How to Fix Microsoft Word Running Slowly and Using High CPU on Mac
Question details
Microsoft Word experiences severe lag, becomes unresponsive, and consumes an unusually high amount of CPU resources on a Mac.
- Product
- Microsoft Word for Mac
- Device & OS
- MacBook Pro (Intel Core i9, 16GB RAM)
- Scenario
- Editing a multi-page document, particularly after a recent Office software update.
- Observed behavior
- The application becomes slow, unresponsive, and the Mac Activity Monitor displays Word utilizing up to 102% CPU, even on standard documents.
Save your current work and close any unnecessary applications running in the background to ensure the high CPU usage is isolated to Microsoft Word.
Inspect Documents for Background Macros
Macros running in the background can significantly drain system resources and cause CPU spikes.
Often, complex or repetitive automated tasks are programmed into files as macros. If these scripts get stuck in a loop or trigger constantly during editing, they will overload your Mac processor.
Open the affected document in Word for Mac. Navigate to the 'Developer' tab on the top ribbon. If it is hidden, enable it by going to Word > Preferences > Ribbon & Toolbar.
Click on 'Macros' to view any active scripts currently attached to the document.
Delete unnecessary macros. To prevent them from returning, click 'File' > 'Save As' and select 'Word Document (.docx)' to permanently strip macro capabilities from the file.
Isolate the Issue with a New Blank Document
Testing a blank document helps determine if the high CPU usage is caused by the Word application itself or is specific to the contents of a particular file.
Install the Latest Office Build
Since performance issues often trigger after an update, applying the latest patch can resolve underlying application bugs.
Experience Fast and Smooth Document Editing on Mac with WPS Office
If Microsoft Word continues to drain your Mac's CPU and slow down your workflow, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a highly optimized, lightweight, and free alternative that provides a seamless editing experience without heavy resource consumption.
- 1. Download the App: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the Mac installer.
- 2. Install on Mac: Drag and drop the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder to install it quickly.
- 3. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Document and effortlessly load your existing .docx files to continue working without lag.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Microsoft Word using over 100% CPU on my Mac Activity Monitor?
On a Mac with multi-core processors, CPU usage is calculated per core. A reading of 100% means it is fully utilizing one CPU core. Word might do this during complex background tasks like pagination, spell checking large documents, or running macros.
Can large documents with many images cause Word to freeze on Mac?
Yes, documents containing hundreds of pages, high-resolution images, or complex tables require significantly more RAM and CPU to render. This heavy resource demand can lead to application lag or temporary unresponsiveness.
Will clearing the Word cache help speed up the application?
Clearing the cache can sometimes resolve temporary glitches causing performance drops. You can clear it by navigating to your Mac's Library folder, finding the Microsoft Word container (~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Word), and safely moving it to the Trash.
Are there specific Mac OS versions that have known performance issues with Word?
Major macOS updates or running older, unpatched versions of Office on a newer macOS can cause compatibility and performance issues. Always ensure both your macOS and Office suite are fully updated to the latest available versions.
