Office Apps Crashing

How to Stop Microsoft Word from Crashing When Adding Comments

Maira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user experiences consistent application crashes in Microsoft Word specifically when attempting to add or edit a document comment.

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Reviewing a document and inserting comments for feedback or collaboration.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Word unexpectedly freezes or crashes as soon as the user tries to insert a new comment.

Before you start

Save your current work and completely close all Microsoft Office applications to ensure background processes do not interfere with troubleshooting steps.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable and Troubleshoot Incompatible COM Add-ins

Faulty or outdated third-party add-ins are a frequent cause of Word crashes. Disabling them helps identify the conflict.

COM add-ins integrate deeply with Microsoft Word. If an add-in is not fully compatible with your current version of Word, it can trigger crashes during specific interactions like the commenting feature.

Launch Word in Safe Mode

Hold down the Ctrl key while clicking the Microsoft Word shortcut to open the application in Safe Mode. Test adding a comment in a document; if it doesn't crash, an add-in is likely the cause.

Access Add-in Settings

Click on 'File' in the top ribbon, select 'Options', and then navigate to the 'Add-ins' tab on the left sidebar.

Manage COM Add-ins

At the bottom of the window, ensure 'COM Add-ins' is selected in the 'Manage' drop-down list and click 'Go'.

Disable Active Add-ins

Uncheck all active add-ins in the list to disable them, then click 'OK'. Restart Word normally and verify if the commenting feature works without crashing.

Identify the Problematic Add-in: Once the crash is resolved, you can re-enable your add-ins one by one, restarting Word each time, to isolate exactly which add-in is causing the failure.

Solution 2

Rename the Normal.dotm Global Template

If the default Word template becomes corrupted, it can cause software instability when using editing tools.

Solution 3

Test for Document-Specific Corruption

Determine whether the crashing issue is system-wide or isolated to the specific document you are trying to review.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office to Avoid Word Crashes

If Microsoft Word continues to crash or perform poorly during document review, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a lightweight, highly compatible alternative that handles complex document reviews and comments effortlessly without performance drops.

1. Install WPS Office: Download and install the free WPS Office suite from the official website.
2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing .docx file directly.
3. Add Comments Smoothly: Highlight text and select 'Comment' from the Review tab to annotate without crashes.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx, .doc, .rtf) formats.Robust and highly stable commenting and track-changes features for easy collaboration.Lightweight installation with minimal system resource usage, preventing random crashes.Free to use with a familiar, easy-to-learn interface.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Microsoft Word only crash when I try to insert a comment?

Adding a comment relies on specific background processes and user interface elements that interact heavily with active COM add-ins and the default Normal template. If either is corrupted or incompatible, the software can crash specifically during this action.

Will renaming the Normal.dotm template delete my saved documents?

No, renaming the Normal template will not delete or alter any of your saved Word documents. It simply resets your default formatting preferences (such as default fonts, margins, and styles) back to their factory settings.

Can outdated Microsoft Office versions cause commenting crashes?

Yes, older builds of Microsoft Office often contain known bugs that trigger sudden crashes. It is highly recommended to go to File > Account > Update Options and click 'Update Now' to ensure you have the latest stability patches installed.

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