How to Fix Ordinal Errors in Microsoft Office on Windows
Question details
Users are experiencing ordinal errors when trying to launch Microsoft Office applications like Excel and Outlook.
- Product
- Microsoft Office
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Launching Microsoft Office applications.
- Observed behavior
- The applications fail to open normally, displaying ordinal errors or crashing due to incompatible add-ins, outdated components like Office Mix, or interfering security software.
Before troubleshooting, ensure your Windows operating system is fully updated and temporarily save any open work in your other active applications.
Start Office in Safe Mode to Isolate Add-ins
Booting Office applications in Safe Mode bypasses add-ins and startup files, helping you identify if a faulty add-in (like the retired Office Mix) is causing the ordinal error.
Incompatible or retired COM add-ins are a primary cause of ordinal errors in Excel and Outlook. Launching in Safe Mode allows you to cleanly open the application and disable the problematic extensions.
Press the Windows key + R simultaneously on your keyboard to open the Run window.
Type 'excel /safe' (or 'outlook /safe' depending on the affected app) and press Enter to launch the program.
If the application opens without the ordinal error, click on File in the top ribbon, select Options, and then click on Add-ins in the left sidebar.
Select 'COM Add-ins' from the Manage drop-down list at the bottom and click Go. Uncheck all add-ins (especially older ones like Office Mix) and click OK. Restart the application normally to see if the issue is resolved.
Run the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant
Use Microsoft's official diagnostic tool to automatically identify and fix issues preventing Office apps from opening.
Check Security Software and Repair Office Installation
Overly restrictive application-control software or corrupted installation files can trigger ordinal errors. Repairing Office and configuring your security software can resolve these conflicts.
Switch to WPS Office to Avoid Complex Ordinal Errors
Tired of dealing with complicated ordinal errors, crashing add-ins, and lengthy repair processes? WPS Office is a highly compatible, lightweight, and free alternative to Microsoft Office that installs quickly and runs smoothly on Windows.
- 1. Download the installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button for Windows.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded executable file and follow the lightweight installation wizard to set up the suite in minutes.
- 3. Open your files instantly: Double-click your existing Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files to open them flawlessly in WPS Office without any ordinal errors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an ordinal error mean in Microsoft Office?
An ordinal error typically indicates that an Office application is trying to access a specific function in a DLL (Dynamic Link Library) file, but that function is missing, incompatible, or corrupted. This is most commonly caused by outdated third-party add-ins or damaged installation files.
Why is Office Mix causing issues with Excel or PowerPoint?
Office Mix was officially retired by Microsoft on May 1, 2018. If its components or add-ins are still installed on your system, they can conflict with current Office 365 updates, leading to startup failures and ordinal errors. Removing it from your COM Add-ins list usually resolves the problem.
How do I force an Office app to always open in Safe Mode?
While you cannot permanently set an Office app to open in Safe Mode by default through an internal setting, you can create a desktop shortcut, right-click it, select Properties, and add ' /safe' to the very end of the Target path. Using this specific shortcut will always launch the app in Safe Mode.
Will repairing Microsoft Office delete my personal files?
No, running an Online Repair or Quick Repair from the Windows Control Panel only replaces damaged application files and corrupted registry keys. Your personal documents, spreadsheets, and emails are stored separately and will not be affected.
