- If you're looking for a free version of Microsoft Word on your Mac, there are some good options and some bad ones. The open-source software is completely free and yet offers a complete.
- Open the file with the Text Recovery converter. (C:Users.test.docx) Microsoft Excel cannot open or save any more documents because there is not enough available memory or disk space. To make more memory available, close workbooks or programs you no longer need. To free disk space, delete files you no longer need from the disk you are saving to.
- Fail to activate Office for Mac after updating to OS Catalina. Affected environment: Office 2016 for Mac. Mac OS Catalina. Office 2016 for Mac should be activated by signing with a Microsoft account with a valid license but not using the product key directly. The license is associated with this account by finishing redeem steps.
Oct 26, 2020 • Filed to: Solve Mac Problems • Proven solutions
Just like any other software program, MS Word is also susceptible to issues. You will find unlimited queries on forum sites asking, 'why won't my Word document open on my Mac.' Most of the people have no idea why their Microsoft Word stopped working randomly. If you are also facing a similar situation, you will have to look for an appropriate solution to fix this issue.
Open the file with the Text Recovery converter. Test.docx) Microsoft Excel cannot open or save any more documents because there is not enough available memory or disk space. To make more memory available, close workbooks or programs you no longer need. To free disk space, delete files you no longer need from the disk you are saving to.
In this article, we will discuss the potential fixes that can resolve the Microsoft Word, not working issue.
Part 1. Why Won't Microsoft Word Open on Mac Computer?
As MS Word is a widely used program, a malfunction could get tragic real soon. Before you get to solutions, you must go through the reasons for this problem first. The common causes of these issues are.
- Inappropriate shutdown or system crash
- Shift + Delete, and the file is deleted permanently from the device.
- Formatted drives
- Damaged and corrupted files
- Virus or malware attack
Unless you have a brief idea about what caused the problem, you won't be able to steer away from the common errors. The user's listed common symptoms that lead to the 'word won't open on my Mac' issue are given below:
- The application keeps closing without any warning.
- MS Word encounters an unknown issue and needs to close.
- Erase, Install, or re-install factory version of OS X
- MS Word file can't open due to an error.
When you face a situation like this, don't pain and look for solutions on the internet. If you are lucky, then you'll come across real fixes soon. Otherwise, you might have to struggle to find an ideal fix.
Part 2. How to Fix 'Microsoft Word Not Opening Mac'?
With so many versions and updates on MS Word, it can get hard to simplify the solutions for all versions. Here is a summarized list of solutions that can work when Microsoft Word is not opening on Mac. All these methods are useful and easy to carry out. So, give them a try one by one.
Solution 1. Remove Word Preferences to Open Frozen Word
Sometimes, it is the random words combination or special characters that lead to such issues. It can be resolved if you follow the steps below.
- Open library and type Library in the Go to the Folder and hit the Go button.
- Look for a folder that says 'Preferences.' This folder contains the preferences file you set for the MS Word program.
- Open the folder, search for a file named- 'com.microsoft.Word.plist,' and move the file to the desktop. Now, try opening the Word file and see if the problem persists. If it does, then move the file to its original location and move on to the next step.
- Exit every Microsoft program running on your Mac and click on the Word option in the Apple Menu. Tap on the 'Preferences' option from the list.
- Choose the File Locations option and select the 'User templates.'
- Locate the file which saved as Normal and moves it to the desktop.
Solution 2. Open and Repair Microsoft Word
Everyone knows how to open Microsoft Word on Mac, but we do not talk about just opening and closing the files. You can also repair the MS Word files with the following steps.
- Start MS Word and click on the File menu. Choose the Open option, and it will open up a dialog box where you can select the Word file which needs repair.
- While you are selecting the file, at the right bottom side of the window, choose the Repair option and click on the Ok button.
Mid 2012 mac pro catalina. The Mac utility will automatically repair the not opening Word file, and you will be able to use it now.
Solution 3. Run Disk Utility to Repair Word
Besides the above methods fail, you can also run the Disk Utility to repair the Word file if the Microsoft Word is not opening on your Mac computer.
- Inside the Go menu, choose the Utility option and start the Disk Utility program.
- Ensure that you choose the Primary hard disk of your Mac and then click on the 'First Aid' tab.
