Microsoft Word not opening on Windows 11 – How to fix

Having difficulties launching the Microsoft Word on your Windows 11? There are many ways you can launch the Word app, so we recommend you give them a try. If you can’t open the Word at all, there might be some problem with the corrupted MS Word app data. Go through these solutions, and you can fix the Word issue.

 

Fix 1  – Run the Quick Repair operation on MS Word

Possible corruption in the Word app can be the reason why you can’t open the Microsoft Word.

Step 1 – To run the fixing solution, you have to open the Windows key and the I key together buttons at once.

Step 2 –  This should take to you to the Settings page. Then, go to the “Apps” tab.

Step 3 – Later, tap the “Installed Apps” module.



 

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Step 4 – On the subsequent step, try to find the “Microsoft Office” package there.

Step 5 – Now, tap the three-dot button and tap the “Modify” option.

 

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The repair module for the Office package will now open up.

Step 6 – Now, select the “Quick Repair” mode. This is quicker than the ‘Online Repair’ mode.

Step 7 – So, tap the “Repair” mode.

 

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Let it repair the MS Word package on the device. If there is any file corruption, it will be fixed during this process.

After you have repaired, we recommend a system reboot.

You can access and use the Microsoft Word once again.

 

Fix 2 – Restart the Spooler services

Restart the Spooler services on your computer. This should help fix the Word not opening problem.

Step 1 – To do this, you will need the Run panel. So, press the Win+R keys together.

Step 2 – On the following step, type the short code and click “OK“.

services.msc

 

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Step 3 – When you land on the Services page, find out the “Print Spooler” service.

Step 4 – Later, just right-click the “Print Spooler” service and tap “Restart” to reboot the service.

Step 5 – If the ‘Restart’ option is greyed out, you can tap ‘Start’ to start the service.

 

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After you have restarted the service, try to re-open Word. Check if this helps!

 

Fix 3 – Rename the Normal.dotm file

You have to rename a certain file. If the file is corrupt, Word will rebuild the file. This should solve the problem.

Step 1 – Make sure that there are no Word related operations are running on the system. If the repair operation is still running, ensure that it is complete before you proceed to this fix.

Step 2 – So, pop up a Run box.

Step 3 – Type this and hit Enter.

%appdata%

 

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Step 4 – Follow this path –

Microsoft > Templates

 



Step 5 – There, you shall the find the “Normal.dotm” file.

Step 6 – Finally, right-click the file there and tap the rename icon.

 

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Step 7 – Name the file as “Normalold.dotm“.

 

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After you have renamed it, close the folder.

The next time you relaunch Word, it will recreate the same file afresh. Once it recreates it, you can use the Word normally. See if this works!