If you have been working on Microsoft Word and suddenly, you get the prompt “Word has run into an error”, then you are not alone. This error can happen out of clear blue sky and in some cases, one cannot save or open their document. Although the message is somewhat hard to understand, several reasons may lead to this problem and alternately good news is that several remedial measures are available.
In this article, we will explain the possible reasons for the occurrence of this error and present some applicable remedies to such issue.
Most Frequent Reasons for the Error Message “Word Has Run Into an Error”
This error can also be caused by many factors such as program error, file damage, bad software, in some cases add-in conflict among many others. Below are some of the leading reasons for this error:
Corrupted Word Document
One of the most common reasons for this error is a corrupted word document. This can happen where the file was not saved properly or the computer crashed while Word was still on.
Add-in Issues
Many third-party add-ins can be integrated with Word to enhance its features. These add-ins, however, might lead to some issues with Word, particularly when the version of the add-in is older than or not compatible with the Office version being used.
Microsoft Word or Windows Updates Are Not Up to Date
Always running an old version of Microsoft Word or even the Windows Operating system can at times bring out strange errors including Error: Word has run into an error.
Problem Templates and Preferences
Damaged global templates (Normal.dotm) or pref files, for example, cause problems because they form the basis of the operation of Word. If there is corruption in this area, then there is likely that Word will not even load.
Procedure to Resolve “Word Has Run into an Error” Issue
Having identified the possible causes that can lead to the problem, let’s see the possible solutions that can be used to address the problem:
1. Restart Word and Your Computer
It is worth nothing that, in most cases, the problem is unresponsive and unexpected behavior of social networks, which is due to a simple use of an exit and/or restart of Microsoft Word or my computer. In cases where Word refused to respond, the user is advised to close the program and open it back again – this is usually referred to as ‘restarting’ the application. This step helps in an active Word session and in instances where there is no need to work on the application right away. Temporary files will be deleted from the working space file from the working system and could also include memory data cache for processes and apps further eliminating possible temporary concerns.
2. Use Safe Mode When Opening Word
Using Word’s Safe Mode, users can try to troubleshoot issues in Word programs that may be due to conflicting add-ins or other settings. In order to run MsWord in a safe mode, do the following:
Press Windows + R key to bring up Run box.
Input the command winword /safe in the command box and hit enter.
Word in Safe Mode will be started with its all add-ons being turned off and only the basic parameters being used. If the application works without a hitch in Safe Mode, then there is a good chance that a plugin or personalized configuration is at fault.
3. Disable or Remove Add-ins that Cause the Issue
If Word works as expected in Safe Mode, then the issue is likely due to an add-in. To do that, to disable add-ins in Word:
- Select the File menu, and then click on Options.
- In the resulting dialog box in Word Options, click Add-ins.
- Near the bottom of the screen, there is a section Manager with a drop-down menu. Select the COM Add-ins option and press the Go button.
- Deselect the checkbox for the suspect add-ins and press OK.
- Thereafter, launch Word again to check if the error will still occur. If the problem is fixed, it is possible to activate the add-ins one at a time in order to find the problem add-in.
4. Repair Microsoft Office
In case you still have the problem, the next viable solution could be to repair your Office installation. To be specific, Microsoft Office has a repair tool aimed at cleaning damaged files and corrupted settings:
- Access Control Panel and click on Programs
- Then, click on Programs and Features.
- Locate Microsoft Office on the list, right-click and select Change.
- In the box which opens, click on Quick Repair or Online Repair . The latter takes longer to complete but is more effective for repairing Office applications.
- When the repair is done, turn off your machine and check if the problem is gone.
5. Update Microsoft Office and Windows
Using an older version of Word or your complex system might bring in malfunctions and other issues. It is important to check that both Office and Windows are up to date:
- Update Office: Open any Office application (for example, Word), click the File tab, click Account, and then click Update Options > Update Now.
- Update Windows: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click Check for Updates.
This is necessary so that you will be able to run the most recent security updates and fixes for bugs for both the Office applications and the Windows Operating system.
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