How to troubleshoot problems that occur when you start or use Word

Verify or install the latest updates

You might have to set Windows Update to automatically download and install recommended updates. Installing any important, recommended, and optional updates can frequently correct problems by replacing out-of-date files and fixing vulnerabilities. To install the latest Microsoft Office updates, see Update Office and your computer with Microsoft Update.

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 method 2.

It's a good idea to make sure that your computer has the latest updates installed for Windows. Updates often fix software problems. Before you use any of the following methods, try first to install updates. After you install the updates, restart your computer, and then start Word.

Troubleshoot problems that occur when you start Word

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 in case there are problems and you need to restore it later.

Method 1: Insert your document into another file

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:

Click File > New > Blank Document.
On the Insert tab, click Object, and then click Text from File.
Select the file that you want to open and insert, and then click Insert.

Method 2: Start Word by using the /a switch

The /a 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:

Click Start > Search, then type "Run" and press Enter.
In the Run popup window, type "winword /a", and press Enter.

For more information about the /a switch, see 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 method to determine the source of the problem.

Method 3: Delete the Word Data registry subkey

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 key by using the default settings.

NOTE: When you delete the Word Data registry subkey, Word resets several options to their default settings. For example, Word resets the "most recently used file" list on the File menu. Also, Word resets many settings that you customize in the Options popup window.

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 in case there are problems and you need to restore it later.

To delete the Word Data registry subkey, follow these steps:

Exit all Office programs.
Type "regedit" in the Search box and then press Enter.
Locate the following registry subkey, as appropriate for the version of Word that you are using:

Word 2016: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Word\Data
Word 2013: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Word\Data
Word 2010: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Word\Data
Word 2007: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Word\Data
Word 2003: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Word\Data
Click Data, and then click File > Export.
Name the file "Wddata.reg", and then save the file to the desktop.
Click Edit > Delete, then click Yes.
Exit the Registry Editor and start Word.

If Word starts and works correctly, you have resolved the problem (a damaged Word Data registry key). You may now have to change several settings to restore your favorite options in Word.

If the problem is not resolved, restore the original Word Data registry subkey, and then try the next method below.

Restore the original Word Data registry key

To restore the original Word Data registry subkey, follow these steps:

Exit all Office programs.
Double-click the Wddata.reg icon on the desktop.
Click Yes, and then click OK.

If restoring the Word Data registry subkey doesn’t work, go to the next procedure.

Method 4: Delete the Word Options registry key

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:

Exit all Office programs.
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.
Locate the following registry subkey, as appropriate for the version of Word that you are running:

Word 2016: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Word\Options
Word 2013: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Word\Options
Word 2010: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Word\Options
Word 2007: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Word\Options
Word 2003: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Word\Options
Click Options, and then click File > Export.
Name the file "Wddata.reg", and then save the file to the desktop.
Click Edit > Delete, then click Yes.
Exit the Registry Editor and start Word.

If Word starts and works correctly, you have resolved the problem (a damaged Word Options registry key). You may now have to change several settings to restore your favorite options in Word.

If the problem is not resolved, restore the original Word Options registry key, and then try the next method.

To restore the original Word Options registry key

To restore the original Word Options registry subkey, follow these steps:

Exit all Office programs.
Double-click the Wdoptn.reg icon on the desktop.
Click Yes, and then click OK.

Method 5: Replace the Normal.dot or Normal.dotm global template file

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 method 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 defaults, 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.

ADDITIONAL NOTE: 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:

Exit all Office programs.
Click Start > Search, type "cmd", and then press Enter.
At the command prompt, type the command that corresponds to your version of Word:

Word 2016, Word 2013, Word 2010, or Word 2007: "ren %userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates\Normal.dotm OldNormal.dotm"

Word 2003: "ren %userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates\Normal.dot OldNormal.dot"
Press Enter.
At the command prompt, type "exit" and press Enter.
Start Word.

If Word starts correctly, you have resolved the problem. In this case, the problem is a damaged global template file. Now, you may have to change several settings to restore your favorite options.

NOTE: The old global template file may contain customizations that can't be easily re-created. These customizations may include styles, macros, and AutoText entries. In this case, you may be able to copy the customizations from the old global template file to the new global template file by using the Organizer. For more information about how to use the Organizer to copy macros and styles, press F1 in Word to open Microsoft Word Help, type "rename macros" in the Search field, and then click Search to view the topic.

If the problem is not resolved, restore the original global template file, and then go to the next section.

Restore the original global template file

To restore the original global template file, follow these steps:

Exit all Office programs.
Click Start > Search, type "cmd", and then press Enter.
At the command prompt, type the command that corresponds to your version of Word:

Word 2016, Word 2013, Word 2010, or Word 2007: "ren %userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates\Normal.dotm OldNormal.dotm"

Word 2003: "ren %userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates\Normal.dot OldNormal.dot"
Press Enter.
At the command prompt, type "exit" and press Enter.
Start Word.

Method 6: Disable the Startup folder add-ins

When you start Word, Word automatically loads templates and add-ins that are located in the Startup folders. Conflicts or problems that affect an add-in can cause problems in Word. To determine whether an item in a Startup folder is causing the problem, temporarily disable the registry setting that points to these add-ins.

