Microsoft Word shows an error or will not open on a Mac: how to fix it
Most Word problems on a Mac come from an out of date version, a sign in or license hiccup, or a damaged preferences file. Your documents are almost always fine.
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Steps
Write down the exact error message, or take a picture of it with your phone. It tells you which fix to try first.
Save anything you can, then quit Word fully. Click Word in the top menu bar and choose Quit Word. If it is frozen, press Command, Option and Escape together, select Microsoft Word, and click Force Quit.
Restart the Mac, then open Word again. This clears a stuck process more often than you would think.
Update Word. Open Word, click Help in the top menu bar, then Check for Updates, and install everything Microsoft AutoUpdate offers. If Word came from the App Store, open the App Store and click Updates instead.
If the message mentions your license, an unlicensed product, or signing in, click Word in the top menu bar, choose Sign Out, then sign back in with the Microsoft account that has your Office or Microsoft 365 subscription.
If Word still crashes when it opens, reset its settings. Quit Word, open Finder, click Go in the top menu bar, hold the Option key and choose Library. Open Containers, then com.microsoft.Word, then Data, Library, Preferences, and drag com.microsoft.Word.plist to your Desktop. Open Word again. Word makes a fresh settings file, and you can put the old one back if nothing changed.
If only one document causes the error, open Word first, then use File, Open to open that document. If it still fails, try opening a copy of it, or open it at office.com in a web browser to rescue the text.
Common questions
Will I lose my documents if I reset Word?
No. Resetting the settings file and signing out do not touch your documents. They stay wherever you saved them.
Do I need to reinstall Word?
Usually not. Updating, signing out and back in, and resetting the settings fix most errors. Reinstalling is the last step, and it needs your Microsoft account sign in afterward.
Free human help is at capacity right now. If you want help while you fix this, Ellis, our AI assistant, can help you by phone now. The first 5 minutes are free when you call (928) 272-0355. If you want more time, phone help is $19 one time for up to 30 minutes, used over 14 days. No subscription. Ellis is an AI and can make mistakes.