'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
How to Fix Microsoft Word Lags and Freezes on macOS Sonoma 14.5
Question details
Users are encountering severe performance issues, including significant lagging and complete application freezing, when running Microsoft Word after updating to macOS Sonoma 14.5.
- Product
- Microsoft Word for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS Sonoma 14.5
- Scenario
- Typing, editing, or scrolling through documents in Microsoft Word after a recent system or Office application update.
- Observed behavior
- The Word application becomes unresponsive, stutters during text input, or freezes entirely, preventing users from effectively working on their documents.
Ensure you force quit the unresponsive application (Option + Command + Esc) and safely restart your Mac to clear any temporary system conflicts before proceeding with these troubleshooting steps.
Revert to a Previous Stable Word Version (e.g., 16.84)
Since this is a known compatibility issue with recent Office builds on macOS Sonoma, temporarily downgrading to a previously supported version is the most reliable workaround until Microsoft releases a patch.
Many users have reported success by rolling back to Microsoft Word version 16.84. You will need to remove the current version and disable automatic updates to prevent the system from reinstalling the buggy release.
Open the Applications folder in Finder, locate Microsoft Word, and drag it to the Trash. Do not remove other Office apps like Excel or PowerPoint unless they are also experiencing issues.
Navigate to the official Microsoft release history page for Office for Mac and download the installer for version 16.84 (or the last version that worked well for you).
Run the installer. Once installed, open Word, go to Help > Check for Updates in the top menu bar, and uncheck 'Automatically keep Microsoft Apps up to date' so it does not update to the lagging version again.
Test Word in Safe Mode and Disable Add-ins
Third-party add-ins or background processes can sometimes interfere with Word's performance following a macOS update.
Update macOS and Check for Office Hotfixes
Microsoft and Apple frequently release incremental patches to resolve unexpected bugs caused by major updates.
Switch to WPS Office for a Lag-Free Mac Experience
If Microsoft Word continues to freeze and disrupt your workflow on macOS Sonoma, consider trying WPS Office. It provides a highly optimized, fast, and feature-rich word processor that serves as a perfect alternative while you wait for a permanent fix.
- 1. Download the Mac installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the macOS version.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
- 3. Open your Word documents: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing .docx files to continue working smoothly without losing any formatting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Microsoft Word lagging specifically on macOS Sonoma 14.5?
Performance issues often occur when a new macOS system update introduces changes to resource management or rendering APIs that clash with the current build of an application. Microsoft developers are actively investigating the compatibility conflicts between macOS 14.5 and recent Word builds.
Will I lose my saved documents if I downgrade to Word 16.84?
No. Uninstalling the Word application only removes the program files, not your personal documents. Your .docx files remain safely stored on your Mac's drive or in OneDrive. However, it is always a good practice to back up your important files before making system changes.
How can I report this freezing issue to Microsoft?
You can send diagnostic data directly to the developers by opening Microsoft Word, clicking on the Help menu, and selecting 'Provide Feedback' or 'Contact Support'. Including your macOS version and specific symptoms helps them expedite a patch.
