Surface Duo 2, Microsoft Office will not Open

This is not a documented Surface Duo 2–wide Office crash; update or reset the Android Office app first, then use the supported individual Word, Excel, and PowerPoint apps if the combined app remains incompatible.

Repair the Office app

Your system update is already the final listed Surface Duo 2 release: October 8, 2024, software version 2023.501.541. Microsoft now marks the device as end of servicing, so no newer Android or Surface security updates are expected.^1^

1. Open Play Store.
2. Tap the profile icon → Manage apps & device.
3. Install available updates for:
   • Microsoft 365, Microsoft 365 Copilot, or Office, whichever name appears.
   • Android System WebView.
   • Google Chrome.
4. Restart the Duo and test Office.

Updating WebView and Chrome is especially worth checking because Microsoft has documented an Android WebView issue that can make a Microsoft mobile app crash immediately at launch. That article covers Outlook rather than Office, so this is a conditional dependency check—not confirmation that WebView caused your crash.^2^

If it still crashes:

1. Open Settings → Apps → See all apps → Office/Microsoft 365.
2. Select Force stop.
3. Open Storage & cache → Clear cache, then test again.
4. If there is no improvement, return to Storage & cache → Clear storage.

Clearing storage removes the app’s local settings and downloaded/offline files, but files already synchronized to OneDrive remain online. You will need to sign in again.

Next, open the app’s Play Store page and choose Uninstall, or Uninstall updates if it is treated as a preinstalled system app. Restart the Duo, then reinstall or update it from the store. Microsoft’s Duo guidance explicitly supports updating and reinstalling Android applications through the app store.^3^

Supported workaround for document editing

Install Word, Excel, and PowerPoint individually rather than relying on the combined Office app. Microsoft supports both approaches on Android, and the individual apps can create and edit their respective documents.^4^

Because you are in China:

• If the account is under Office 365 operated by 21Vianet, Microsoft says to obtain the Android Office apps from the applicable local Android store.
• Otherwise, install them from Google Play if Play services are available on this device.
• Sign in using the same Microsoft account already working in OneDrive and OneNote.

The successful operation of Teams, OneNote, and OneDrive makes a general hardware failure less likely. If both the combined app and separately installed Word/Excel/PowerPoint crash, report the app versions, Android build 2023.501.541, and whether the crash occurs before or after sign-in to Microsoft Support. A factory reset or recovery-image installation is not proportionate while Android and the other Microsoft apps start normally.

References

1. Surface Duo 2 update history | Microsoft Support
2. Android WebView Crash | Microsoft Support
3. [Surface Duo 2](https://support.microsoft.com/surface/set-up-surface-duo-after-service#step-6-reinstall-apps)
4. Install and set up the Microsoft Copilot app on an Android | Microsoft Support