Error Issue

Start PowerPoint in Safe Mode to determine whether a PowerPoint-specific add-in is causing the failure; the Repair Now button you already tried does not complete the more thorough Online Repair.

1. Test PowerPoint in Safe Mode

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

      powerpnt /safe
   

3. Select OK.

Make sure there is a space before /safe. If PowerPoint opens, its title bar should say Microsoft PowerPoint (Safe Mode). This means an add-in is the likely issue.^1^

While PowerPoint remains open:

1. Go to File → Options → Add-ins.
2. At the bottom, select COM Add-ins under Manage, then select Go.
3. Clear all add-in checkboxes and select OK.
4. Close PowerPoint and open it normally.
5. If it now works, enable add-ins one at a time, restarting PowerPoint after each one, to identify the conflicting add-in.^2^

If PowerPoint does not open in Safe Mode, Microsoft indicates that the issue is not caused by an add-in. Continue with Online Repair.^1^

2. Run the full Online Repair

Online Repair is different from selecting Repair Now in the error dialog. It repairs the entire Office installation, even though only PowerPoint is failing.

Windows 11

1. Close Word, Excel, and all other Office applications.
2. Right-click Start → Installed apps.
3. Find Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Office.
4. Select the three dots → Modify.
5. Select Online Repair → Repair.
6. Complete the prompts, restart Windows if requested, and test PowerPoint.

Windows 10

1. Right-click Start → Apps and Features.
2. Select Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Office.
3. Select Modify.
4. Choose Online Repair → Repair.

Online Repair is the thorough Click-to-Run repair option; Quick Repair only detects and replaces certain corrupted files.^3^

3. If Online Repair does not fix it

Because Word still opens, update Office through Word:

1. Open Word.
2. Go to File → Account.
3. Select Update Options → Update Now.
4. Install all offered updates, restart Windows, and test PowerPoint.^1^

Also install Windows updates:

• Windows 11: Start → Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates
• Windows 10: Start → Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update

If Safe Mode, Online Repair, and updates all fail, use Microsoft’s Office uninstall troubleshooter to completely remove Office, restart the computer, and then reinstall Office from the Microsoft account holding the licence. Microsoft lists uninstall and reinstall as the supported fallback after add-in testing and repair.^1^

The message alone does not identify one exact cause. In this case, Safe Mode separates a PowerPoint add-in conflict from a damaged installation: opening successfully in Safe Mode points to an add-in; failing there points toward repair, updates, or reinstallation.

References

1. I get a "stopped working" error when I start Office applications on my PC
2. PowerPoint isn't responding, hangs or freezes | Microsoft Support
3. Repair an Office application