My Windows PC will not open any app

Queenster Opoku Agyemang 0 Reputation points
2026-09-16T07:57:11.4+00:00

My PC is failing to open all apps, including Excel, Word, and Outlook. Every single thing on my laptop is unable to open due to an error. This error is preventing me from working correctly, and as a result, I cannot work.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Performance and system failures
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  1. DaveM121 933.8K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-09-16T08:32:14.6333333+00:00

    1

    Is this problem just affecting the Office apps on your PC or also other apps?

    Please provide a screenshot of the error you see indicated when an app fails to open.

    2

    What happened on your PC before this problem started to occur, was there a Windows update installed that may have caused the problems.

    Open the Settings App.

    Go to Windows Update - Update History.

    Do you have the out-of-band KB5129195 update installed.

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  2. ApexNáV 360 Reputation points
    2026-09-16T08:29:58.01+00:00

    Simply repair system files. Repairing Windows by reinstalling the same version may help. It repairs system files and components while preserving your apps, files, and settings, but I still recommend backing up important data just in case. You can perform the repair using the Microsoft guide below:

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/install-upgrade/fix-issues-by-reinstalling-the-current-version-of-windows

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  3. AI answer

    2026-09-16T07:57:39.09+00:00

    Try these steps in order:

    1. Try opening the app again If this started after a System Restore, some Windows apps can show “This app can’t open” the first time and then open on the next attempt.
    2. Run Windows Update On Windows 11:
      • Select Start
      • Type settings
      • Select Windows Update
      • Select Check for updates
      • Install any available updates
      This is recommended both for Windows app issues and for Office app startup failures.
    3. Start an Office app in Safe Mode This checks whether an add-in is causing Word, Excel, or Outlook to fail.
      • Press Windows key + R
      • For Word, type: winword /safe
      • For Excel, type: excel /safe
      • For Outlook, type: outlook /safe
      • Select OK
      If an app opens in Safe Mode, the problem is likely related to add-ins.
    4. Disable Office add-ins If Word or Excel opens in Safe Mode:
      • Go to File > Options > Add-ins
      • In Manage, select the add-in type and open it
      • Clear the selected add-ins
      • Restart the app normally
      • If needed, re-enable add-ins one at a time to find the one causing the crash
    5. Repair Office If Office apps still will not open, run a repair. A full Online Repair is more thorough than the quick repair prompt.
      • Open Settings
      • Go to Apps
      • Find Microsoft Office or Microsoft 365
      • Select Modify
      • Start with Quick Repair
      • If that does not fix it, run Online Repair
    6. Check device and Windows drivers Older drivers can prevent Office apps from opening correctly. After Windows Update, also make sure these are current:
      • video card
      • printer
      • mouse
      • keyboard
      On laptops, also check the laptop manufacturer’s site for updated drivers.
    7. If Office still fails, uninstall and reinstall Office Use Microsoft’s uninstall troubleshooter, restart the PC when prompted, and then reinstall Office.

    If the issue is specifically with opening Word or Excel files from Outlook or another external source on older systems, check that the Windows Firewall service is running:

    • Press Windows key + R
    • Type services.msc
    • In Services, right-click Windows Firewall and select Start

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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