Microsoft Word Keeps Freezing in Windows 10 - 10 ways to fix It

Are you facing issues with Microsoft Word freezing on your Windows 10 system? This can be highly frustrating, especially when you're in the middle of important work.

When Microsoft Word keeps freezing on Windows 10 during your tasks, it indicates an underlying problem that needs to be addressed. Why?

Although Microsoft Word rarely encounters problems, including freezing on Windows, it's not immune to issues.

Fortunately, there are several solutions you can try.

So, in this article, we will explore 11 different approaches to resolve the issue of Microsoft Word keeps freezing on Windows 10. We hope one of these solutions will help you resume your work smoothly!

What is Microsoft Word?

Microsoft Word is a word processing application included in the Microsoft Office suite of productivity tools. It enables users to create, edit, and format text documents. As the most widely used word processing program globally, it boasts over a billion users.

Why Does Microsoft Word Keep Freezing on Windows 10?

Several factors might cause Microsoft Word to freeze on Windows 10. It could be a software issue or a hardware problem with your computer. Sometimes, Microsoft Word may freeze due to too many programs running simultaneously, such as having numerous browser tabs open.

Microsoft Word may freeze because your computer's resources are strained. This indicates that your system lacks sufficient memory or processing power to run Microsoft Word effectively.

Alternatively, you might be using an outdated version of the MS Office application or MS Word. In this case, updating the app could resolve the issue.

The problem might also arise if your computer is malfunctioning due to a malware infection. If so, you should scan for malware using a reliable antivirus or anti-malware solution.

How to Resolve Microsoft Word Freezing on Windows 10

Here are 11 different solutions you can try if Microsoft Word keeps freezing on Windows 10.

Method #1: Restart Your Computer

The initial step you should take is to restart your computer. This can resolve various software issues. To restart, click the Start button, then the power icon, and select Restart.

Method #2: Run Microsoft Word in Safe Mode

If Microsoft Word continues to freeze, try running it in Safe Mode. This disables potentially problematic features. To do this, click the Start button, type "word" in the search bar, right-click Microsoft Word, and select Run as administrator. Click Yes. In the Microsoft Word dialog box, go to the File tab, click Options, then Advanced. Under General, uncheck Enable Safe Mode, and click OK.

Method #3: Run a Virus Scan

If Microsoft Word keeps freezing, it might be due to a virus infection. Run a virus scan to check for and fix the issue. Click the Start button, type "virus" in the search bar, and select Virus & threat protection. Under Current threats, click Scan now.

Method #4: Disable Add-ins (Disable MS Word Add-ins in Safe Mode)

If Word crashes frequently, an add-in might be the cause. Start the application in Safe Mode by holding the CTRL key while clicking the application. Here are the steps to disable add-ins in Safe Mode:

Step 1: Open or Enable MS Word in Safe Mode

You can do this in two ways:

1. Press Win R to open the Run dialog, type winword /safe, and click OK.
   
2. Hold the Ctrl key and double-click the Word shortcut on your desktop. When prompted, click Yes to proceed.
   

Step 2: After enabling MS Word in Safe Mode, select the File tab at the top of the window.

Step 3: Click the Options button at the bottom of the left-hand menu.

Step 4: Disable add-ins in the Options window

1. On the left pane, select Add-ins.
2. At the bottom right, you'll see Manage with a dropdown menu.
3. Select COM Add-ins.
4. Click the Go button.

Step 5: Deselect all the add-ins options and check whether Word freezing is resolved

1. In the dialog, deselect all add-ins and click OK.
2. Exit MS Word in Safe Mode.
3. Check if MS Word responds normally.

If Word stops freezing, you can continue editing your document. If not, move to the next solution.

Method #5: Repair the Damaged Word Document

If Word freezes due to a damaged document, repair the specific file or the entire MS Office. Use the MS Word repair tool:

1. Open MS Word in Safe Mode (as described above), then go to Open > Browse.
   
2. Locate the Word file in Windows File Explorer, select it, and click the Open drop-down arrow at the bottom.
   
3. Choose the Open and Repair option.
   
4. Reopen the file in normal mode and check if MS Word freezing is resolved.

If the issue is resolved, edit your file; otherwise, proceed to the next step.

Method #6: Reset Microsoft Word

If Microsoft Word keeps freezing, reset it to default settings. This removes customizations but might fix the problem.

To reset Microsoft Word:

1. Click the Start button, type "word" in the search bar.
2. Right-click Microsoft Word, select Run as administrator, and click Yes.
   
3. In the Microsoft Word dialog box, go to the File tab, click Options, then Advanced.
4. Under General, click Reset.
5. In the Reset Microsoft Word dialog box, click Yes.

This will reset MS Word settings to default and may solve the freezing issue.

Method #7: Repair MS Office with Built-in Function (Run Office Repair Tool)

If MS Word keeps freezing after the above solutions, use the Office repair tool to fix Word freezing and other MS Office issues.

1. Press the Windows button and open the Settings application.
2. In the Windows settings, select Apps.
   
3. In the next window, select Apps & features on the left-hand pane.
4. Scroll down on the right-hand pane to find Microsoft Office.
   
5. Click on MS Office and select the Modify button. Confirm with Yes. You will see two options to fix the frozen MS Word:
   1. Try Quick Repair first. The process will take some time.
   2. If that doesn't work, try Online Repair.
      
