Step 1: Open the Finder app and click on the Go option in the menu bar at the top-right. You can relocate this preference file temporarily and relaunch Microsoft Word if using it without any customizations or changes helps. Like other apps, Word holds the details of all the customizations that you make like keyboard shortcuts, in to a specific preference file. So it’s a good idea to alter that and then try to open the document. If the document was created in another word processor app and then exported for Word, it’s possible that the file name didn’t change. Obviously, unless you’ve gotten that file from reliable resources, you should steer clear from opening it. Microsoft Word may not respond if you’re trying to open a document that has one or several special characters in its file name. Step 3: Release the Shift key once you see the login window on your screen. Step 2: Press and hold the Shift key the moment your Mac restarts. Step 1: Click on the Apple logo and select Restart. Step 4: After your Mac restarts in the Safe mode, open the Microsoft Word app to check if it is working.įor those using Intel-chip based MacBooks, you’ll have to follow a slightly different process. Step 3: Select the Macintosh HD, hold down the Shift key and click on Continue in Safe Mode. Step 2: After your Mac shuts down, press and hold down the Power Button till you see startup options – Macintosh HD and Options. Step 1: Click on the Apple menu in the top-right corner and select Shut Down from the menu that opens.

If you use a MacBook model with Apple Silicon M1 chip inside, booting your Mac in the Safe Mode is pretty easy. The Safe Mode basically enables only system services disables any kind of third-party app or service from launching automatically. You can attempt to boot your Mac in the Safe Mode to investigate if any third-party app or service is preventing Microsoft Word from working properly. Step 4: If yes, update the app and relaunch it. Step 3: Check for an update of the Microsoft Word app. Step 2: Click on Updates from the left menu. That’s why it’s best to check for the latest update for Microsoft Word on your Mac in case you’ve been an old version and never updated it. It’ll surprise you how often the Microsoft Office team pushes out updates to fix bugs and loopholes in the Word app. Step 3: Select Microsoft Word from the list and click on the Force Quit button. The Force Quit Applications window will open on your screen. Step 1: Click on the Apple logo at the top-left corner. Follow these steps to force quit the Word app. On the mac, you’ll need to force quit an app since hitting the cross mark doesn’t really close the app. Let’s start with the most basic troubleshooting solution – restarting the Microsoft Word app. These steps will help you open and use your Word files on Mac without any issues. This guide brings you an easy methods to fix Microsoft Word not working on Mac.

Microsoft word not opening on mac