I get a stopped working error when i start office applications on my pc

You might get this error when you start the Office 2016 or Office 2013 versions of Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher, or Visio on your PC:

Microsoft Excel has stopped working.

Microsoft Word has stopped working.

Microsoft Outlook has stopped working.

Microsoft PowerPoint has stopped working.

Microsoft Visio has stopped working.

Microsoft Publisher has stopped working.

Before you try any of the resolutions in this article, it's important to make sure that Office is fully up-to-date. If you still get "stopped working" errors after installing Office updates, choose Most Office apps or Outlook and follow the troubleshooting options in the order they are presented.

Most Office appsOutlook

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Instructions on this tab apply to Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Visio. Click the header for more instructions.

1 - Disable add-ins manually

Certain add-ins may cause compatibility issues that cause a "stopped working" error with Office apps. A quick way to find out is by starting the Office app in Safe Mode. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the Start button (lower-left corner), and choose Run. If you're in Windows 7, you can click on Start > Run.

2. Type one of these commands:

   • Type excel /safe and press Enter to start Excel.

   • Type winword /safe and press Enter to start Word.

   • Type powerpnt /safe and press Enter to start PowerPoint.

   • Type mspub /safe and press Enter to start Publisher.

   • Type visio /safe and press Enter to start Visio.

   Note: If you get a "can't find" error after typing the command, check if you included a space between the app name and /safe.

To ensure the Office app is in Safe Mode, check the title bar. You should see something like: Microsoft Excel (Safe Mode).

If the Office app doesn't start in Safe Mode, the problem isn't with add-ins. Try repairing Office or uninstalling and reinstalling it instead. If that still doesn't work, you should have the latest device drivers installed on your PC.

If the Office app starts in Safe Mode, disable the application add-ins and COM add-ins one at a time:

1. With the Office app still in Safe Mode, click File > Options > Add-Ins.

2. Check the Manage list for Add-ins options, such as Word Add-ins or Excel Add-ins, and then click Go. If you can't find an Add-ins option specific to the Office app in the Manage list, choose COM Add-ins instead.

3. Uncheck one of the add-ins in the list and click OK.

   Note: Some older add-ins are known to cause problems. Uncheck these add-ins first if they are in your list: Abbyy FineReader, PowerWord and Dragon Naturally Speaking.

4. Restart the application (not in Safe Mode this time).

If the Office app starts, there's a problem with the add-in you unchecked. We recommend you visit the company website for the add-in to check for an updated version you can install. If there isn't a newer version or if you don't need to use the add-in you can leave it unchecked or remove it from your PC.

If the Office app doesn't start, repeat the steps to uncheck the other add-ins one by one. If there was another Add-ins option in the Manage list, such as COM Add-ins, repeat this process for those add-ins as well. If all add-ins are unchecked and you still can't open your Office application, the problem isn't related to add-ins. Try some of the other troubleshooting options provided in this article.

Older versions of these add-ins are known to cause problems with Office 2016 or Office 2013 applications:

• ABBYY FineReader

• Dragon Naturally Speaking

If this didn't resolve your issue, click the next header, below.

2 - Repair Office

This step is useful if one of the Office app is damaged or corrupted. Try a quick repair first, and if that doesn't work, try the online repair. For more information, see Repair an Office application.

If this didn't resolve your issue, click the next header, below.

3 - Uninstall and reinstall Office

1. Click the button below to download and install the Office uninstall support tool.

   

2. Follow the steps below to download the uninstall support tool according to your browser.

   Tip: The tool may take a few minutes to download and install. After completing the installation, the Uninstall Office products window will open.

   Edge or Chrome

   In the lower-lower left corner right-click SetupProd_OffScrub.exe > Open.

   

   Edge (older) or Internet Explorer

   At the bottom of the browser window, select Run to launch the SetupProd_OffScrub.exe.

   

   Firefox

   In the pop-up window, select Save Fileand then from the upper-right browser window, select the downloads arrow > SetupProd_OffScrub.exe.

   

3. Select the version you want to uninstall, and then select Next.

4. Follow through the remaining screens and when prompted, restart your computer.

   After you restart your computer, the uninstall tool automatically re-opens to complete the final step of the uninstall process. Follow the remaining prompts.

5. Select the steps for the version of Office you want to install or reinstall. Close the uninstall tool.

   Microsoft 365 | Office 2019 | Office 2016 | Office 2013 | Office 2010 | Office 2007

If this didn't resolve your issue, click the next header, below.

