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How to Fix Word Out of Memory Error When Opening a VBA UserForm

WPS Content Manager Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user encounters an out of memory error when attempting to open a VBA UserForm on a specific computer, which resolves when removing approximately 50 form controls.

How to Fix Word Out of Memory Error When Opening a VBA UserForm

Product: Microsoft Word 2016
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Opening and running a VBA UserForm populated with multiple controls (text boxes, combo boxes) in a Word 2016 document.
Observed behavior: Word triggers an out of memory error on one specific machine and fails to load the UserForm unless the number of form controls is significantly reduced.

Before you start

Before making changes to your VBA code, system settings, or Word templates, ensure you save a secure backup copy of your document and its macros to prevent accidental data loss.

Solution 1Recommended

Optimize VBA UserForm Controls and Images

Since the error disappears when controls are removed, reducing the complexity of the UserForm's elements is the most direct way to resolve resource limits.

Every control on a UserForm consumes graphical and system memory. When a form becomes too complex, or contains oversized image controls, it can quickly exhaust the memory limits allocated to the VBA runtime.

Access the VBA Editor

Open the Visual Basic Editor (VBE) by pressing ALT + F11 while your document is open in Word.

Reduce Control Count

Review your UserForm design. Combine redundant TextBoxes or ComboBoxes, and consider splitting massive forms into multiple, smaller UserForms that load independently.

Optimize Image Controls

Check for oversized background images or picture controls on the UserForm. Remove high-resolution images or replace them with highly compressed, smaller image files.

Check for Recursive Code

Right-click the UserForm and select 'View Code'. Review the UserForm_Initialize event to ensure there are no infinite loops or recursive macro calls causing rapid memory consumption during load.

Optimize VBA UserForm Controls and Images

Solution 2

Clear Temporary Files and Increase Virtual Memory

If the issue is isolated to a single PC, that specific computer might be running low on virtual memory or struggling with corrupted temporary files.

Solution 3

Reset the Normal.dotm Template and Repair Office

A corrupted global Word template or a damaged Office installation can cause localized memory errors when rendering VBA GUI elements.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the VBA out of memory error only happen on one computer?

This usually points to hardware or system environment differences rather than the VBA code itself. The affected computer might have less available physical RAM, a smaller virtual memory paging file, corrupted temporary cache files, or a localized error within its specific Office installation.

Can having too many controls on a UserForm cause an out of memory error?

Yes. Every individual control, such as a text box, combo box, or frame, consumes graphical device interface (GDI) resources and system memory. Exceeding these limits or nesting too many controls heavily can trigger memory exceptions when rendering the UserForm in Word.

How do I know if recursive code is causing the memory issue?

Recursive code occurs when a function or sub-routine calls itself repeatedly without a proper exit condition. This causes a stack overflow or immediate out of memory error upon execution. You can test for this by opening the VBA Editor (ALT + F11), placing a breakpoint on the UserForm_Initialize event, and stepping through the code line-by-line using the F8 key.

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