- You will get a pop-up option that asks you to run First Aid on the drive. Hit the Run option, and the Disk Utility will repair the Disk volume errors and permissions issues.
When the process finishes, click on 'Done' and check whether the problem is fixed or not. There are maximum chances that the problem will be resolved. But if MS Word is still not responding correctly to commands, then there is one 100% guaranteed solution left to recover your Word Documents.
Solution 4. Recover Not Opening Word Files on Mac
Officejet pro 8600 download for mac. While you are trying to repair the drive and Word files, it is common that the solutions don't work as expected, and the files get deleted from Mac. Here is the perfect solution if getting stuck in such circumstances without any recovery option.
The best tool available for Word file recovery on the internet is Recoverit Word Recovery software. This software is capable of recovering various kinds of deleted or lost data. For example, Word documents, PowerPoint, Excel files, PDF, photos, videos, songs, audios, and many more. It is a faster, easier, and 100% secure data recovery tool with the market's highest recovery rate.
How to Fix Microsoft Word Won't Open on Mac
Now, let's have a look at the simple steps on Word document recovery. You only need to launch the Word file recovery software and do a few clicks.
Step 1: Select a location storing the Word file.
To recover the not opening document caused by accidental deletion, you need to select the drive where the data files are lost. Then, click the 'Start' button.
Step 2: Scan the Word location for files
Typically, the software will run an all-around scan and search for the lost and deleted files on the entire drive. If you perform an emptied trash recovery or HFS+ data rescue, you can even try the deep scan mode.
Step 3: Preview and recover Word documents.
When the scan completes, the files will be listed on the screen. The software will sort out the files according to format to make the search easier. You can select multiple files at a time and have a preview of them.
Part 3. Tips Against 'Microsoft Word Won't Open on Mac.'
If you don't want to go through this problem, you should have to take care of a few things. This way, you will be successful in avoiding the Microsoft Word won't open on Mac issue in the future. So, here are some tips that you need to follow:
- Avoid relying on automated tools to clean up the cache or redundant files on your Mac. These tools often end up deleting the important files on the device.
- In case you use the Command Line to delete a file, be careful as a single mistake can lead to bigger issues.
- Never format a drive before creating a backup; otherwise, you might end up losing important files.
- Stay focused while partitioning the drives on your Mac. Improper partitioning can lead to corruption of data files stored on the drive.
- Avoid rushing commands on MS Word. If you pass on multiple commands at once, then Word might get confused, and the file might become inaccessible due to some random mistake.
Even a little mishandling can lead to major working issues in MS Word. Instead of worrying about how you can rescue the data, try keeping the data safe on the first hand.
Now you know how to open Word on Mac along with the process of repair. And if you are facing a dilemma and then want to recover Word files, you can always think of using Recoverit Data recovery software.
What's Wrong with Mac
- Recover Your Mac
- Fix Your Mac
- Delete Your Mac
- Learn Mac Hacks
Sep 17,2020 • Filed to: Mac Recovery • Proven solutions
'Can someone please tell me how to force quit Word on Mac? MS Word is not responding on my Mac and I can't seem to fix it anyhow!'
This is a recent query posted by a Mac user who is finding it hard to work with MS Word on macOS. Since MS Office is a third-party application for Mac, a lot of people also suffer from a similar issue. While it might seem complicated at first, you can easily fix the Microsoft Word not responding Mac issue by following the right approach.
In this extensive guide, we will teach you how to force quit Word on Mac and fix the Word not responding on Mac problem like a pro.
Part 1: Why Microsoft Word Not Responding on Mac?
From a faulty MS Word application to a corrupt macOS firmware, there could be plenty of reasons for why this Microsoft tool is not responding on Mac. Here are some of these common issues that you should know.
- There could be a clash between MS word and macOS settings, causing the issue.
- It can also happen if you are running an outdated version of macOS or MS Word.
- The issue arises when we use a pirated and unreliable Word application on Mac.
- MS Word might malfunction on Mac due to faulty third-party fonts or plugins.
- The location where MS Office has been installed could be corrupt.
- Your system's firmware or settings might be blocking a Word feature.
- The application can get corrupt and needs to be reinstalled or deleted.