4 - Incompatible device drivers

Older Windows device drivers may be incompatible with your Office application. You should run a Windows or Microsoft update on your PC to ensure you have the latest drivers. To do this, follow these steps:

For Windows 10:

1. Select the Start button.

2. Select Settings > Update & security > Windows Update.

3. Select Check online for updates from Microsoft Update.

4. If updates are available they should automatically be installed on your PC.

For Windows 8.1 and Windows 8:

1. On the Start screen, click Settings on the Charms Bar.

2. Click Change PC Settings.

3. In the PC Settings app, click Windows Update.

4. Click Check for updates now.

For Windows 7:

1. Click Start.

2. Type Windows Update in the Search programs and files box.

3. In the search results, click Check for updates.

4. If updates are available, click Install.

If the problem continues to occur after updating Windows, you should check to make sure that these specific drivers are up-to-date: video card, printer, mouse, and keyboard. Drivers for these devices can usually be downloaded and installed directly from the manufacturer's website.

Also, if you have a laptop, you should check the manufacturer's website for any updated files related to the laptop. For example, there's a known issue with an older DisplayLink User Mode Driver that certain laptops use. To update the DisplayLink driver you need to go to the manufacturer's site.

Instructions on this tab apply to Outlook.

1 - Create a new profile

Problems with the existing Outlook profile could cause this error to appear when try starting Outlook. A quick fix is to create a new profile to replace the existing one and to re-add your email accounts to the new profile. To do this, follow the information in this article: Create an Outlook profile.

If this didn't resolve your issue, click the next header, below.

2 - Repair Office

This step is useful if one of the Outlook files is damaged or corrupted. Try a quick repair first, and if that doesn't work, try the online repair. For more information, see Repair an Office application.

If this didn't resolve your issue, click the next header, below.

3 - Uninstall and reinstall Office

1. Click the button below to download and install the Office uninstall support tool.

   

2. Follow the steps below to download the uninstall support tool according to your browser.

   Tip: The tool may take a few minutes to download and install. After completing the installation, the Uninstall Office products window will open.

   Edge or Chrome

   In the lower-lower left corner right-click SetupProd_OffScrub.exe > Open.

   

   Edge (older) or Internet Explorer

   At the bottom of the browser window, select Run to launch the SetupProd_OffScrub.exe.

   

   Firefox

   In the pop-up window, select Save Fileand then from the upper-right browser window, select the downloads arrow > SetupProd_OffScrub.exe.

   

3. Select the version you want to uninstall, and then select Next.

4. Follow through the remaining screens and when prompted, restart your computer.

   After you restart your computer, the uninstall tool automatically re-opens to complete the final step of the uninstall process. Follow the remaining prompts.

5. Select the steps for the version of Office you want to install or reinstall. Close the uninstall tool.

   Microsoft 365 | Office 2019 | Office 2016 | Office 2013 | Office 2010 | Office 2007

If this didn't resolve your issue, click the next header, below.

4 - Incompatible device drivers

Older Windows device drivers may be incompatible with Outlook. You should run a Windows or Microsoft update on your PC to ensure you have the latest drivers. To do this, follow these steps:

For Windows 10:

1. Select the Start button.

2. Select Settings > Update & security > Windows Update.

3. Select Check online for updates from Microsoft Update.

4. If updates are available they should automatically be installed on your PC.

For Windows 8.1 and Windows 8:

1. On the Start screen, click Settings on the Charms Bar.

2. Click Change PC Settings.

3. In the PC Settings app, click Windows Update.

4. Click Check for updates now.

For Windows 7:

1. Click Start.

2. Type Windows Update in the Search programs and files box.

3. In the search results, click Check for updates.

4. If updates are available, click Install.

If the problem continues to occur after updating Windows, you should check to make sure that these specific drivers are up-to-date: video card, printer, mouse, and keyboard. Drivers for these devices can usually be downloaded and installed directly from the manufacturer's website.

Also, if you have a laptop, you should check the manufacturer's website for any updated files related to the laptop. For example, there's a known issue with an older DisplayLink User Mode Driver that certain laptops use. To update the DisplayLink driver you need to go to the manufacturer's site.

You may also want to see Outlook not responding, stuck at "Processing," stopped working, freezes, or hangs.

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