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Word Won't Open At All

Beginner Word Errors & Fixes Applies to: Windows 7, Windows 10, Windows 11

Double-clicking a document or the Word icon does nothing, or Word opens then immediately closes.

Before you start: save any open work and note down what you were doing when the problem started — that context helps if you need to search further or ask for help.
  1. Open Word by itself first (Start menu, not by double-clicking a file) to check whether Word itself is the problem or one specific file.
  2. Check Task Manager for a WINWORD.EXE process already running invisibly — end it, then try opening Word again.
  3. Start Word in Safe Mode by holding Ctrl while launching it — if it opens fine in Safe Mode, a misbehaving add-in or a corrupted template is the cause.
  4. If Safe Mode fixes it, rename the Normal.dotm template file (found under %appdata%\Microsoft\Templates) so Word rebuilds a fresh one on next launch.
  5. Run a repair: Settings > Apps > Installed apps (Windows 11) or Apps & features (Windows 10) > find Microsoft 365/Office > Modify > Quick Repair, then Online Repair if that doesn't help.
Still not fixed? Send us the details and we'll help you dig further, or browse related guides in Word Errors & Fixes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a corrupted Normal.dotm template dangerous to my documents?
No — it only affects Word's default formatting template, not your actual documents. Renaming it so Word rebuilds a fresh copy is safe and won't touch any files you've already created.
Will repairing Office remove any add-ins I use?
A Quick Repair generally preserves your add-ins. If problems persist, an Online Repair is more thorough but may require you to reconfigure some add-ins afterward.

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