Part 2: What to Do When Word Not Responding on Mac?
If the Microsoft Word application is not responding on Mac, then don't worry – you can easily quit it and start again. Just like Windows, Mac also allows us to forcefully close an application from running in the background. This is the best solution to fix any application that has been stuck or frozen on Mac.
Step 1 Simply go to the Finder menu and click on the Apple logo > Force Quit option.
Step 2 You can also access the feature by pressing the keyboard shortcut keys – Option + Command + Escape at the same time.
Step 3 As the Force Quit Application tab will open, you can see all the applications running in the background.
Step 4 Select MS word from the list, click on the 'Force Quit' to close it. then wait for a while, and launch MS Word again.
Part 3: How to Fix 'Word Not Responding on Mac' Frequently
While you can learn how to quit Word on Mac by following the above-listed solution, you need to take extra measures to get a permanent fix. If Word keeps crashing or doesn't respond on Mac quite frequently, then you should consider these solutions.
1. Remove Adds-Ins
You might already know that there are tons of third-party add-ins available for Mac. Though, some of these add-ins can end up corrupting the application or make it malfunction. The easiest way to fix this is by removing all the faulty add-ins from the application.
Just launch MS Word on Mac and go to its Insert tab. Click on the Add-ins option to view all the installed extensions. From here, you can delete any unreliable add-in from Word.
2. Open Word in Safe Mode
If you want to access MS Word on Mac, but it keeps crashing in the background, then consider opening it in the Safe Mode. Unlike Windows, you can't launch a dedicated application on Safe Mode. Instead, you need to boot the entire system on safe mode. To do this, restart your Mac or turn it on. As Mac would start, press and hold the Shift key to boot it in Safe Mode. Log-in to your user account and try launching MS Word on it again.
3. Check Invalid Characters in File Name
A faulty name of the MS Word file can also make it corrupt as well. Since the rules for naming files on Windows and Mac are slightly different, a lot of people get confused. While the file can have an alphanumeric name, it should not start from a number or a special character. Also, make sure that there are no invalid special characters (like colon or semicolon) in the name. You can just select the file you wish to change, right-click, and rename it. Mac also allows us to rename multiple files in one go as well.
4. Check Third-Party Fonts
Mac also provides a seamless solution to install interesting fonts from third-party sources. Though, just like third-party add-ins, fonts can also make Word not responding on Mac. Most of the fonts that are installed on Mac are located in Applications > Font Book. You can go to the same location via Finder and look for any faulty third-party font. Right-click and choose to remove the font family from your Mac. Once it is done, restart Mac and launch MS Word on it again.
5. Clear Out the Auto Recovery Folder
The Auto Recovery folder on Mac automatically saves the Word file we are working on, letting us restore it afterward. Sometimes, the existing data in the Auto Recovery folder can clash with the functioning of MS Word. The problem usually happens when we force close Word on Mac and can't access it later due to the Auto Recovery folder clash.
To fix the Word program not responding on Mac, click on Finder > Go > Go to Folder and enter the following address: '~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Word/Data/Library/Preferences/AutoRecovery/'
This will launch the Auto Recovery folder on your Mac. You can simply delete the existing files in it and try launching MS Word to resolve the issue.
6: Reset the Word Preferences
To make things easier for its users, MS Word saves certain preferences and settings on Mac. If even after following the above-listed fixes, you are not able to resolve Word not responding on Mac, then consider this approach. Just launch MS Word and go to Finder > Word > Preferences.
As the Word Preferences window will open, go to the 'File Locations' option and select the 'User Templates' feature. From here, you can choose to 'Reset' the template for MS Word. If you want, you can click on the 'Modify' button, access the template (Normal.dotm file), and delete it from Mac.
7. Repair Disk Permissions
A lot of people don't realize, but sometimes, the problem could be with your Mac and not the Word application. For instance, if the disk where MS Word is installed is corrupt, then you can use its native feature – Disk Utility.
- The application keeps closing without any warning.
- MS Word encounters an unknown issue and needs to close.
- Erase, Install, or re-install factory version of OS X
- MS Word file can't open due to an error.
When you face a situation like this, don't pain and look for solutions on the internet. If you are lucky, then you'll come across real fixes soon. Otherwise, you might have to struggle to find an ideal fix.
