Many users have reported encountering an error while trying to access MS Word, Excel, or Powerpoint that says it has run into an error. The complete error message seen by the user while accessing Word is as below:
We’re sorry, but Word has run into an error that is preventing it from working correctly. Word will need to be closed as a result.
Would you like us to repair it now?
Below this message, you will see a Repair Now button. Even on running the repair task, the problem will not resolve. On launching Excel and PowerPoint also same error message is seen, just that Word is replaced with Excel and PowerPoint.
The main reason for this Word/Excel/PowerPoint has run into an error that is preventing it from working correctly is when the users try an upgrade to the MS Office application. During an update, these applications start configuring themselves to work in compatibility mode.
If you are also confronting this with MS Word, Excel, or PowerPoint then go ahead and read this article. Here, we have listed some fixes which can be followed one at a time to help overcome this error.
Fix 1 -Run the Office application with admin rights
1 -Search the office application in windows taskbar search.
2 -Do a right click on the search result icon and then click run as administrator.
Fix 2 – Repair Microsoft Office
1. Just press the Windows and R keys combination to open the Run box.
2. Type ms-settings:appsfeatures to open Apps & features page in Settings.
3. Search for Microsoft 365/Microsoft Office in the App list.
4. Click on the three vertical dots associated with Microsoft 365/Microsoft Office and choose Modify.
5. When prompted by User Account Control click on Yes.
6. Choose Quick Repair on the prompt that asks how would you like to repair your Office programs.
7. Click on the Repair button.
8. Confirm the operation by clicking on Repair again.
9. Restart your PC and check if the problem is resolved.
If the issue still persists, then perform all the steps above but choose Online Repair in step 6 and continue the repair operation.
Fix 3 – Remove all Add-ins
1 -Open Excel, Word or powerpoint, whatever application you are having issue with.
2 -Now, Click on File , then click on Options from the left menu which appears.
3 – Thereafter, click on Add-ins from the left menu.
4 – Now, click on Go button located near manage add-ins section.
5 – Uncheck all the add ins and click OK and close all the windows.
Now, try again.
Fix 4 – Edit registry
1 – Search registry editor in the search box and click on the search result to open registry editor.
Before doing anything with registry editor, Just click on File and then click on export to save a backup of registry.
2 – Now, go to the following path in the registry editor.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office.0\Common\Experiment
3 -Now, delete the following folders.
- Experiment
- ExperimentTas
- ExperimentEcs
- Expand Licensing folder and delete the CurrentSkuIdForApp folder under it.
4 -Close registry editor and restart PC.
Fix 5 – Update Windows Security
1. Open the Run dialog using the Windows and R keys combination.
2. Type ms-settings:windowsdefender and hit Enter to open Windows Security.
3. Click on Virus & threat protection in the list of Protection areas.
4. Scroll down to find Virus & threat protection updates.
5. Click on Protection updates here.
6. Now, again click on Check for updates.
7. Once the update completes, close all the open windows and save any work.
8. Restart your system. Check if you are able to open the Office app without any error.
Fix 6 – Update Microsoft Office
1. Open any Office app (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Outlook).
2. Hit the Windows key and type Word and select the Word app in the list.
3. Click on Account in the left pane at the bottom.
4. Here, click on Update Options next to Office Updates.
5. Choose the option Update Now in the dropdown that opens.
6. It will check for any updates to the Office application. If there are any updates, they will be downloaded and installed.
7. Once the update is done, restart your Office application and check if the error message is resolved.
Fix 7 – Perform a Windows Update
1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type ms-settings:windowsupdate and hit Enter to open the Windows Update page.
3. Here, click on Check for updates button.
4. Windows will start checking for any new updates. Wait till the updates are downloaded and installed.
5. Once the update completes, restart your computer.
6. Check if you are able to access the Office applications without any error.
Fix 8 – Uninstall and Reinstall MS Office
Note: Save all your work before uninstalling Office. Make sure you have your Microsoft account email and password to reinstall the digital download of Office.
1. Click on this link to download an EXE file which is the Office uninstall support tool.
2. Once it is downloaded on your PC, open the file. This will install Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant application on your PC.
3. In the Support and Recovery Assistant, choose the app as Office with which you are having a problem. Click on Next.
4. Choose the appropriate problem as I have Office installed, but I’m having trouble uninstalling it. Click on Next.
5. Choose the version of Office that you want to uninstall. Click on Next.
6. Restart your computer after the uninstallation process.
7. Now, reinstall Office by downloading the digital copy of Office using your Microsoft account from the Microsoft website.
Note: In case you have a hard copy of Office, you can use the CD/DVD. Make sure you have the license key of Office and you will need to activate Office after reinstallation.
8. Sign in to your Microsoft account using your credentials.
9. Go to your subscriptions to view your purchases. Here, click on Install to install the Office program.
Check if this resolves the error for you.
Thanks for reading.
We hope this article has been informative enough in resolving the Office Has Run Into an Error That is Preventing It From Working Correctly error on your Windows PC. Comment and let us know the fix that worked for you.