You can't open one of the programs on your computer and you don't get any error messages. This common problem often leaves us baffled. Many Windows 10 users have already reported problems opening Word in versions 2013 and 2016. However, this can also occur with other versions of the operating system or word processing program. The causes are many and varied, so what can you do when Microsoft Word won't open? We present you four different ways to solve this problem step by step..
Word is not responding and you don't know why? Finding the cause of this problem can be very difficult if you do n't see an error message . Therefore, it is faster to check the most common errors and correct them if necessary. The most common mistakes are:
If you haven't made any changes and the problems don't seem to have a clear cause, try the solutions below in the order listed . Thus, you will eliminate causes and you can solve the problem. These solutions apply to Windows 10 and Word versions 2013 and 2016 unless otherwise noted.
There are programs that under certain circumstances also cause problems when opening. Our guides can help you if for example Outlook won't open or the Windows operating system won't start..
If Word won't open, check to see if Windows gives you trouble opening Word in safe mode. If the program opens without problems in that mode, the cause is probably the lack of installation of add-ons.
All Microsoft 365 programs have their own safe mode . This should not be confused with the safe mode of the Windows operating system..
Simultaneously press the [Windows] + [R] keys to open the Run dialog box.
Enter the text ? Winword / Safe? and confirm by clicking? OK.? Word safe mode will start in versions 2016, 2013 and 2010.
Now you can open Word as usual. If you still can't open Word, add-ins are not the cause of the problem. In this case, skip the next steps and go directly to solution number 2. If you can open the program without any problems in safe mode , then you probably have a problem with the extensions and will have to disable or perhaps even uninstall them .
With the Word document open, select from the menu? File? and then click? Options.? Your Word options will open. Left click on the ? Plugins? Tab . Then select the option? COM Add-ins? from the? Manage? drop-down menu and to finish click on? Go ??.
Uncheck to deactivate all add-ons by left clicking and confirm with? OK.?
The dialog boxes are identical in Word versions 2010, 2013, or 2016.
If Word doesn't even open in safe mode, check the printer you have selected by default . When Word cannot access the default printer, the program does not open. To solve the problem, choose another default printer.
Open the Windows settings by pressing the [Windows] + [I] keys at the same time. Then select the section? Devices? and choose the option ? Printers and scanners? .
Disable the option? Allow Windows to manage my default printer? removing the check mark with left click. Then select the printer you want to have as default. Click? Manage? to open the printer settings and select it as the default to be your default printer from now on.
In older versions of Windows , the printer settings are found in? Control Panel? >? Hardware and sound? >? See Devices and Printers.? Then right click on the printer you want to use and select the "Set as default printer" option.
Now, try to start the program again . If you can't open Word, try updating the printer driver.
To update the printer driver, open the ? Device Manager? by searching for it in the search field and selecting the relevant search result. The "Device Manager" will open. Displays the option ? Print queues? by left clicking on it. Right click on your default printer to open the context menu and then select "Update Driver".
Now a new window will open . Select the option ? Search for drivers automatically? and wait for the process to complete. Lastly, make sure that Word opens after the driver has been updated. If Word still won't open, skip to Solution 3.
If Word is the only program that won't open in Microsoft 365 and the rest of it doesn't give you problems, the cause may be a configuration error . Follow these steps to delete the Word registry key and resolve the problem.
Simultaneously press the [Windows] + [R] keys to open the Run dialog box. Enter ? Regedit ? in the text box and confirm with? OK.?
Next, go to the version of Microsoft Word that you have installed on your computer:
Right-click the entry in? Data ? and select? Delete ? in the context menu. The next time you open Word it will automatically revert to the default settings.
Restart your computer and try to open Word again. If Word still won't open, continue to the next solution.
If the solutions we've suggested so far haven't worked for you, you can try repairing your Office installation .
Simultaneously press the [Windows] + [X] keys and select the option? Applications and features ? by left clicking. A field will open that shows all the applications you have installed on your computer.
Go down to the entrance? Microsoft 365 ?. Left click on the application and select the "Modify" button.
In older versions of the Office suite, this entry is called? Microsoft Office 365.?
Then select the option? Quick repair ? to repair your Office programs. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the process. If Word still won't open, repeat the process with the "Online Repair" option.
Depending on which version of Office you use, the option ? Change installation? May also be available . .
If you use Windows 7, Vista or 8, the option to repair programs is hidden. To access it, open the system settings and select? Category ?. Click on? Programs? and then on? Uninstall Programs ?. Scroll down to the entrance? Microsoft 365? and select it with right click and then choose? Modify ?.
When working with Microsoft 365 make sure to always use the latest version of Office programs and maximize their value with up to five installations per user.
