue is likely not caused by an add-in. You should proceed with an Online Repair, or as a last resort, completely uninstall and reinstall the Microsoft Office suite.

Office App Problems