My MS Word application has stopped working

Run Online Repair from Windows Settings—the Repair Now button in Word’s error dialog is not the same as the more thorough Online Repair and commonly does not resolve this exact startup error.^1^

1. Run Online Repair

Before starting, confirm that Office is associated with the Microsoft account or work/school account used to install it, because Online Repair can reinstall Office components.

1. Close all Office applications.
2. Open the appropriate Windows page:
   • Windows 11: Right-click Start → Installed apps.
   • Windows 10: Right-click Start → Apps and Features.
3. Find Microsoft 365 or your Microsoft Office edition.
4. Select the three dots if shown, and then select Modify.
5. Choose Online Repair → Repair.
   • Do not choose Quick Repair, since the popup repair has already failed.
6. Let the operation finish, restart Windows, and then open Word.

Online Repair checks the entire Office suite, even when only Word is affected.^2^

2. If Online Repair fails or Word still will not open

Test Word without add-ins and global templates:

1. Press Windows key + R.
2. Enter:

winword /a

3. Press Enter.

If Word opens this way, the core application is working and an add-in, template, or Word-specific setting is interfering with normal startup. The /a switch prevents add-ins and global templates from loading automatically.^3^

While Word is open:

1. Select File → Options → Add-ins.
2. At the bottom, select an add-in type under Manage, and then select Go.
3. Disable add-ins.
4. Close Word and start it normally.
5. Re-enable add-ins individually until the problem returns; leave the problematic one disabled.

3. If neither method works

Completely uninstall and reinstall Office:

1. Make sure the account associated with Office is available for reinstallation.
2. Use Microsoft’s uninstall troubleshooter on the affected PC.
3. Follow its prompts and restart when requested. The troubleshooter supports Microsoft 365 and Office 2021, 2019, and 2016, but it currently cannot remove Office 2024.^4^
4. Sign in to the Microsoft 365 Apps page with the account associated with Office.
5. Select Install apps, run the downloaded installer, and wait for “You’re all set! Office is installed now.”^5^

Uninstalling Office removes the applications but does not remove documents, spreadsheets, or other files you created.

References

1. Word not opening - Microsoft Q&A
2. Repair an Office application | Microsoft Support
3. How to troubleshoot problems that occur when you start or use Word | Microsoft Support
4. Uninstall Microsoft 365 or Office from a PC
5. Download, install, or reinstall Microsoft 365 or Office 2024 on a PC or Mac