6. After that, restart your Windows 10 PC and check if MS Word responds normally.

If MS Word still freezes after this solution (and after Online Repair), proceed to the next solution.

Method #8: Update Microsoft Word

If you're using an older version of Microsoft Word, it might cause freezing. Update Microsoft Word to see if it resolves the issue.

1. Click the Start button, type "update" in the search bar, and select Check for updates.
   
2. If any updates are available for Microsoft Word, they will be downloaded and installed automatically.

Method #9: Switch the Default Printer

Sometimes, MS Word can malfunction due to third-party software or hardware like a default printer. If your Windows 10 PC is connected to an incompatible printer, it may cause MS Word to freeze.

Try switching to another available printer:

1. Go to Start menu > Settings app > Devices > Printers & scanners.
   
2. In the printers & scanners window, scroll down to find the option “Let Windows manage my default printer” and deselect it.
   
3. Then scroll up; when you see Microsoft XPS Document Writer, select it and click the Manage button.
   
4. Click on Set as Default.

Open your MS Word document and check if it runs smoothly without freezing.

Method #10: Uninstall and Reinstall Microsoft Word or Microsoft Office

If Microsoft Word keeps freezing, try uninstalling and reinstalling it. This will replace potentially problematic program files.

Reinstallation depends on whether you're using MS Word as a stand-alone app or part of the MS Office suite.

Step 1: Uninstall MS Word or Microsoft Office

To uninstall Microsoft Word:

1. Click the Start button, type "control panel" in the search bar.
2. In the Control Panel, go to Programs and Features.
3. Locate MS Word or MS Office, right-click on it.
4. Click Uninstall. (You can also click Uninstall at the top of that window).

To reinstall Microsoft Word, visit the Microsoft Office website and download the latest software version.

Step 2: Reinstall the MS Word or MS Office app

To reinstall Word:

1. Go to the Microsoft account Home Page.
2. Sign in with your Microsoft account associated with your MS Office or Word app.
3. Select Services and subscriptions from the top tabs.
4. On the next page, find the MS Office or Word app you purchased and install it on your Windows 10.
5. Activate your MS Office with a Microsoft account or a product key.

Note: If you purchased your MS Word or MS Office app from a retailer like SoftwareKeep, contact their product support team for installation help or to obtain the activation key.

Method #11: Use a Different Word Processor

If Microsoft Word keeps freezing, try using a different word processor. Many options are available for Windows and Mac, including Google Docs, OpenOffice, and LibreOffice.

Read: Google Docs vs. Microsoft Word: Which One Is Suitable for You?

Conclusion

These are 11 different methods you can try if Microsoft Word keeps freezing on Windows 10.

If you're still experiencing issues, you can reach out to Softwarekeep technicians for further assistance.

If you find a solution, we're glad we could help!

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MS Word Keep Freezing Windows 10 FAQ

Why Does Word Keep Freezing and Not Responding?

Several reasons might cause Word to freeze and not respond. It could be due to an outdated version of the software, MS Word settings, computer hardware malfunction, or a virus infection. Try restarting your computer, running Microsoft Word in Safe Mode, or resetting Microsoft Word to its default settings.

What Causes MS Word to Freeze?

Many factors can lead to MS Word freezing:

• An outdated MS Office app on your computer. Update the Office app.
• Virus infection. Scan your computer for malware.
• Incompatible third-party app/program.
• Incompatible Windows update. Remove the update.
• Underlying PC issues.
• Running too many programs using too many resources. Close some background programs.
• Your PC is low on RAM. Upgrade the RAM.

How Do I Fix Microsoft Word from Freezing?

You can scan your computer for viruses, restart your computer, restart the MS Word or MS Office app, or run Word as an administrator. If these simple solutions don't work, proceed to more technical solutions like resetting your MS Word or MS Office app, disabling Word add-ins, repairing the damaged word document, running the MS Office repair tool, updating MS Word or MS Office, switching the default printer, or uninstalling and reinstalling your MS Word or MS Office app.

How Do I Stop Microsoft Word from Crashing?

To prevent MS Word from crashing frequently, keep your MS Word and Windows OS updated, and ensure your computer is free of viruses. If these solutions don't work, proceed to more technical solutions like resetting your MS Word or MS Office app, disabling Word add-ins, repairing the damaged word document, running the Office repair tool, updating MS Word or MS Office, switching the default printer, or uninstalling and reinstalling your MS Word or MS Office app.

How Do I Stop Microsoft Word from Freezing All the Time?

There are various ways:

• Restart your PC to close many background apps.
• Restart MS Word.
• Run MS Word in Safe Mode.
• Scan your PC for malware.
• Disable MS Word add-ins.
• Repair the damaged document causing Word to freeze.
• Reset MS Word.
• Use Office repair tools.
• Update MS Word or MS Office.
• Update your PC's OS.
• Switch your default printer.
• Reinstall MS Word or MS Office.

Editor’s Recommended Further Reading

» How to Unfreeze Word on Mac Without Losing Work

» Fixed: Microsoft Office Is Taking Too Long to Install

» MS Word: The Definitive Microsoft Word User Guide

» 7 Microsoft Word Hacks You Need to Know in 2022

» MS Word Hacks: 5 Word Functions You Never Knew Existed

» MS Word Features: 20 Secret Functions Revealed!

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