How to Fix Microsoft Word Problems After macOS Monterey Upgrade
Question details
Microsoft Word exhibits unresponsive commands and broken keyboard shortcuts after upgrading the Mac operating system.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- macOS Monterey
- Scenario
- The user upgraded their Mac to macOS Monterey and tried to work on both new and existing documents in Microsoft Word.
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft Word behaves incorrectly, with menu commands failing to respond and keyboard shortcuts becoming completely non-functional.
Before uninstalling any software, ensure you locate and back up your custom Microsoft Word templates (specifically the Normal.dotm file) and other personalized settings to prevent permanent data loss.
Uninstall and Reinstall Microsoft 365 on Mac
Performing a clean reinstallation replaces any damaged or incompatible application files that were affected by the macOS Monterey upgrade.
Major operating system upgrades like macOS Monterey can sometimes break existing software configurations. Reinstalling Office ensures that all application files are properly aligned with the new system architecture.
Open Finder, press Command+Shift+G, and go to ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/User Content.localized/Templates.localized to copy your Normal.dotm file to a safe location like your Desktop.
Follow Microsoft's official uninstallation instructions to drag the Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook applications from the Applications folder to the Trash, and clear out the associated Library files.
Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen and select 'Restart...' to ensure all background Office processes are completely terminated.
Navigate to https://account.microsoft.com/services in your web browser, log in with your Microsoft account, and download the latest Microsoft 365 installer package for Mac.
After installation, open Word once to generate a new Normal.dotm file, then close Word and replace the newly generated file with the backup you created in Step 1.
Switch to WPS Office for a Seamless Mac Experience
If Microsoft Word continues to crash or perform poorly on macOS Monterey, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a highly compatible, lightweight, and completely free alternative that works smoothly and natively on Mac devices.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the version optimized for Mac.
- 2. Install the Application: Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Mac's Applications folder.
- 3. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Office and immediately open your existing Word documents without losing any formatting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do keyboard shortcuts stop working in Word after a macOS update?
Operating system upgrades can disrupt application file permissions or cause conflicts with existing support files. This misalignment prevents the software from correctly registering input commands, leading to unresponsive menus and broken keyboard shortcuts. Reinstalling fixes these file mismatches.
Will uninstalling Microsoft Word delete my saved documents?
No, uninstalling Microsoft Word only removes the application files and system library data. All your personal documents, whether saved locally on your Mac's hard drive or backed up in OneDrive, will remain completely untouched.
Is it strictly necessary to restart my Mac before reinstalling?
Yes, restarting your Mac is a critical step. It clears system caches and stops hidden background processes related to Microsoft Office, ensuring that the new installation is clean and unaffected by leftover active tasks.
