There’s nothing more disappointing than opening Microsoft Word, typing away, and then the program freezes. You get a notification showing something like ‘Word Not Responding’, and your document is frozen as well. Avoid panic! This is a quite regular occurrence and there are some few methods you can apply in order to restore Word functionality. In case you are using either Windows or Mac, here are the complete steps that will assist you in fixing this particular error.
Reasons for “Word Not Responding”
There is a need for solutions to follow, and first seek to explain the factors that may cause Word to hang. Some of the common ones include:
Large Documents: If you are writing on a very big file, loading or saving the file might take a while, especially if there are pictures, charts or embedded objects within the file.
Add-ins and Plugins: The Windows Word add-ons or other external add-ons may interfere with the functioning of Word leading to it hanging or crushing.
Corrupted Word File: The doc file may sometimes itself get corrupted making the inability to load or respond to Word commands.
Outdated Software: There are higher tendencies of newly introduced bugs on Microsoft Word than the old versions that are why customers may experience freezing on the application.
Low System Resources: Application such as Word requires a lot of processing and memory hence the computer’s incapacity to provide this may introduce performance problems.
Conflicting Software: Other neighbors programs and background running, as well as protective programs can block the normal operation of Word.
In-Depth Solutions to Troubleshoot “Word Not Responding” Error
Attempt to Exit Word and Launch It Again to fix Word Not Responding
At times, all it takes is a restart of the application to correct the situation.
Windows: Use the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to access Task Manager. Locate Microsoft Word within the ‘Processes’ tab, select it and click on the ‘End task’ button.
2. Look For Updates For Microsoft Word:
In most cases, problems arise due to performance issues with outdated software. Ensure that you are equipped with the latest updated version of Word.
- Windows Application: Start with opening the Word Application, then from the File menu,
- Open the Account feature and click on Update Options Then Click on Update Now button.
- New updates could resolve the problems that lead to Word hanging.
3. Remove Add-Ins
More so, add-ins can lead to Word hanging severally or crashing completely. To confirm that’s not the case;
- Windows: When launching the application, hold Ctrl and the program will open in Safe Mode.
- If it’s possible to open Word in Safe Mode, remove all the add-ins by going to File > Options > Add-ins and then managing COM Add-ins at the bottom.
- Turn off every add-in and close Word. Turn them back on one by one to find out which is the troublesome one.
4. Office Installation Troubleshooting
In case the issue still persist and word keeps freezing then you have to repair the installation of Office.
- To start with, go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.
- Scroll down and look for Microsoft Office, highlight it and press Change.
- Click Quick Repair first. If it does not help, choose Online Repair.
5. Corruption Checks to the Document
On some occasions, a poorly saved ‘Word’ document can lead to case of freezing of ‘Word’. Do the following steps in attempting to recover your case: Open and Repair: Open ‘Word’ go to ‘File’ then ‘Open’ and select the affected document.
- In the file dialog box, click the down arrow beside the open tab and click on open and repair.
- Create a New Document: Move the contents from the previous document into a different document.
After several attempts with the new document, if it functions correctly, the old one is most likely spoiled.
6. Cut Down the Size of the Document
In case you have a huge document with a lot of graphics, figures, or any other embedded data, you can also try and cut it down into sections. This helps to lighten the burden imposed on Word which could also help in preventing it from freezing.
7. Assessing System Constraints
Ensure that your PC has enough free disk size (memory, CPU, etc.) to carry out operations in Word without difficulties.
- Shut down any other application you are not using and close any unneeded browser windows.
- Go to the Task Manager or Activity Monitor to view how much memory your computer is using.
- If you notice that your system is almost out of memory, the last resort will be to turn off the power and restart the computer.
Conclusion
The “Word Not Responding” error can be caused by many factors, ranging from system resource issues to corrupted files or incompatible add-ins. By following the troubleshooting steps outlined above, you can often resolve the issue and get back to work without losing your progress. If the problem persists, reaching out to Microsoft Support may be your next best option.
Remember, regular updates and system maintenance can help prevent these types of issues from occurring in the first place!