Office Apps Crashing

How to Fix Microsoft Word When It Opens and Closes Immediately

John Wilson Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to repair Microsoft Word because the application keeps crashing, closing immediately after being opened, and failing to save documents.

How to Fix Microsoft Word Opening and Closing Immediately

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: The user is attempting to open, edit, or save documents in Microsoft Word for daily tasks.
Observed behavior: Word displays a message stating it is not working properly, closes immediately even after a repair attempt, and fails to save any documents.

Before you start

Before attempting to repair your Office installation, make sure you have closed all other running Microsoft Office applications and verify your internet connection if you plan to run an Online Repair.

Solution 1Recommended

Repair the Microsoft Office Installation

Use the built-in Windows Apps and Features menu to run a repair on your Office installation, which fixes corrupted application files.

Running a built-in repair is the most effective way to resolve persistent crashes and 'not working properly' errors without fully reinstalling the software.

Open Apps and Features

Click the Windows Start button, type 'Apps and features' into the search bar, and press Enter to open the system settings.

Locate Microsoft Office

Scroll through the list of installed applications to find your Microsoft Office suite. Click on it, then select the 'Modify' button.

Run the Repair Tool

For Click-to-Run installations, select 'Online Repair' and click 'Repair'. If you have an MSI installation, select 'Repair' and click 'Continue'. Follow the on-screen instructions until the process finishes.

Repair the Microsoft Office Installation

Restart Required: Once the repair process is complete, restart your Windows laptop to ensure all changes are applied properly before launching Word again.

Solution 2

Start Word in Safe Mode and Disable Add-ins

Launch Microsoft Word in Safe Mode to check if third-party extensions or add-ins are causing the application to crash upon opening.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Stable and Crash-Free Experience

If Microsoft Word continues to crash or display errors, switch to WPS Office. It is a highly compatible, lightweight, and free alternative that opens all your existing Word documents seamlessly without the need for constant repairs.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website to download the free installer and follow the quick setup wizard.
2. Open Your Word Files: Launch WPS Writer and click 'Open', or simply drag and drop your existing Microsoft Word documents directly into the workspace.
3. Edit and Save Seamlessly: Edit your documents with ease and save them back in .docx format to retain total compatibility for sharing with others.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word formats including .doc and .docx filesLightweight application that requires fewer system resources and eliminates frequent crashesFamiliar user interface for a smooth transition with zero learning curveCompletely free to download and use for all your essential word processing needs

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Microsoft Word say it is not working properly and immediately close?

This error typically occurs due to corrupted Office installation files, incompatible or outdated third-party add-ins, or a recent system update that is conflicting with your version of Microsoft Office.

Will running an Online Repair delete my Word documents?

No, running the Quick Repair or Online Repair from the Windows Apps and Features menu only scans and fixes the software's program files. Your personal documents, templates, and saved files will not be affected or deleted.

What should I do if Microsoft Word still crashes while in Safe Mode?

If the application continues to close immediately even in Safe Mode, the issue is not caused by add-ins. You may need to completely uninstall Microsoft Office using the official Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant tool, and then reinstall the software.

Office App Problems