Part 2. How to Fix 'Microsoft Word Not Opening Mac'?
With so many versions and updates on MS Word, it can get hard to simplify the solutions for all versions. Here is a summarized list of solutions that can work when Microsoft Word is not opening on Mac. All these methods are useful and easy to carry out. So, give them a try one by one.
Solution 1. Remove Word Preferences to Open Frozen Word
Sometimes, it is the random words combination or special characters that lead to such issues. It can be resolved if you follow the steps below.
- Open library and type Library in the Go to the Folder and hit the Go button.
- Look for a folder that says 'Preferences.' This folder contains the preferences file you set for the MS Word program.
- Open the folder, search for a file named- 'com.microsoft.Word.plist,' and move the file to the desktop. Now, try opening the Word file and see if the problem persists. If it does, then move the file to its original location and move on to the next step.
- Exit every Microsoft program running on your Mac and click on the Word option in the Apple Menu. Tap on the 'Preferences' option from the list.
- Choose the File Locations option and select the 'User templates.'
- Locate the file which saved as Normal and moves it to the desktop.
Solution 2. Open and Repair Microsoft Word
Everyone knows how to open Microsoft Word on Mac, but we do not talk about just opening and closing the files. You can also repair the MS Word files with the following steps.
- Start MS Word and click on the File menu. Choose the Open option, and it will open up a dialog box where you can select the Word file which needs repair.
- While you are selecting the file, at the right bottom side of the window, choose the Repair option and click on the Ok button.
Mid 2012 mac pro catalina. The Mac utility will automatically repair the not opening Word file, and you will be able to use it now.
Solution 3. Run Disk Utility to Repair Word
Besides the above methods fail, you can also run the Disk Utility to repair the Word file if the Microsoft Word is not opening on your Mac computer.
- Inside the Go menu, choose the Utility option and start the Disk Utility program.
- Ensure that you choose the Primary hard disk of your Mac and then click on the 'First Aid' tab.
- You will get a pop-up option that asks you to run First Aid on the drive. Hit the Run option, and the Disk Utility will repair the Disk volume errors and permissions issues.
When the process finishes, click on 'Done' and check whether the problem is fixed or not. There are maximum chances that the problem will be resolved. But if MS Word is still not responding correctly to commands, then there is one 100% guaranteed solution left to recover your Word Documents.
Solution 4. Recover Not Opening Word Files on Mac
Officejet pro 8600 download for mac. While you are trying to repair the drive and Word files, it is common that the solutions don't work as expected, and the files get deleted from Mac. Here is the perfect solution if getting stuck in such circumstances without any recovery option.
The best tool available for Word file recovery on the internet is Recoverit Word Recovery software. This software is capable of recovering various kinds of deleted or lost data. For example, Word documents, PowerPoint, Excel files, PDF, photos, videos, songs, audios, and many more. It is a faster, easier, and 100% secure data recovery tool with the market's highest recovery rate.
How to Fix Microsoft Word Won't Open on Mac
Now, let's have a look at the simple steps on Word document recovery. You only need to launch the Word file recovery software and do a few clicks.
Step 1: Select a location storing the Word file.
To recover the not opening document caused by accidental deletion, you need to select the drive where the data files are lost. Then, click the 'Start' button.
Step 2: Scan the Word location for files
Typically, the software will run an all-around scan and search for the lost and deleted files on the entire drive. If you perform an emptied trash recovery or HFS+ data rescue, you can even try the deep scan mode.
Step 3: Preview and recover Word documents.
When the scan completes, the files will be listed on the screen. The software will sort out the files according to format to make the search easier. You can select multiple files at a time and have a preview of them.
Part 3. Tips Against 'Microsoft Word Won't Open on Mac.'
If you don't want to go through this problem, you should have to take care of a few things. This way, you will be successful in avoiding the Microsoft Word won't open on Mac issue in the future. So, here are some tips that you need to follow:
- Avoid relying on automated tools to clean up the cache or redundant files on your Mac. These tools often end up deleting the important files on the device.
- In case you use the Command Line to delete a file, be careful as a single mistake can lead to bigger issues.
- Never format a drive before creating a backup; otherwise, you might end up losing important files.
