Mar 13, 2020 Word keeps crashing or freezing on Mac OS X Hello all, I am a university student and this problem has been making it very difficult for me to do my work lately. I have Microsoft Word for Mac, Version 15.40 (171108).
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Note
Office 365 ProPlus is being renamed to Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise. For more information about this change, read this blog post.
Symptoms
When you start Microsoft Word for Mac, or when you try to open a new document, you experience one of the following conditions:
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The program closes unexpectedly.
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Error message:
Note
This error message may also occur during usage of application such as saving a document.
Resolution
To resolve this problem, follow steps below.
Microsoft Word for Mac 2008 or Later
Step 1: Quit all applications
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On the Apple menu, click Force Quit.
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Select an application in the 'Force Quit Applications' window.
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Click Force Quit.
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Repeat the previous steps until all active applications.
Warning
When an application is force quit, any unsaved changes to open documents are not saved.
Step 2: Remove Preferences
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Quit all Microsoft Office for Mac programs.
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On the Go menu, click Home.
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Open Library.
Note
The Library folder is hidden in MAC OS X Lion. To display this folder, hold down the OPTION key while you click the Go menu.
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Open the Preferences folder.
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Look for a file that is named com.microsoft.Word.plist.
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If you locate the file, move it to the desktop. If you do not locate the file, the program is using the default preferences.
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If you locate the file and move it to the desktop, start Word, and check whether the problem still occurs. If the problem still occurs, quit Microsoft Word, and restore the file to its original location. Then, go to the next step. If the problem seems to be resolved, you can move the com.microsoft.Word.plist file to the trash.
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Quit all Microsoft Office for Mac programs.
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On the Go menu, click Home.
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Open Library.
Note
The Library folder is hidden in MAC OS X Lion. To display this folder, hold down the OPTION key while you click the Go menu.
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Open the Preferences folder.
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Open the Microsoft folder.
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Locate the file that is named com.microsoft.Word.prefs.plist.
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Move the file to the desktop.
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Start Word, and check whether the problem still occurs. If the problem still occurs, quit Word, and restore the file to its original location. Then, go to the next step. If the problem seems to be resolved, you can move the com.microsoft.Word.prefs.plist file to the trash.
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On the Go menu, click Home.
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Open Library.
Note
The Library folder is hidden in MAC OS X Lion. To display this folder, hold down the OPTION key while you click the Go menu.
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Open the Application Support folder.
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Open the Microsoft folder.
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Open the Office folder.
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Open the User Templates folder.
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Locate the file that is named Normal, and move the file to the desktop.
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Start Word and check whether the problem still occurs. If the problem seems to be resolved, you can move the Normal file to the Trash. If the issue continues to occur, proceed to the next step.
If the issue continues to occur, go to the next step.
Step 3: Peform clean boot
For information how to clean start your Operating system (OS), see Microsoft Knowledge Base article:
2398596 How to use a 'clean startup' to determine whether background programs are interfering with Office for Mac
If the issue continues to occur in Safe mode, go to the next step.
Step 4: Remove and then reinstall Office
For information how to remove and then reinstall Office, see the following article:
If after removing and then reinstalling Office, the problem continues to occur, go to the next step.
Step 5: Use the 'Repair Disk Permissions' option
You can use the Repair Disk Permissions option to troubleshoot permissions problems in Mac OS X 10.2 or later versions. To use the Repair Disk Permissions option, follow these steps:
- On the Go menu, click Utilities.
- Start the Disk Utility program.
- Click the primary hard disk drive for your computer.
- Click the First Aid tab.
- Click Repair Disk Permissions.
Note
The Disk Utility program only repairs software that is installed by Apple. This utility also repairs folders, such as the Applications folder. However, this utility does not repair software that is in your home folder.
Microsoft Word 2004 for Mac
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Quit all Microsoft Office for Mac programs.
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On the Go menu, click Home.
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Open Library.
Note
The Library folder is hidden in MAC OS X Lion. To display this folder, hold down the OPTION key while you click the Go menu.
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Open the Preferences folder.
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Look for a file that is named com.microsoft.Word.plist.
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If you locate the file, move it to the desktop. If you do not locate the file, the program is using the default preferences.
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If you locate the file and move it to the desktop, start Word, and check whether the problem still occurs. If the problem still occurs, quit Word, and restore the file to its original location. Then, go to the next step. If the problem seems to be resolved, you can move the com.microsoft.Word.plist file to the trash.
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Qit all Microsoft Office for Mac programs.
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On the Go menu, click Home.
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Open Library.
Note
The Library folder is hidden in MAC OS X Lion. To display this folder, hold down the OPTION key while you click the Go menu.
