my word an ecxel are sayingexcel has run into an error that is preventing it from working correctly

Question

my word an ecxel are sayingexcel has run into an error that is preventing it from working correctly

chido chikanga 0

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2 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

Hi, @chido chikanga

May I know what troubleshooting steps have you already taken?

Have you tried manual repair instead? If you haven't tried it yet, please follow the steps below.

If you haven't tried anything yet please start by:

First, please check if your Microsoft 365 is active or if your Office license is listed. You can do this by signing in at https://account.microsoft.com/services if the subscription is active or if your Office license is listed, try these steps:

Repair Office apps:

Press Windows + R, type appwiz.cpl and press Enter.
Find Microsoft 365 or Office in the list, select it, then choose Change > Quick Repair.
If that doesn’t help, run the repair again but select Online Repair instead.

Check for updates:

Open any Office app (if it opens even briefly), go to File > Account > Update Options > Update Now.
Restart your device after repair and try opening the apps again.

If the apps still don’t open, please let me know if you’re using Microsoft 365 or a one-time purchase version (like Office 2021), so I can guide you with the next specific steps.

Let me know how it goes or if you have any further questions or concerns.

Click "Add comment" to let me know.

Thanks!

Answer 2

Test Word and Excel in Safe Mode first; if both still display the error, run an Online Repair of Microsoft 365 or Office.

1. Test Safe Mode

Close all Office applications.
Press Windows key + R.
Enter the following command and select OK:
```
   excel /safe
```
Repeat the process for Word:
```
   winword /safe
```

Be sure there is a space before /safe. The title bar should show Safe Mode.[^1^](https://support.microsoft.com/office/lifecycle/i-get-a-stopped-working-error-when-i-start-office-applications-on-my-pc "I get a "stopped working" error when I start Office applications on my PC | Microsoft Support")

If an application opens successfully in Safe Mode:

Select File → Options → Add-ins.
At the bottom, select COM Add-ins under Manage, then select Go.
Clear one add-in at a time and restart the application normally.
Leave the problematic add-in disabled, or install an updated version.

2. Repair the complete Office installation

If Word or Excel will not start in Safe Mode—or disabling add-ins does not fix both applications—repair Office:

Windows 11

Right-click Start → Installed apps.
Find Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Office.
Select the three dots → Modify.
Select Online Repair → Repair.

Windows 10

Right-click Start → Apps and Features.
Select Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Office → Modify.
Select Online Repair → Repair.

This repairs the entire Office suite, including Word and Excel. Online Repair is more complete than Quick Repair.^2^ Restart the computer afterward and test Excel and Word.

If the error remains

Open Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates, install all available updates, and restart. Microsoft notes that incompatible or outdated device drivers can cause Office startup failures.[^1^](https://support.microsoft.com/office/lifecycle/i-get-a-stopped-working-error-when-i-start-office-applications-on-my-pc "I get a "stopped working" error when I start Office applications on my PC | Microsoft Support")
If updating and Online Repair do not work, use Microsoft’s Office uninstall troubleshooter, restart the PC, and reinstall Office. This is the next documented step after repair.[^1^](https://support.microsoft.com/office/lifecycle/i-get-a-stopped-working-error-when-i-start-office-applications-on-my-pc "I get a "stopped working" error when I start Office applications on my PC | Microsoft Support")

References