- Stay focused while partitioning the drives on your Mac. Improper partitioning can lead to corruption of data files stored on the drive.
- Avoid rushing commands on MS Word. If you pass on multiple commands at once, then Word might get confused, and the file might become inaccessible due to some random mistake.
Even a little mishandling can lead to major working issues in MS Word. Instead of worrying about how you can rescue the data, try keeping the data safe on the first hand.
Now you know how to open Word on Mac along with the process of repair. And if you are facing a dilemma and then want to recover Word files, you can always think of using Recoverit Data recovery software.
What's Wrong with Mac
- Recover Your Mac
- Fix Your Mac
- Delete Your Mac
- Learn Mac Hacks
Sep 17,2020 • Filed to: Mac Recovery • Proven solutions
'Can someone please tell me how to force quit Word on Mac? MS Word is not responding on my Mac and I can't seem to fix it anyhow!'
This is a recent query posted by a Mac user who is finding it hard to work with MS Word on macOS. Since MS Office is a third-party application for Mac, a lot of people also suffer from a similar issue. While it might seem complicated at first, you can easily fix the Microsoft Word not responding Mac issue by following the right approach.
In this extensive guide, we will teach you how to force quit Word on Mac and fix the Word not responding on Mac problem like a pro.
Part 1: Why Microsoft Word Not Responding on Mac?
From a faulty MS Word application to a corrupt macOS firmware, there could be plenty of reasons for why this Microsoft tool is not responding on Mac. Here are some of these common issues that you should know.
- There could be a clash between MS word and macOS settings, causing the issue.
- It can also happen if you are running an outdated version of macOS or MS Word.
- The issue arises when we use a pirated and unreliable Word application on Mac.
- MS Word might malfunction on Mac due to faulty third-party fonts or plugins.
- The location where MS Office has been installed could be corrupt.
- Your system's firmware or settings might be blocking a Word feature.
- The application can get corrupt and needs to be reinstalled or deleted.
Part 2: What to Do When Word Not Responding on Mac?
If the Microsoft Word application is not responding on Mac, then don't worry – you can easily quit it and start again. Just like Windows, Mac also allows us to forcefully close an application from running in the background. This is the best solution to fix any application that has been stuck or frozen on Mac.
Step 1 Simply go to the Finder menu and click on the Apple logo > Force Quit option.
Step 2 You can also access the feature by pressing the keyboard shortcut keys – Option + Command + Escape at the same time.
Step 3 As the Force Quit Application tab will open, you can see all the applications running in the background.
Step 4 Select MS word from the list, click on the 'Force Quit' to close it. then wait for a while, and launch MS Word again.
Part 3: How to Fix 'Word Not Responding on Mac' Frequently
While you can learn how to quit Word on Mac by following the above-listed solution, you need to take extra measures to get a permanent fix. If Word keeps crashing or doesn't respond on Mac quite frequently, then you should consider these solutions.
1. Remove Adds-Ins
You might already know that there are tons of third-party add-ins available for Mac. Though, some of these add-ins can end up corrupting the application or make it malfunction. The easiest way to fix this is by removing all the faulty add-ins from the application.
Just launch MS Word on Mac and go to its Insert tab. Click on the Add-ins option to view all the installed extensions. From here, you can delete any unreliable add-in from Word.
2. Open Word in Safe Mode
If you want to access MS Word on Mac, but it keeps crashing in the background, then consider opening it in the Safe Mode. Unlike Windows, you can't launch a dedicated application on Safe Mode. Instead, you need to boot the entire system on safe mode. To do this, restart your Mac or turn it on. As Mac would start, press and hold the Shift key to boot it in Safe Mode. Log-in to your user account and try launching MS Word on it again.
3. Check Invalid Characters in File Name
A faulty name of the MS Word file can also make it corrupt as well. Since the rules for naming files on Windows and Mac are slightly different, a lot of people get confused. While the file can have an alphanumeric name, it should not start from a number or a special character. Also, make sure that there are no invalid special characters (like colon or semicolon) in the name. You can just select the file you wish to change, right-click, and rename it. Mac also allows us to rename multiple files in one go as well.