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Open the Preferences folder.
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Open the Microsoft folder.
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Look for a file that is named com.microsoft.Word.prefs.plist.
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Move the file to the desktop.
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Start Word, and check whether the problem still occurs. If the problem still occurs, quit Word, and restore the file to its original location. Then, go to the next step. If the problem seems to be resolved, you can move the com.microsoft.Word.prefs.plist file to the trash.
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On the Go menu, click Home.
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Open the Documents folder.
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Open the Microsoft User Data folder.
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Locate the file that is named Normal, and move the file to the desktop.
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Start Word, and check whether the problem still occurs. If the problem seems to be resolved, you can move the Normal file to the trash.
Third-party disclaimer information
The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, about the performance or reliability of these products.
The information and the solution in this document represent the current view of Microsoft Corporation on these issues as of the date of publication. This solution is available through Microsoft or through a third-party provider. Microsoft does not specifically recommend any third-party provider or third-party solution that this article might describe. There might also be other third-party providers or third-party solutions that this article does not describe. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, this information should not be interpreted to be a commitment by Microsoft. Microsoft cannot guarantee or endorse the accuracy of any information or of any solution that is presented by Microsoft or by any mentioned third-party provider.
Mar 31,2020 • Filed to: Mac Recovery • Proven solutions
“My word keeps crashing on my Mac” - You might have read this query on various Mac forum sites. No matter how advanced and reliable the macOS is, it can still run into some problems. And the worst one is when an important app keeps crashing like MS Office. Whether the system is crashing when you open a particular file or it happens with every file, this erratic behavior impedes the ability to use Mac properly.
It is not only frustrating but sometimes, it also leads to data loss. Thus, in this article, you’ll learn how to fix MS Word which is crashing and how to recover crashed word document on Mac. Just go through the article and you’ll have all the answers to your problems.
Part 1. Why Does Microsoft Word Keeps Crashing on Mac
Before you get down to the solution part, it is vital that you know why does Microsoft word keep crashing on Mac. The reasons can be listed down to the following points:
- The first and foremost problem is wrong or incomplete installation.
- You might be using an outdated or incompatible version of Word on your Mac.
- A third-party application might be causing the issue.
- The MS Word version is not original.
- The files are corrupted due to system crash or virus attack or due to some invalid characters.
All these reasons conclude that MS Word crash problem is more common than you realize. You’ll often get prompted to either close the application or restart it. Luckily, you can solve the crashing issue with few simple and quick fixes.
Part 2. How to Solve the Problem 'Microsoft Word Keeps Crashing Mac'
Whether word keeps crashing Mac El Capitan or macOS High Sierra, Maverick, or Lion, the following methods will come in handy for all versions of macOS.
Solution 1. Reset the Word preferences and restart Mac:
Mac system is very different than Windows OS and hence, the MS Word preferences are different too. in order to resolve the Microsoft word 2016 keeps crashing on Mac issue, the first thing you should try is to reset the preferences of Word for Mac. Follow the steps below to do this:
Step 1 Launch MS Word from the Desktop and click on the Word option. There you will see the Preferences option. Tap on it to open the main menu.
Step 2 In the Word preferences tab, you will see the File Locations icon. Click on the icon and you will be directed to a File Locations interface.
Step 3 Select the User Templates option and choose the Reset button.
Step 4 This will open up a folder where you will find a Normal.dotm file. Cut and paste the files on the desktop or any other location. You can also move the file to Trash to reset the preferences.
Close the application and restart it to check if the problem is fixed or not. Deleting the Normal file will resolve the issue in most circumstances, if not then there are still other fixes available.
Solution 2. Create a new account:
Why Does My Microsoft Word Keep Crashing Mac 2017 Full
Yes, you might think it is odd, but using a new account to access MS Word can help you. Maybe, MS word for Mac keeps crashing because you don’t have the authority to use the application. If your user account is blocked to use a certain application, it leads to crashing issues. To avoid this, create a new account on Mac by following the steps below:
Step 1 Click on the Apple icon and select System Preferences option from the list. Select the Users & Groups tab and as the dedicated window opens up, click on the Lock icon at the bottom of the window to make some changes.
Step 2 Enter the Admin password and click on the “+” icon to add a new account.
Step 3 Provide your basic details for the new account like name, account type, etc. and hit the Create User button. You can also set a password for the new account if you want to and link it with iCloud too.
Now, sign out from the present account and log in with the new account on Mac. Try using MS Word and see if the problem still persists or not.