To do this, follow these steps:

Exit all Office programs.
Start Windows Explorer, type "windows ex" in the Search field, and then press Enter.
At the command prompt, type the command that corresponds to your version of Word:

Word 2016, 64-bit C2R installation: "%programfiles%\Microsoft Office\root\office16\Startup\"
Word 2016, 32-bit C2R installation: "%programfiles% (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\office16\Startup\"
Word 2016, 64-bit MSI installation: "%programfiles%\Microsoft Office\office16\Startup\"
Word 2016, 32-bit MSI installation: "%programfiles% (x86)\Microsoft Office\office16\Startup\"
Word 2013, 64-bit C2R installation: "%programfiles%\Microsoft Office\root\office15\Startup\"
Word 2013, 32-bit C2R installation: "%programfiles% (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\office15\Startup\"
Word 2013, 64-bit MSI installation: "%programfiles%\Microsoft Office\office15\Startup\"
Word 2013, 32-bit MSI installation: " %programfiles% (x86)\Microsoft Office\office15\Startup\"
Word 2010: "%programfiles%\Microsoft Office\Office14\Startup\"
Word 2007: "%programfiles%\Microsoft Office\Office12\Startup\"
Word 2003: "%programfiles%\Microsoft\Office\Office11\Startup\"
Press Enter.
Right-click one of the files that is contained in the folder, and then click Rename.
After the file name, type .old, and then press Enter.

IMPORTANT: Important Make a note of the original file name so that you can restore the file, if it is necessary.
Start Word.
If you can no longer reproduce the problem, you have found the specific add-in that causes the problem. If you must have the features that the add-in provides, contact the vendor of the add-in for an update.

If the problem is not resolved, rename the add-in by using its original name, and then repeat steps 3 through 6 for each file in the Startup folder.
If you can still reproduce the problem, type the following path in the address bar of Windows Explorer, and then click OK.

Windows 10, 8.1, 8, or 7: "%userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\Startup"
Windows XP: "%userprofile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\Startup"
Repeat steps 3 through 6 for each file in this Startup folder.

If the problem is not resolved after you disable the Startup folder add-ins, go to the next method.

Method 7: Delete the COM add-ins registry keys

You can install COM add-ins in any location. Programs that interact with Word install COM add-ins. To determine whether a COM add-in is causing the problem, temporarily disable the COM add-ins by deleting the registry keys for the COM add-ins.

To delete the COM add-ins registry keys, follow these steps:

Exit all Office programs.
Click Start < Search, type "regedit", and then press Enter.
Locate this registry subkey: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\Word\Addins.
Click Add ins, and then click File > Export.
Name the file "WdaddinHKCU.reg", and then save the file to the desktop.
Click Edit > Delete, and then click Yes.
Locate this registry subkey: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Office\Word\Addins
Click Add ins, and then click File > Export.
Name the file "WdaddinHKLM.reg", and then save the file to the desktop.
Click Edit > Delete, and then click Yes.
Exit the Registry Editor and Start Word.

If the problem is resolved, you have determined that a COM add-in program is causing the problem. Next, you must determine which COM add-in program is causing the problem.

Determine which COM add-in program is causing the problem

To determine which COM add-in program is causing the problem, follow these steps:

Exit all Office programs.
Double-click the Wdaddin.reg icon on your desktop.
Click Yes, and then click OK.
If you're using Word 2016, Word 2013, or Word 2010:
1. Click File > Options.
2. Click Add-Ins.
3. In the Manage list, click COM Add-Ins, and then click Go.
  
  NOTE: If an add-in is listed in the COM Add-Ins popup window, uncheck the add-in box. If more than one add-in is listed, uncheck only one add-in box at a time. This procedure helps determine which add-in is causing the problem.
4. Click OK to close the COM Add-Ins popup window.
5. Click File > Exit.
If you're using Word 2007:
1. Click the Microsoft Office button, and then click Word Options.
2. Click Add-ins.
3. In the Manage list, click COM Add-Ins, and then click Go.
  
  NOTE: If an add-in is listed in the COM Add-Ins popup window, uncheck the add-in box. If more than one add-in is listed, uncheck only one add-in box at a time. This procedure helps determine which add-in is causing the problem.
4. Click OK to close the COM Add-Ins popup window.
5. Click the Microsoft Office button, and then click Exit Word.
6. Click File > Exit.
Start Word.

If the problem is resolved when you start Word, you have determined which COM add-in is causing the problem. If you must have the features that the add-in provides, you must determine which add-in includes those features so that you can contact the vendor for an update.

If the problem is not resolved when you start Word, repeat steps 4 and 5 for each COM add-in that's listed until you determine which add-in is causing the problem.

To restore the COM add-ins, repeat step 4, but select the check box for each COM add-in that you want to restore.

Method 8: Change the default printer

To change the default printer, follow these steps:

Exit all Office programs.
Click Start < Search, type "regedit", and then press Enter.
Right-click Microsoft XPS Document Writer, and then click Set as default printer.
Start Word.

If the problem is resolved after you start Word, you have determined that the printer is causing the problem. If this is the case, contact the vendor to see whether there is an update for the printer driver.

How to troubleshoot problems that occur when you start or use Word

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