Processes in Microsoft 365 for setting up Office apps, redeeming product keys, and activating licenses.
Try these steps in order:
- Update Office
- Open any Office app if possible.
- Go to File > Account.
- Under Product Information, select Update Options > Update Now.
- If Update Now is not shown, select Enable Updates first.
- Start Word or PowerPoint in Safe Mode
- Press Windows key + R to open Run.
- For Word, type:
winword /safe - For PowerPoint, type:
powerpnt /safe - Press Enter.
- If the app opens in Safe Mode, the title bar should show Safe Mode.
- If the app opens in Safe Mode, disable add-ins
- In the app, go to File > Options > Add-Ins.
- In the Manage list, select the app add-ins or COM Add-ins, then select Go.
- Clear one add-in, select OK, then restart the app normally.
- Repeat until the problem add-in is found.
- Older add-ins such as Abbyy FineReader, PowerWord, and Dragon Naturally Speaking are known to cause problems.
- If the app does not open in Safe Mode, repair Office
- Open Control Panel.
- Go to Programs > Programs and Features.
- Select Microsoft Office or Microsoft 365.
- Select Change.
- Run Quick Repair first.
- If Quick Repair does not fix it, run Online Repair
- Open Settings > Apps.
- Find Microsoft Office.
- Select it, then choose Modify > Online Repair.
- This is more complete than the Repair Now button in the error dialog and can reinstall Office.
- If Online Repair still does not fix it
- Restart the PC.
- Then uninstall and reinstall Office.
If a specific Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file is damaged, try:
- File > Open > Browse
- Select the file
- Select the arrow next to Open
- Choose Open and Repair
If PowerPoint shows “Can’t read file” or “Presentation cannot be opened”, the file may be blocked:
- In File Explorer, right-click the file > Properties
- If Unblock appears, select Unblock > Apply > OK
- Then open the file again
- I get a "stopped working" error when I start Office applications on my PC
- Double-clicking an Office file fails to open it in the correct Office program
- Word not opening - Microsoft Q&A My MS word was working fine until tonight. When I open any word file, it says my word run into an error that is preventing it from working correctly. But nothing works even after clicking on repair now button
- we are 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 now? - Microsoft Q&A we are 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 now?
- Open a document after a file corruption error
- Error: Can't read file, or Presentation cannot be opened