Word is slow to respond version 16.85 in unknown version of Mac OS

Anonymous
2024-05-17T19:39:47+00:00

Split from this thread.

Exactly the same problem here:

  1. Problem appears after update to Version 16.85 (24051214) Microsoft® Word for Mac
  2. Problem is linked to spellchecker: any use of it triggers this complete freeze. Note that spellchecker can very easily be triggered incidentally, as shown in image above from Charles M1: The spelling popup balloon already crashes Word.
  3. The only way to stop the programme is through a Force Quit. Microsoft Word gets completely stuck, as described previously. To great despair, restarting Word does not trigger the usual Recovery and everything is lost. I could not locate any recovery file.
  4. It has nothing to do with OneDrive: the Word document was not located on OneDrive nor being synced through OneDrive. Completely shutting down OneDrive does not resolve the issue, it still happens..

So the problem seems to be directly caused by some change in the spelling module in the latest Word version for Mac.

Sincerely, Stan

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | MacOS

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Stefan Blom 353.5K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2024-06-11T19:54:41+00:00

After the issue was reported in the forums, Microsoft recognized that this was a bug in Office for Mac. See the reply by Jim Gordon on the first page of the long thread at https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/word-is-lagging-on-my-mac/a520fea1-564f-4118-b73b-ada1d8a0e9ef.

As far as I know, nobody has suggested that Apple was to blame for this.

Was this answer helpful?

1 person found this answer helpful.
0 comments

44 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Jim G 134.1K Reputation points MVP
    2024-05-19T00:57:14+00:00

    Hi

    There is a bug and Microsoft is investigating.

    Was this answer helpful?

    5 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2024-05-18T18:59:59+00:00

    I found this - but make sure your operating system - safari is up to date - installing is easy google directions although half of them I discovered didn't apply delete all the office from applications and remove - poof - from your dock - drag the icon into the desktop

    1. Uninstall office;
    2. Open theupdate history for Office for Mac, scroll down, and click on the download link for version 16.84, which was released on April 16, as marked by the red box;<image>
    3. Follow the step-by-step prompts to install;

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2024-05-18T18:59:03+00:00

    I found this - but make sure your operating system - safari is up to date - installing is easy google directions although half of them I discovered didn't apply delete all the office from applications and remove - poof - from your dock - drag the icon into the desktop

    1. Uninstall office;
    2. Open theupdate history for Office for Mac, scroll down, and click on the download link for version 16.84, which was released on April 16, as marked by the red box;<image>
    3. Follow the step-by-step prompts to install;

    Was this answer helpful?

    4 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2024-05-18T18:10:37+00:00

    Hi Jim.

    Same issue for me. Word 16.85 auto-installed on my computer (a MacBook Pro running OS 13.2.1) earlier this week, and the issues are happening since then. If I start a new doc it works fine for a while, maybe an hour, then gets increasingly glitchy till it crashes.

    I don't dare open my existing files now for fear of losing them: big long manuscripts, and deadlines are looming.

    Thank you for all and any assistance!

    Was this answer helpful?

    3 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments