My PowerPoint has run into a problem and is not working, what should I do?

Paul Yobaat Laar 0 Reputation points
2026-08-15T13:33:43.3333333+00:00

My PowerPoint has run into a problem and is not working. What should I do?

Microsoft 365 and Office | PowerPoint | Other | Other
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  1. Manoel Barros 21,735 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-08-15T14:08:35.0333333+00:00

    Hi!

    What problem are you experiencing? Please send me more details.

    Does an error appear when opening PowerPoint, does it freeze, or is a specific file not opening correctly?

    Do you have any issues with Word or Excel as well?

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  2. AI answer

    2026-08-15T13:34:00.3266667+00:00

    Try these steps in order:

    1. Install the latest Office updates
      • Open any Office app.
      • Go to File > Account.
      • Under Product Information, select Update Options > Update Now.
      • If Update Now is not shown, select Enable Updates first.
    2. Start PowerPoint in Safe Mode to check add-ins
      • Open Run.
      • Type powerpnt /safe and press Enter.
      • If PowerPoint opens in Safe Mode, go to File > Options > Add-Ins.
      • Select COM Add-ins > Go.
      • Clear the add-ins, select OK, then restart PowerPoint.
      • If that fixes the issue, re-enable add-ins one at a time to find the one causing the problem.
    3. Check whether PowerPoint is busy with another process
      • Look at the status bar at the bottom of the PowerPoint window.
      • If PowerPoint is being used by another process, wait for that task to finish before trying again.
    4. Repair Office
      • Close all Office apps.
      • Open Control Panel > Programs and Features.
      • Right-click Microsoft Office in the installed apps list.
      • Select Change > Repair.
    5. Check antivirus software
      • Make sure antivirus software is up to date.
      • If antivirus software integrates with PowerPoint, it can cause performance issues.
      • Disabling PowerPoint integration or antivirus add-ins may help. Warning: changing antivirus settings can make the PC more vulnerable.
    6. Change the default printer
      • Open Control Panel > Hardware and Sound.
      • In the printers list, right-click Microsoft XPS Document Writer or Send to OneNote.
      • Select Set as default printer.
    7. If PowerPoint still shows a “stopped working” error at startup
      • If it does not open in Safe Mode, the issue is likely not an add-in.
      • In that case, repair Office or uninstall and reinstall Office.
      • Also make sure Windows and device drivers are up to date, especially video card, printer, mouse, and keyboard drivers.
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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