Office Apps Crashing

How to Fix Word and OneNote Crashing When Changing Fonts on iPad

Maira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users experience unexpected crashes in Microsoft Word and OneNote on iPad Pro specifically when attempting to change text fonts.

Product: Microsoft Word, Microsoft OneNote (Microsoft 365)
Device & OS: iPadOS (iPad Pro)
Scenario: Editing documents or notebooks and attempting to modify the text font.
Observed behavior: The applications immediately crash and close when the font change is initiated, even after restarting the device, reinstalling the apps, or checking for standard updates.

Before you start

Before proceeding, confirm your exact iPadOS version and ensure your device has sufficient storage, as this crashing issue may be tied to a specific system configuration or OS version bug.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify iPadOS and App Compatibility

Check for pending iPadOS updates or specific version bugs that might cause font-rendering crashes in Microsoft apps.

Often, app crashes triggered by specific UI actions like changing a font are the result of incompatibilities between a specific iPadOS release and the current app version.

Check for iPadOS Updates

Go to your iPad's Settings > General > Software Update to see if a newer version of iPadOS is available to patch known system bugs.

Update Microsoft 365 Apps

Open the App Store, tap your profile icon at the top right, and check if there are pending updates for Microsoft Word and OneNote.

Document Versions

Take note of your current iPadOS and app versions to verify against known Microsoft bugs if the issue requires escalation.

Solution 2

Test With a Clean Device Configuration

Determine if the font crash is caused by corrupted iCloud backup data transferred to a replacement iPad.

Solution 3

Contact Microsoft Support

Escalate the issue to Microsoft Support with your specific device and crash details for advanced diagnostics.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for iPad to Edit Documents Seamlessly

If Word and OneNote continue to crash on your iPad Pro during routine tasks like changing fonts, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a stable, lightweight, and highly compatible environment for editing documents and managing notes without unexpected application closures.

1. Download WPS Office: Get the free WPS Office app from the App Store on your iPad.
2. Open Existing Documents: Launch the app and open your existing Word or text documents seamlessly.
3. Format Without Crashes: Highlight your text and change fonts effortlessly without experiencing the app crashes.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Office formats including .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx.Stable document editing on iPadOS without font-related crashes.Lightweight app size ensures smooth performance on all iPad Pro models.All-in-one suite combining Writer, Spreadsheet, Presentation, and PDF tools seamlessly.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Microsoft Word crash on my iPad Pro when changing fonts?

This issue often stems from compatibility bugs between specific iPadOS versions and the Microsoft 365 app architecture, or from corrupted font cache files transferred via iCloud backups.

Will reinstalling Word fix the font crashing issue on iPad?

Reinstalling Word can sometimes resolve corrupted local app files. However, if the issue is rooted in system-level iPadOS configurations or transferred iCloud data, a clean device setup may be required to permanently fix it.

Does restoring iCloud data cause app crashes on replacement iPads?

Yes, sometimes restoring from an iCloud backup transfers corrupted caches or incompatible settings to a replacement iPad, leading to highly specific crashes like those seen when changing fonts in Office apps.

How can I edit my document if Word keeps crashing?

If Word is unusable due to crashing, you can temporarily edit your documents using Microsoft Word Online via a web browser, or switch to a highly compatible free alternative like WPS Office on your iPad.

Office App Problems