My Microsoft word app just stopped loading when my tab forced me to do a factory reset and now there's no option to uninstall.

Good day!

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Fritz-Bald

Microsoft Community

Moderator

Good day!

Welcome to Microsoft Community. Thank you for sharing your concern with us today and we hope that all is well. This issue may be a result of a combination of compatibility problems and a corrupted installation after the factory reset. Since your tablet is a 2016 Galaxy Tab A SM-T585, it’s possible that the latest version of the Microsoft Word app (and several other frequently used apps) no longer supports your device’s current OS version. Here are some steps and workarounds you can try:

Check for System Updates

• Update Your Tablet’s Software: After a factory reset the device might revert to an older software version.
  • Go to Settings > Software Update and see if a newer Android version (or any incremental updates) is available.
  • Updating your OS may restore compatibility with more recent app versions.

Clear App Data and Cache

Even if you can’t uninstall the app via the Play Store, you can try clearing its stored data:

• Navigate to Settings > Apps:
  • Locate Microsoft Word in your list of installed apps.
  • Tap Force Stop, then choose Storage.
  • Tap Clear Cache and Clear Data.
  • Restart the tablet and try opening Word again.

Uninstall via the System Settings

If the Play Store only shows an “Open” button (sometimes occurring when an app is flagged as “installed” even if it’s misbehaving), try uninstalling from the Android system directly:

• In Settings > Apps:
  • Find Microsoft Word and tap it.
  • If there isn’t a visible Uninstall button, look for a menu icon (three dots) in the upper right; sometimes the uninstall option is hidden there.
  • If uninstall isn’t offered, it could be that the system considers it a system (or pre-installed) app after the factory reset. In that case, you may have the option to Disable it instead. Once disabled, you might then be able to install a fresh version.

Try Using the Web Version

If the native app continues to misbehave:

• Use Word Online: Open your tablet’s browser and visit Office.com. Sign in to your account and use Word Online for your document editing needs. This can be a reliable workaround when native apps aren’t cooperating.

Hope this helps!

Fritz-Bald

Microsoft Community

Moderator