Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in Word for Windows

Last updated: June 2026

Word crashes and slow performance

• [INVESTIGATING] Word might crash when performing a mail merge with templates (.dot/dotm)
• [FIXED] Word might crash with iManage Work Desktop for Windows (WDW) add-in enabled
• [INVESTIGATING] When opening a Word document, users might get a Visual Basic dialog box with Runtime error 4707
• [FIXED] Word, Excel, or Outlook might stop responding after installing the KB5002700 security update for Office 2016
• [FIXED] Word might stop responding when trying to activate embedded package objects after installing KB5002542
• [INVESTIGATING] Error "Something Went Wrong [1001]" signing in to Microsoft 365 Desktop Applications
• [FIXED] Error "Invalid password" when opening a VBA project using the correct password
• [WORKAROUND] Characters are displayed as SBC (Single Byte Character Set) after using the "@" symbol when IME (Input Method Editor) is turned on
• [WORKAROUND] After installing KB 4011730, you may not be able to open or save Word documents

Expand this section for older crashes and slow performance issues that are fixed

• [FIXED] Office Applications crash due to Nahimic audio driver
• [FIXED] Windows cannot find "c:\program files\microsoft office\root\office16\outlook.exe
• [FIXED] Word file becomes corrupt when opening a file that contains a VBA project or after enabling a macro in an open file
• [FIXED] Error 0xC0000142 when you start an Office 2016 application
• [FIXED] Internet connectivity issues in M365 apps after a change to the IP address range
• [FIXED] Office apps crash after you try to access files from OneDrive

Issues affecting Word features and add-ins

• [FIXED] Users are prompted to save locally saved documents after being idle with no edits made
• [FIXED] EUDC characters may appear as blank squares in Word
• [FIXED] Custom caption labels are not saved after closing Word
• [FIXED] Neural voices might be unavailable in Read Aloud in Word after updating to version 2604 (build 19929.20090)
• [FIXED] Hyphens Missing from Hyphenated Words in Word for the web
• [FIXED] Heading numbering disappears after applying Style Separator in Word
• [FIX DEPLOYED] Users get the message "Location is turned off in system settings" when working with Word files in Windows
• [FIXED] Error “The text formatting command is not available” when opening emails in classic Outlook or documents in Word for Windows
• [FIXED] Formatting lost when coauthoring a Word document
• [FIXED] Table layouts unexpectedly change after updating to version 2508 (build 19127)
• [FIXED] Microsoft Word might repeatedly open new, blank documents without being prompted
• [WORKAROUND] The Sketch shape outline isn't visible when applied in Word
• [WORKAROUND] Unexpected behavior when editing text in objects inserted into table cells in Word for Windows
• [FIXED] Unexpected Character change in Hebrew and Thai in Word
• [INVESTIGATING] Error "No results were found" when using the Translate function in Office
• [FIXED] When trying to sign in to an Office app, users might receive a consent dialog labeled AugLoop.All (TEST Augmentation Loop MSIT)
• [FIXED] Text may unexpectedly appear with a solid or dotted underline for Japanese users in Word
• [FIXED] The enter and backspace keys are not working as expected within a list in Word
• [FIXED] Advanced Typography settings are missing in classic Outlook and Word
• [FIXED] Keyboard shortcut for Bold changed in Word after update
• [FIXED] Locally saved Word files with capitalized file extensions or # in the title may be deleted after save
• [FIXED] Word save status is missing in the Title bar for locally saved files
• [FIXED] Footnote number might change unexpectedly in Word for Windows and Mac
• [BY DESIGN] Organization Chart Add-in is not available in Office applications
• [FIXED] Characters converted to Kanji become invisible in Word and Outlook
• [FIXED] Error "Something went wrong" when using Similarity Checker in Word
• [FIXED] Word JavaScript API gives error "RichApi.Error: NotImplemented" with Office Add-ins using content controls
• [FIXED] "Access Denied" when launching an Office add-in
• [FIXED]" Save as Picture" is greyed out
• [FIXED] "Save as Picture" saves images in low resolution
• [FIXED] Word on the web: Predictive input for Japanese Preferences causes a conversion without confirmation
• [FIXED] Intermittent printing issues in Word and Publisher
• [FIXED] Vertical Text Issues reported for East Asian languages
• [FIXED] Excel, Word, or PowerPoint may crash with older versions of Bitdefender
• [FIXED] Excel, Word, or PowerPoint may crash with older versions of GigaTrust software
• [FIXED] Yu Mincho (游明朝) font does not display correctly in Word
• [FIXED] Icons appear as black squares in Word documents
• [WORKAROUND] "The fine print" license agreement message unexpectedly appears when opening Office apps
• [FIXED] Problems with text, underline, and flickering screens when using Office edit languages
• [WORKAROUND] Export to PDF error in Word 2016: "Export failed due to an unexpected error"
• [WORKAROUND] Office 2016 is automatically set as the default application when opening an Office file after installing the Microsoft 365 trial version
• [FIXED] AutoSave is missing from the Office toolbar
• [FIXED] After installing KB 3213656 or KB 4011039, merged table cells don't work correctly in Word or Outlook
• [FIXED] Windows File Explorer does not display the Office document properties
• [WORKAROUND] Office 2016 files open as read-only unexpectedly
• [FIXED] Error containing the URL "http:⁠//hubblecontent.osi.office.net/" when inserting an icon or picture
• [FIXED] Emojis are not displayed in Office applications in Windows 7

[WORKAROUND] Toolbar ribbon and ruler appear in the Word document

Last updated: May 21, 2018

ISSUE

Some users have reported seeing parts of toolbar ribbon or ruler showing in the Word document canvas area.

STATUS: WORKAROUND

This issue can be resolved by rebooting the PC.

[FIXED] Error: "Word cannot open the document: User does not have access privileges."

Last updated: January 11, 2018

ISSUE

If you recently installed an update and have McAfee antivirus installed on your PC, you may experience problems opening an Excel table, a MathType equation, or some other embedded object inserted in a Word document.

STATUS: FIXED

This issue has been solved with WebAdvisor version 4.0.7.148. To fix this issue, please update the McAfee antivirus to the latest version. Follow these steps provided in the McAfee forums.

[FIXED] Problems editing charts after update

Last updated: January 11, 2018

ISSUE

If you recently installed an update and have McAfee antivirus installed on your PC, you may experience problems editing chart data in PowerPoint or Word.

STATUS: FIXED

This issue has been solved with WebAdvisor version 4.0.7.148. To fix this issue, please update the McAfee antivirus to the latest version. Follow these steps provided in the McAfee forums.

Expand this section for older issues affecting Word features and add-ins

• [FIXED] Repeated prompt to login and open "_vti_rpc" when using Office 2016 apps with documents stored in OneDrive

Known issues, changed functionality, blocked or discontinued features

• Flash, Silverlight, and Shockwave controls blocked in Office 2016

Need more help?

	Talk to support. If you have a Microsoft 365 for home subscription, or you purchased a one-time download of Office 2016, click the Contact Us link at the bottom of this page.
	Ask the community Get help from experts in our forums: Office on Windows forum for personal, home, or university users Microsoft 365 community forum for business users
	Provide feedback in Office app You can send feedback directly to our Office teams: In Office 2016 on Windows 10, open an Office app, and click File > Feedback.

Have a feature request?

	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.