Office Apps Crashing

How to Fix Word Crashes with SaveViewMultiLoc on Multiple Monitors

Algirdas Jasaitis Oct 9, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user experiences Microsoft Word crashes after a Microsoft 365 update when using the SaveViewMultiLoc add-in on a dual-monitor setup.

How to Fix Word Crashes with SaveViewMultiLoc on Multiple Monitors

Product: Microsoft Word 365
Device & OS: Windows 10
Scenario: Working with Word outline files across two monitors while the SaveViewMultiLoc macro is active in the Word Startup folder.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Word crashes unexpectedly during use, initially suspected to be a compatibility issue with the SaveViewMultiLoc add-in after a recent Office update.

Before you start

Ensure your Microsoft 365 installation is fully updated and create a backup of your affected Word outline documents before attempting these fixes.

Solution 1Recommended

Transfer Content to a New Word Outline Document

Copying the contents of corrupted outline files into new, blank documents often resolves the crashes without needing to permanently disable your add-in.

In many cases, the root cause of the crash is not the SaveViewMultiLoc add-in itself, but rather underlying corruption within the specific Word outline files being accessed.

Open the affected document

Launch Microsoft Word and open the outline document that typically causes the application to crash.

Select and copy content

Press Ctrl+A to select all the text in the document. If possible, avoid selecting the very last paragraph mark to prevent copying the corruption. Press Ctrl+C to copy the selection.

Create a new document

Press Ctrl+N to open a completely blank Word document.

Paste and save

Press Ctrl+V to paste the contents into the new document. Save the new file and test working on it with multiple monitors to ensure the crashes have stopped.

Transfer Content to a New Word Outline Document

Add-in Reintroduction: Once the corrupted files are replaced with the newly saved versions, you can safely reintroduce SaveViewMultiLoc into your workflow without experiencing crashes.

Solution 2

Use the Diagnostic Logging Template

If transferring the document contents does not stop the crashes, use a specialized logging version of the add-in to identify the exact point of failure.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Stable, Crash-Free Experience

If Microsoft Word continues to crash with your complex documents or dual-monitor setups, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and stable alternative for handling your word processing needs without relying on easily corrupted third-party macros.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS website and download the free WPS Office installer.
2. Install the Software: Run the installer and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the quick installation.
3. Open Your Word Documents: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing .docx outline files directly to continue working seamlessly.

Excellent format compatibility with Microsoft Word (.docx, .doc)Lightweight architecture ensuring stability across multiple monitorsFree to use with a familiar interface for seamless migrationBuilt-in tabbed viewing eliminates the need for complex multi-window macros

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the SaveViewMultiLoc add-in used for?

SaveViewMultiLoc is a custom macro/add-in for Microsoft Word designed to preserve document view settings and window locations. It is particularly useful for users who frequently work with multiple documents across multiple monitors.

Why does Word crash when using multiple monitors after an update?

Microsoft 365 updates can sometimes introduce changes that conflict with custom add-ins or expose pre-existing corruption in complex files. In this specific scenario, the crash is usually triggered by corrupted document outline files rather than the update or add-in itself.

How do I find my Word Startup folder to replace the add-in?

The Word Startup folder is typically located at '%appdata%\Microsoft\Word\STARTUP'. You can paste this path into the address bar of File Explorer to access the folder and replace your custom .dotm templates.

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