How to Fix PowerPoint 2016 Crashing When Selecting More Colors
Question details
The user experiences an application crash every time they attempt to access the More Colors option in PowerPoint 2016.
- Product
- Microsoft PowerPoint 2016
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Customizing presentation elements by selecting specific colors from the More Colors dialog box.
- Observed behavior
- PowerPoint 2016 crashes and closes unexpectedly upon clicking More Colors, despite the computer having sufficient system resources.
Save all open presentations and documents to prevent data loss, and ensure your Windows operating system is connected to a stable internet connection before attempting an update or repair.
Update Microsoft Office 2016
Installing the latest Microsoft Office updates can patch known bugs, including crashes triggered by specific UI elements like the color picker.
Microsoft frequently releases updates to address stability issues. Outdated builds of Office 2016 are known to have conflicts with certain dialog boxes.
Launch PowerPoint 2016, click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner, and select 'Account' from the left-hand menu.
Under the Product Information section, click on 'Update Options' and select 'Update Now' from the drop-down menu.
Wait for Office to download and install any available updates. Once completed, restart PowerPoint and test the 'More Colors' option.
Perform an Online Repair of Office
If updating does not resolve the crash, running an Online Repair will reinstall corrupted application files that may be causing the issue.
Try WPS Presentation for Seamless and Stable Slide Design
If PowerPoint 2016 continues to crash during your workflow, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly stable, lightweight, and free alternative with full compatibility for your existing PowerPoint presentations, completely avoiding legacy crashing bugs.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Download and install the free version of WPS Office from the official website.
- 2. Open Your Presentation: Launch WPS Presentation, click 'Open', and select your existing .pptx file.
- 3. Customize Colors Safely: Select any text or shape, open the color palette, and use the 'More Colors' equivalent seamlessly without stability drops.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does PowerPoint 2016 crash when I open the color palette?
This specific crash is generally caused by an outdated Office build, corrupted installation files, or a glitch in the Office user interface rendering. Updating your Office software or running an Online Repair typically resolves the issue.
Will an Online Repair delete my PowerPoint files?
No, performing an Online Repair only scans and fixes the Microsoft Office application files. Your personal presentations, documents, and other user data remain completely safe and untouched.
Can hardware acceleration cause PowerPoint to crash on color selection?
Yes, sometimes graphics drivers conflict with Office hardware acceleration when rendering dialog boxes. You can try disabling it by going to File > Options > Advanced, and checking 'Disable hardware graphics acceleration'.
