Office Apps Crashing

How to Fix Microsoft Word for Mac Slowing Down and Crashing

Aamir Naveed Akram Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is experiencing significant performance degradation, freezing, and application crashes when using Microsoft Word on a Mac for prolonged periods.

How to Fix Word for Mac Slowing Down and Crashing After Extended Use

Product: Microsoft Word for Mac
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Editing and working on documents in Microsoft Word for several hours consecutively.
Observed behavior: The application progressively slows down over time, freezes, and eventually crashes completely, interrupting the workflow.

Before you start

Ensure all your unsaved work is backed up and force quit Microsoft Word before attempting to modify system files or templates. It is also helpful to check if this issue occurs with all documents or just a specific, heavily formatted file.

Solution 1Recommended

Reset the Word Normal Template

A corrupted Normal template can cause memory leaks and performance issues over time. Resetting it allows Word to generate a fresh configuration, which often resolves persistent crashing.

The Normal.dotm template stores default settings, macros, and styles. When this file becomes bloated or corrupted, it severely impacts Word's performance during extended sessions on macOS.

Close Microsoft Word

Ensure Microsoft Word and all other Office applications are completely closed. If the app is frozen, use 'Option + Command + Esc' to Force Quit.

Open the Templates Folder

Open Finder, click on 'Go' in the top Apple menu bar, select 'Go to Folder...', and type '~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Office/User Templates' then press Enter.

Move the Normal Template

Locate the file named 'Normal.dotm' (or just 'Normal'). Drag and drop this file onto your desktop to remove it from the folder without permanently deleting it yet.

Restart and Test Word

Reopen Microsoft Word. The application will automatically generate a fresh, uncorrupted Normal template upon launch. Test the app by working on a document to see if the slow-down issue persists.

Custom Settings Notice: Moving the Normal template will reset your default font and margin preferences. You can easily set these up again once you confirm the crashing issue is resolved.

Solution 2

Install an Earlier Stable Version of Word

If the current update contains a known memory leak or bug, reverting to a previous stable build like version 16.84 can instantly restore performance.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for a Faster, Crash-Free Experience on Mac

If Microsoft Word continues to freeze or crash on your MacBook, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a highly optimized, lightweight productivity suite that handles large documents smoothly without draining your system's resources.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the Mac version of WPS Office.
2. Install the Application: Open the downloaded package and drag the WPS Office icon to your Applications folder.
3. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing .docx files directly. Enjoy smooth editing without memory leaks or unexpected crashes.

Lightweight architecture ensures fast load times and prevents system slowdowns during extended editing sessions.Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx), Excel (.xlsx), and PowerPoint (.pptx) file formats.Features an all-in-one tabbed interface for seamless document management across multiple files.Free to use with a familiar, user-friendly interface that requires zero learning curve.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word for Mac get slower the longer I use it?

This is typically caused by a memory leak in the software, where the application fails to release RAM back to the macOS system. Background features like grammar checking, auto-recovery, and processing heavily formatted graphics can exacerbate this issue over an extended period.

Will deleting or moving the Normal template delete my saved documents?

No, moving the Normal.dotm template only resets default formatting settings, custom macros, and styles. Your saved documents, text, and files will remain completely intact and untouched.

How do I know if a specific document is causing the slow-down?

Try creating a brand new, blank document and typing in it for a few hours. If the application does not slow down or crash, the issue is likely tied to file corruption, large embedded images, or complex formatting within your original document.

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