Solution 3. Run Repair Disk Permissions:
Some users might not know about this but the Disk Utility has a feature called First Aid which can repair any application or the entire Mac disk. So, if Microsoft Word keeps crashing on Mac then try running the Disk utility to resolve this issue.
Step 1 Open Disk Utility from the utility window and select the Primary disk of your system.
Step 2 Switch to the First Aid tab and at the bottom of the window; you will see two options, i.e. Verify Disk Permissions and Repair Disk Permissions. Choose the Repair option and wait while the disk repair finishes.
When the disk is repaired, the problem will cease to exist and you will be able to use Word once again.
Solution 4. Run and open Word in Safe Mode:
The Safe Mode in Mac is similar to Windows as it is used for troubleshooting problems. If MS word is crashing on Mac, then with the help of Safe Mode, you can check the problem with the Word application. Plus, you can fix the application as well.
Step 1 Restart your Mac and when you hear the chime sound, press the Shift key to enter the Safe mode. Keep the key pressed until you hear the Safe mode interface on the screen.
Step 2 Log in to your account and find the MS word application from the left side panel. Open it and see if there is still a problem with Word or not.
Normally, Word won’t crash in the Safe Mode, but if it does, then it means that the application is irreparable.
Solution 5. Reinstall Microsoft Office for Mac:
Now, all there is left to do is to reinstall MS Word or the entire MS Office on your Mac. If you can’t figure out the reasons why Microsoft word 2011 Mac keeps crashing, then deleting and reinstalling the Office suite is a much better idea. It will erase the previous settings and you will be able to use the newer version without any problem.
Step 1 Quit all application running on Mac and open the Hard Drive. Find the Application folder and select the MS Office 2011 or the version which is causing problems.
Step 2 Drag the MS Office suite to Trash and Reinstall MS Office from the App Store.
Finally, all the problems will be resolved. But if you had any unsaved or edited document, then it will get deleted while trying to fix MS Word. Thus, you will need help with the recovery of those files too.
Part 3. How to Recover Crashed and Unsaved Word Documents on Mac
People often search for a tool on forums and other platforms stating “word crashed recover document on Mac”. But most of them don’t come across a reliable and promising solution. But you don’t have to be disappointed as Recoverit for Mac is here.
Recoverit for Mac
The Best Word File Recovery Software:
- It is compatible with both Windows and Mac operating system.
- It supports a large number of storage device type including hard drives, USB flash drives, SD cards, etc.
- All major types of files can be recovered including office documents, music, images, video, emails, and archives.
- It has a deep scan features for in-depth scanning of the hard drive for searching files to recover.
If you want to know how to recover word document after crash Mac, then iSkysoft is your answer. This powerful tool allows the users to rescue all kinds of data from images to word files, videos to audios, archives to emails, etc. Whether you lost data due to virus attack, drive formatting, system crash, lost partition, or empty Trash, this software can help you under all circumstances. With a 99% success rate and 100% safety level, we can assure that iSkysoft is the ideal tool for quick and efficient recovery of your lost files.
Why Does My Microsoft Word Keep Crashing Mac 2017 18
How to Recover Word Files on Mac:
Step 1 Run Recoverit:
Launch the program and you will see the different file types which are offered by iSkysoft for recovery.
Step 2 Select Device for Recovery:
The software will display the available volumes and partitions and connected device on the screen. Select the device or volume from which you want to recover data and hit the Start button.
Step 3 Scan and Recover:
It will take a while before the scan results are displayed on the screen. As the files appear according to their respective format, it will be easy for you to look for specific files. Have a preview of the files that you want to recover and click on the Recover option at the bottom of the screen.
Don’t choose the same destination for the files as before as it can lead to overwriting or corruption. Also, make sure that you stop using the device after data loss.
Bonus Tips: How to Prevent 'Word Keeps Crashing on Mac' Problem
Here are some additional tips that can help you to avoid the crashing problem. If word keeps crashing on Mac, then you better focus on the tips otherwise the problem will keep popping up.
- Make sure that your MS Office suite stays updated. To ensure this, enable the Auto Update feature.
- Keep a solid anti-virus and anti-malware application on your system that can prevent the files from being corrupt.
- Never use a pirated version of MS Office or download it from an unreliable source.
- Try not to pass multiple commands at the same time as lead to a clash between commands.
- If an application hangs, then wait until it starts responding again and then tries the fixes.
Conclusion:
Hopefully, after you try the above-explained fixes the “Microsoft word crashes on Mac” problem will be resolved. Consider the above tips to avoid the same problem in the near future. And if you end up losing some important files, then iSkysoft is here to rescue them in an instant. Tell all your friends about iSkysoft and help them to save their data too.