Office for Mac Issues

How to Fix Word and Excel Problems on a Mac After a macOS Upgrade

Maira Mehtab Sep 29, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve severe functional issues in Microsoft Word and Excel that occurred immediately after upgrading their Mac operating system.

Fix Word and Excel Problems on a Mac After a macOS Upgrade

Product: Microsoft Office for Mac (Word, Excel)
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Using Microsoft Office applications after a major macOS system upgrade.
Observed behavior: Word cannot create work files and exhibits abnormal keyboard behavior, while Excel automatically opens invalid or unrelated files like PDFs upon startup. Standard reinstallation has not resolved the problem.

Before you start

Ensure your Mac is connected to a stable network to download necessary software updates, and verify that you have your Microsoft account login credentials handy.

Solution 1Recommended

Update macOS and Microsoft Office

Applying the latest system and application updates resolves most compatibility issues triggered by a major macOS upgrade.

Operating system upgrades often introduce structural changes that require applications to be updated for full compatibility. An outdated Office build will behave erratically on newer macOS versions.

Update macOS

Click the Apple menu, select System Settings (or System Preferences), go to General, and click Software Update. Install any pending macOS updates.

Check Word Version

Open Microsoft Word, click 'Word' in the top menu bar, and select 'About Microsoft Word'. Note your version number and ensure it matches the latest release for your license type.

Run Microsoft AutoUpdate

In Word or Excel, click 'Help' in the top menu bar and select 'Check for Updates'. Follow the prompts to download and install the newest builds for Microsoft 365 or your perpetual Office license.

Version Requirements: The exact build you need depends on whether you have a Microsoft 365 subscription or a standalone license like Office 2021 or 2024. Always update to the latest build available through the AutoUpdate tool.

Solution 2

Clear Excel Startup Folder Preferences

This solution stops Excel from automatically opening unrelated documents, such as PDFs and Word files, when the application launches.

Solution 3

Perform a Complete Uninstall and Reinstall of Office

If standard reinstallation fails, clearing out all residual hidden preference files and library containers can resolve deep-rooted corruption.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Mac When Microsoft Office Fails

If Word and Excel continue to crash or exhibit abnormal behaviors after a macOS upgrade, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a lightweight, highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office that is designed to run seamlessly on the latest versions of macOS.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS website and download the Mac version of WPS Office.
2. Install on Mac: Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
3. Open Your Files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Word or Excel documents without needing to convert them.

Completely free to use for daily document, spreadsheet, and presentation tasksHighly compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) and Excel (.xlsx) file formatsLightweight installation prevents massive disk space consumptionFamiliar user interface makes switching straightforward with no learning curve

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Excel opening PDFs and random files when I launch it on my Mac?

This happens when Excel is configured to automatically open all files located in a specific folder upon startup. To fix this, go to Excel > Preferences > General, and clear the text field next to 'At startup, open all files in:'.

Do I need to reinstall Microsoft Office after updating macOS?

Usually, an Office update via Microsoft AutoUpdate is sufficient. However, if a major macOS upgrade causes severe permission or file association errors, a complete uninstallation—including removing Library container files—and a fresh reinstallation might be necessary.

How do I find out what version of Word I am using on my Mac?

Launch Microsoft Word, click on the word 'Word' in the top macOS menu bar, and select 'About Microsoft Word'. A dialog box will appear showing your exact version number and your license type (e.g., Microsoft 365 Subscription or Office 2021).

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