Microsoft word is not opening

Run Online Repair from Windows Settings, rather than clicking the Repair button in Word’s error dialog; this repairs the entire Office installation and is the closest match for a Word repair prompt that does not proceed.

1. Run Online Repair

Before starting, close all Office applications and verify that Office appears under your Microsoft account at https://account.microsoft.com/services, because Online Repair may require Office to be reinstalled or reactivated afterward.^1^

Windows 11

1. Right-click Start and select Installed apps.
2. Find Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Office.
3. Select the three dots (…) beside it, then select Modify.
4. For a Click-to-Run installation, select Online Repair → Repair.
   • Do not select Quick Repair; Online Repair performs the more complete repair.
5. Let the process finish, restart Windows if requested, and open Word.

Windows 10

1. Right-click Start and select Apps and Features.
2. Select Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Office, then select Modify.
3. Select Online Repair → Repair.
4. Complete the prompts and test Word afterward.

The repair applies to the entire Office suite even when only Word is affected.^2^

2. If Online Repair finishes but Word still will not open

Test Word in Office Safe Mode:

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

winword /safe

3. Select OK.

If Word opens and its title bar shows Safe Mode, an add-in may be interfering:

1. Go to File → Options → Add-ins.
2. At the bottom, choose COM Add-ins under Manage, then select Go.
3. Clear one add-in at a time and restart Word normally.
4. Repeat until Word opens normally.[^3^](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 Word does not open in Safe Mode, proceed to reinstall rather than changing add-ins.^4^

3. If Online Repair cannot start or complete

Completely uninstall and reinstall Office:

1. Confirm that Office is shown at https://account.microsoft.com/services.
2. Use Microsoft’s Office uninstall troubleshooter on the same PC.
3. Follow its prompts and restart Windows when requested.
4. Sign in with the Microsoft account associated with Office and reinstall it.

Uninstalling Office removes the applications, but it does not remove Word documents or other files created with Office.^5^

References

1. word is not opening - Microsoft Q&A
2. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/office/lifecycle/repair-an-office-application)
3. I get a "stopped working" error when I start Office applications on my PC | Microsoft Support
4. Open Office apps in safe mode on a Windows PC | Microsoft Support
5. Error 30088-26 when updating Office | Microsoft Support