Microsoft AutoUpdate is not working across any apps.

Annette Cove 0 Reputation points
2026-10-28T10:54:09.07+00:00

I have waited, restarted but cannot get it to work and the apps keep crashing

Microsoft 365 and Office | Install, redeem, activate | Other | MacOS
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  1. AI answer

    2026-10-28T10:54:25.93+00:00

    On macOS, this is commonly caused by Microsoft AutoUpdate being disabled in the background, missing, or damaged. A practical recovery path is:

    1. In System Settings on the Mac, go to General > Login Items & Extensions.
    2. Under Allow in the Background, make sure Microsoft AutoUpdate is turned On.
    3. If Microsoft AutoUpdate is missing there, reinstall the latest version of AutoUpdate by downloading and running the latest installer package.
    4. If AutoUpdate opens but shows errors or does not run correctly, install the latest version of AutoUpdate again. Microsoft notes this can fix issues caused by a missing helper file or incorrect permissions.
    5. After reinstalling AutoUpdate, open an Office app and run Help > Check for Updates.
    6. If the Mac is managed by an organization and software installation is blocked, contact the Helpdesk or IT administrator.

    If the apps are crashing after an update attempt, Microsoft has also documented fixes in newer AutoUpdate releases for cases where AutoUpdate stopped responding on startup, terminated unexpectedly, failed to apply updates because of an expired certificate, or prevented macOS from shutting down and restarting gracefully. Reinstalling or updating AutoUpdate is the supported first step.

    References:

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  2. Thomas4-N 23,145 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-11-04T08:09:39.8633333+00:00

    Hello Annette Cove,

    I’m sorry restarting hasn’t helped. Before suggesting more changes, could you clarify whether Microsoft AutoUpdate itself crashes, or whether Word, Excel, or other Office apps crash when you open them?

    Please also share:

    • Your macOS version and AutoUpdate version, if AutoUpdate opens.
    • The exact error message or a screenshot, with personal details hidden.
    • Whether Office was installed from Microsoft or the Mac App Store.

    We need to establish whether the Office-app crashes are a separate issue before choosing the next step.

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    1 person found this answer helpful.
  3. Stefan Blom 357.3K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2026-11-04T10:37:40.9933333+00:00

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