Office Apps Crashing

How to Fix Word and Excel Errors After an Office Update

WPS Editor Oct 1, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to fix persistent crashing errors in Microsoft Word and Excel that began immediately after installing a recent software update.

How to Fix Word and Excel Errors After an Office Update

Product: Microsoft Word and Excel
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Attempting to open or work within Word and Excel after a recent Office or Windows update.
Observed behavior: Word and Excel repeatedly crash and close. Basic repairs and system restarts do not resolve the issue, and additional error messages falsely claim there is insufficient storage space or an incorrect file path.

Before you start

Ensure you have your Microsoft Office product key or account login details handy in case a version rollback requires re-activation. Also, verify your computer has at least 5GB of free space on the C: drive to rule out genuine storage limitations.

Solution 1Recommended

Test Office in Safe Mode and Disable Add-ins

Starting Office applications in Safe Mode bypasses third-party add-ins and customizations, helping isolate the cause of the crashes.

Often, a new Office update can create compatibility issues with older plugins. Safe Mode allows you to open Word and Excel in their most basic state to test if an add-in is the culprit.

Launch in Safe Mode

Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type 'winword /safe' or 'excel /safe' and press Enter.

Navigate to Add-ins

If the application opens without crashing, go to File > Options > Add-ins in the left-hand menu.

Disable COM Add-ins

At the bottom of the window, ensure 'COM Add-ins' is selected in the Manage dropdown and click Go. Uncheck all active add-ins and click OK, then restart the program normally.

Test Office in Safe Mode and Disable Add-ins

Check version: While in Safe Mode, you can also navigate to File > Account to verify your current Office version number for future reference.

Solution 2

Revert Office to an Earlier Version

If the crashing started immediately after a recent update, rolling back to the previously stable version can quickly restore functionality.

Solution 3

Perform a Windows Clean Boot

A clean boot starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs to determine if a background service is interfering with Office.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office to Avoid Update Crashes

If Microsoft Word and Excel are continuously crashing due to flawed updates, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly stable, lightweight alternative that requires minimal storage space while ensuring full compatibility with your existing documents.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS website and download the free WPS Office installation package.
2. Install and Set Defaults: Run the quick installer and choose to set WPS Office as your default application for opening Office files.
3. Open Your Files Seamlessly: Double-click your existing .docx or .xlsx files to instantly resume your work without crashing.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx), Excel (.xlsx), and PowerPoint formats.Lightweight software architecture that bypasses typical heavy Office update crashes.Familiar tabbed interface requiring zero learning curve for Microsoft Office users.Completely free to use with integrated PDF editing and conversion tools.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Excel say I lack storage space when my hard drive is mostly empty?

This is often a false error triggered by permission issues, corrupted temporary files, or an update glitch. Press Win + R, type '%temp%', and delete the contents of the temporary folder to resolve many false storage prompts.

Will rolling back an Office update delete my saved documents?

No. Reverting to a previous version of Microsoft Office only affects the application program files. Your personal documents, spreadsheets, macros, and preferences will remain completely intact.

Should I replace my hard drive to fix the 'incorrect path' errors?

Replacing your hard drive or reinstalling Windows should only be considered as an absolute last resort. 'Incorrect path' errors after an update are almost always related to software registry bugs or conflicting background services, not hardware failure.

Office App Problems