Office for Mac Issues

How to Fix Microsoft Word Slow and Lagging on Mac

Amos Gikunda Oct 1, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is experiencing severe lagging and slow performance in Microsoft Word on a Mac, particularly when typing and scrolling, despite having the latest updates installed.

How to Fix Microsoft Word Slow and Lagging on Mac

Product: Microsoft Word for Mac
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Editing documents, typing, and scrolling in Microsoft Word.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Word responds extremely slowly to basic user inputs like scrolling and typing. Other Mac applications function normally, and reinstalling the current version of Office did not resolve the issue.

Before you start

Before making changes to your software, ensure you have saved all open documents and backed up any unsaved work to iCloud or a local drive to prevent data loss.

Solution 1Recommended

Downgrade to a Previous Stable Version of Office

If a recent Microsoft 365 update introduced a performance bug, reverting to an earlier stable release can bypass the lagging until Microsoft provides an official patch.

Recent updates to Microsoft Word for Mac can occasionally contain unresolved bugs that severely impact performance. Uninstalling the problematic build and rolling back to the previous month's version is currently the most effective workaround.

Uninstall Current Office Apps

Open Finder, navigate to the 'Applications' folder, and move Microsoft Word (and other Office applications if necessary) to the Trash.

Download an Earlier Version

Open your web browser and search for 'Update history for Office for Mac'. On the official Microsoft support page, locate the release from the previous month and download the installer package.

Install the Stable Build

Run the downloaded installer package and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation of the older, stable version of Office.

Disable Automatic Updates

Open Microsoft Word, click 'Help' in the top Apple menu bar, and select 'Check for Updates'. Uncheck the option that says 'Automatically keep Microsoft Apps up to date' to prevent the system from reinstalling the buggy version.

Downgrade to a Previous Stable Version of Office

Re-enable Updates Later: Remember to occasionally check Microsoft's release notes. Once a fix is officially announced, you can re-enable automatic updates using the same Help menu.

Solution 2

Check Document Size and Disable Add-ins

Heavy documents with uncompressed media or conflicting third-party add-ins can cause Microsoft Word to run slowly.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Need to Finish Your Work Urgent? Try WPS Office for Mac

If Microsoft Word is continuously lagging and disrupting your thesis or urgent projects, WPS Office offers a lightweight, fast, and completely free alternative for Mac users. It operates smoothly without system lag and seamlessly integrates with your existing Word files.

1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS website to download the free WPS Office installer for Mac and drag it to your Applications folder.
2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Office, click 'Open' on the home screen, and navigate to your existing .docx file.
3. Resume Editing Instantly: Start typing, scrolling, and editing your document immediately without any lag or formatting loss.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx), Excel (.xlsx), and PowerPoint (.pptx) formats.Lightweight installation that runs smoothly and efficiently on macOS without typing delays or scrolling lag.Completely free to use with a familiar user interface that requires no learning curve.Built-in PDF editing and AI writing tools to accelerate your document creation.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Microsoft Word suddenly so slow on my Mac?

Sudden performance drops are typically caused by recently installed software updates containing bugs, corrupted application cache files, or conflicting third-party add-ins. Excessively large documents with numerous uncompressed high-resolution images can also trigger severe scrolling lag.

Will uninstalling Microsoft Word delete my saved documents?

No, uninstalling the Microsoft Word application from your Mac's Applications folder will not delete your saved .docx files. Your personal documents are stored separately on your hard drive or cloud storage.

How do I re-enable Microsoft AutoUpdate once the bug is fixed?

To turn automatic updates back on, open Microsoft Word, click 'Help' in the top menu bar, select 'Check for Updates', and check the box labeled 'Automatically keep Microsoft Apps up to date'.

Can I use WPS Office to edit my existing Word documents if Word won't work?

Yes, WPS Office is fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats. You can open, edit, and save your .docx files directly in WPS Office on your Mac without losing your original layouts or text formatting.

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