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Jun 16, 2023 · 3. Use Safe Mode: Launching Microsoft Word in Safe Mode can help troubleshoot if the issue is related to a conflict with another program or add-in. To start Word in Safe Mode, hold down the Ctrl key while launching Word. If Word functions normally in Safe Mode, it indicates that an add-in or customization may be causing the freezing issue.
- Overview
- Quick resolution
- Verify or install the latest updates
- Additional resources
- Detailed view of the options
- Option 1: Insert your document into another file
- Option 2: Start Word by using the /a switch
- Option 3: Delete the Word Data registry subkey
- Option 4: Delete the Word Options registry key
- Option 5: Replace the Normal.dot or Normal.dotm global template file
Note
This article describes how to troubleshoot problems that may occur when you start or use Microsoft Word.
For list of the latest Office updates, see Office Updates. If your issue is not resolved after you install the latest Windows and Office updates, go to Option 1.
If you experience specific issues when you use Word, go to the following website to search for more information about your program version:
Microsoft Office Support search: Word
The following section provides more detailed descriptions of these options.
The final paragraph mark in a Word document contains information about the document. If the document is damaged, you may be able to retrieve the text of the document if you can omit this final paragraph mark.
To access a document but leave its final paragraph mark behind, follow these steps:
1.On the File menu, select New and then select Blank Document.
2.On the Insert tab, select Object in the Text group, and then select Text from File.
The /a ("administrative installation") switch is a troubleshooting tool that is used to determine where a problem may exist in Word. The /a switch prevents add-ins and global templates from being loaded automatically. The /a switch also locks the settings files to prevent it from being read or modified. To start Word by using the /a switch, follow these steps:
1.Type Run in the Search box (in Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8) or in the Start Search box on the Start menu (in earlier versions of Windows), and then press Enter.
2.In the Run dialog box, type winword /a, and then press Enter.
For more information about the /a switch, see the following Knowledge Base article:
826857 "Description of the "/a" startup switch in Word."
If the problem does not occur when you start Word by using the /a switch, try the next option.
Most of the frequently used options in Word are stored in the Word Data registry subkey. A common troubleshooting step is to delete the Word Data registry subkey. When you restart Word, the program rebuilds the Word Data registry subkey by using the default settings.
Important
Follow the steps in this section carefully. Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Before you modify it, back up the registry for restoration in case problems occur.
To delete the Word Data registry subkey, follow these steps:
1.Exit all Office programs.
2.Type regedit in the Search box (in Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8) or in the Start Search box on the Start menu (in earlier versions of Windows), and then press Enter.
The Word Options registry key stores options that you can set in Word. These settings are divided into default and optional groups. Default settings are created during the program setup. Optional settings are not created during setup. You can change both the default and optional settings in Word.
To delete the Word Options registry key, follow these steps:
1.Exit all Office programs.
2.Type regedit in the Search box (in Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8) or in the Start Search box on the Start menu (in earlier versions of Windows), and then press Enter.
3.Locate the following registry subkey, as appropriate for the version of Word that you are running.
4.Select Options, and then on the File menu select Export.
You can prevent formatting, AutoText, and macros that are stored in the global template file from affecting the behavior of Word and any documents that you open. To do this, replace the global template file.
Important
This Option includes renaming the global template file so that Word does not find it as expected when it restarts. This forces Word to re-create the global template file. By doing this, you save the original file in case you have to restore it. Be aware that when you rename the global template file, several settings are reset to their default values, including custom styles, custom toolbars, macros, and AutoText entries. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you save the global template file and do not delete it.
Additionally, in certain situations, you may have more than one global template file. For example, this occurs if multiple versions of Word are running on the same computer, or if several workstation installations exist on the same computer. In these situations, make sure that you rename each global template file so that it clearly reflects the appropriate Word installation.
To rename the global template file, follow these steps:
1.Exit all Office programs.
Right-click the Start button (lower-left corner) and select Apps and Features on the pop-up menu. Select the Microsoft Office product you want to repair and select Modify. Note: This will repair the entire Office suite even if it's just one application you want to repair such as Word or Excel. If you have a standalone app installed, then search ...
Use a tool within Word to fix it. Repair Word. This will attempt to fix the problem without you having to fully reinstall the app. Windows 11: Open Settings and go to Apps > Installed apps. Select the three dots next to Microsoft 365 and then choose Modify to see your repair options. Windows 10: Open Settings and select Apps & Features.
We love reading your suggestions on new features and feedback about how you use our products! To learn more about how to share feedback, see How do I give feedback on Microsoft Office. We’re listening.
May 31, 2024 · Fix 3: Repair Microsoft Office. Step 1: Open the Settings app on Windows (use the Windows + I keys). Step 2: Go to the Apps menu > select Apps & features. Step 3: Scroll down to Microsoft Office ...
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Jun 6, 2024 · Resolution. To fix this issue, follow these steps: Close all instances of Word. Restart Word, and then open a new blank document. On the Review tab, select All Markup in the Tracking group. Select Show Markup, and then set Balloons to Show only comments and formatting in balloons. Use File > Open to open the problematic document.
