Office Apps Crashing

How to Fix Repeated Repair Errors in Outlook and Excel

WPS Content Manager Sep 30, 2026 868 views

Question details

Microsoft Outlook and Excel continuously display a repair error message and automatically close during use.

How to Fix Repeated Repair Errors in Outlook and Excel

Product: Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel)
Device & OS: Windows 10, Windows 11
Scenario: When launching or actively working in Outlook or Excel, the application throws a sudden repair error prompt and crashes.
Observed behavior: The applications show a critical repair error notification and then unexpectedly shut down, preventing any ongoing work.

Before you start

Ensure you are logged into Windows with an administrator account to perform system-level repairs, and save any ongoing work in other applications to prevent data loss.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable Incompatible Add-ins and Update Office

Identify and disable third-party add-ins causing software conflicts and ensure your Office suite is fully up to date.

Third-party COM add-ins, such as PDF converters or CRM integrations, frequently cause repair loops in Excel and Outlook after a Windows update.

Launch the Application in Safe Mode

Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog. Type 'excel /safe' or 'outlook /safe' and press Enter to launch the program without add-ins.

Disable Third-Party Add-ins

Navigate to File > Options > Add-ins. At the bottom of the window, select 'COM Add-ins' from the Manage drop-down list and click 'Go'. Uncheck all add-ins in the list and click OK.

Update Microsoft Office

Restart the application normally. Go to File > Account (or Office Account). Click 'Update Options' under the Product Information section, and select 'Update Now'.

Disable Incompatible Add-ins and Update Office

Testing Add-ins Safely: If the crashes stop, re-enable your add-ins one by one and restart the app each time to identify exactly which add-in is causing the repair error.

Solution 2

Run the Office Repair Tool via Windows Settings

Use the built-in Windows application repair tool to fix corrupted Microsoft Office installation files.

Solution 3

Perform a Clean Boot to Isolate System Conflicts

Start Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs to verify if background software is interfering with Outlook or Excel.

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1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installation package for Windows.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Will repairing Microsoft Office delete my files or Outlook emails?

No, running a Quick Repair or Online Repair from Windows Settings does not delete your personal files, spreadsheets, or Outlook data files (.pst or .ost). However, it is always best practice to back up important documents before making system changes.

Why does the repair error specifically target Excel and Outlook?

Excel and Outlook frequently interact with third-party COM add-ins, such as grammar checkers, PDF creators, or CRM tools. When these add-ins become outdated or conflict with a new Windows OS update, they trigger instability and cause repeated repair errors.

What should I do if the Online Repair fails to fix the crashing issue?

If both Quick and Online repairs fail, your Windows user profile might be corrupted, or the Office installation might be entirely damaged. You can create a new Windows user account in Settings > Accounts to test if the issue persists, or perform a complete uninstallation and clean reinstallation of Microsoft Office.

Office App Problems