4. Check Third-Party Fonts
Mac also provides a seamless solution to install interesting fonts from third-party sources. Though, just like third-party add-ins, fonts can also make Word not responding on Mac. Most of the fonts that are installed on Mac are located in Applications > Font Book. You can go to the same location via Finder and look for any faulty third-party font. Right-click and choose to remove the font family from your Mac. Once it is done, restart Mac and launch MS Word on it again.
5. Clear Out the Auto Recovery Folder
The Auto Recovery folder on Mac automatically saves the Word file we are working on, letting us restore it afterward. Sometimes, the existing data in the Auto Recovery folder can clash with the functioning of MS Word. The problem usually happens when we force close Word on Mac and can't access it later due to the Auto Recovery folder clash.
To fix the Word program not responding on Mac, click on Finder > Go > Go to Folder and enter the following address: '~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Word/Data/Library/Preferences/AutoRecovery/'
This will launch the Auto Recovery folder on your Mac. You can simply delete the existing files in it and try launching MS Word to resolve the issue.
6: Reset the Word Preferences
To make things easier for its users, MS Word saves certain preferences and settings on Mac. If even after following the above-listed fixes, you are not able to resolve Word not responding on Mac, then consider this approach. Just launch MS Word and go to Finder > Word > Preferences.
As the Word Preferences window will open, go to the 'File Locations' option and select the 'User Templates' feature. From here, you can choose to 'Reset' the template for MS Word. If you want, you can click on the 'Modify' button, access the template (Normal.dotm file), and delete it from Mac.
7. Repair Disk Permissions
A lot of people don't realize, but sometimes, the problem could be with your Mac and not the Word application. For instance, if the disk where MS Word is installed is corrupt, then you can use its native feature – Disk Utility.
Just go to Finder > Applications > Utility and launch the Disk Utility component. Select the drive where MS Word is installed on the left panel and click on the 'First Aid' option on the toolbar. Confirm your choice and run the disk repairing operations to fix Mac's storage.
8: Download and install the Latest Updates for Word macOS 10.14
If you are running an old or outdated version of MS Word on your Mac, then it can also cause unwanted compatibility issues. The good thing is that the issue can easily be fixed by updating your application to the latest version.
Simply launch the MS Word application and go to Help > Check for Updates. This will launch a dedicated Microsoft AutoUpdate window. From here, you can check for the latest updates or enable the automatic update feature as well.
Part 4: How to Recover Unsaved and Lost Word Documents on Mac
Open Word Document On Mac
Sometimes, while forcefully closing the application, users end up losing their important documents. While you can't avoid this situation altogether, you can take the needed steps to get your lost data back.
To do this, you can take the assistance of Recoverit (IS) for Mac. It can recover all kinds of lost, deleted, or corrupt Word document from your Mac. Apart from Mac, you can use it to recover data from several other sources a well.
Recoverit (IS) for Mac
A Life Saver to Solve Your Data Loss Problems!
- Extremely easy to use with an intuitive interface, letting us perform data recovery as per our convenience.
- It will let you preview the recovered Word documents, so that you can select the files you wish to save.
- Recover data in all scenarios like accidental deletion, corrupt storage, formatted disk, and more.
- Recover Word files from Mac's internal disk or an external device like SD card, USB drive, hard disk, and more.
- Supports all kinds of documents, Word files, PDFs, photos, videos, and 1000+ different file extensions.
You can download a free version of the software from its official website to further give it a try on your own. Once it is done, follow these steps to recover Word documents from Mac.
Step 1Install and launch
Firstly, download the software from website and launch the Recoverit (IS) application on your Mac.
Step 2Mark a source location
Furthermore, you can select a source location on your Mac from where you have lost the Word document. It can be any partition on Mac or an external device.
Step 3Restore your Word files
Wait for a while for the process to complete. In the end, the application will let you preview the retrieved documents on its own interface. Select the files you wish to get back and save them to a trusted location.
Now when you know how to force quit Word on Mac or fix the Word not responding on Mac issue, you can easily fulfill your needs. The guide has listed several solutions that can help you fix issues like Microsoft Word not responding on Mac without any hassle.
Microsoft Word Not Responding Mac
In case if you have lost your Word documents, then take the assistance of Recoverit (IS) instead. A highly secure and trusted application, it is known for its professional data recovery results, making it a must-have tool for every Mac.
