How to Fix the Issue of Microsoft Word Not Opening

Applies to: Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, Microsoft 365

"My Office Word 2010 will not open and I have no idea what to do. I am not tech-savvy at all. If I can't open my proposal, I will lose a client. I've found that the 2010 version has issues often. Please help. I have tried restarting my computer several times and going into Control Panel. Please help."

The above information was taken from the Microsoft forums where a user reported that her Office Word 2010 won't open and she didn't know how to fix it. In fact, this type of issue is quite common with Microsoft Office applications. Other users have also reported that their Microsoft Excel won't open. Here, we will focus on fixing the problem with Word not opening. Read on for more details.

Why can't I open Microsoft Word 2010?

The reasons for being unable to open Word are varied and can stem from several factors. Some primary causes include:

• An unknown registry entry has been set for Windows 10
• A faulty add-on is preventing your Word application from opening
• A Windows update has caused an incompatible configuration
• The Word file you're trying to open is corrupted

Now that you're aware of the possible reasons that prevent you from opening Word 2010, it's time to look at effective solutions. We've gathered four fixes for you to try one by one until the problem is resolved.

Solution 1: Open Word in Safe Mode

If you're unable to open Microsoft Word, try launching it in Safe Mode first to see if it runs normally. Here's how to do that.

Step 1: Close Word and press the Windows key and R at the same time to open the "Run" box.

2. In the Open field, type winword /safe.

Now, Microsoft Word should open in Safe Mode. You should be able to edit your Word files as normal.

Fix 2: Disable Word Add-ins

One possible reason you might not be able to open Word is a damaged add-in. The steps below will help you disable these add-ins and get Word working again.

Step 1. Boot into Safe Mode as explained in Solution 1.

Step 2: Click on File > Options > Add-ins. Select COM Add-ins and click Go.

Step 3: Deselect all items in the list, and then click OK. Restart Word.

If Word opens normally, enable one add-in at a time until the problem occurs again. This will help you identify the culprit add-in.

Repair and Reinstall Word

You can also try repairing and reinstalling Word from the Control Panel, a solution that worked for a couple of users. To learn how to do this, follow the steps from this guide.

Step 1: Open the Control Panel on your computer.

Step 2: Select 'Programs and Features'.

Click on “Programs and Features”

Step 3: Right-click on Microsoft Office and select “Change.”

Step 4. Click “Yes” to launch Microsoft's repair tool.

Step 5: The system will by default select Quick Fix. Simply click "Fix" to start the repair process.

Solution 4: Use a third-party file repair utility

If all the above methods fail, you might need to seek help from a third-party recovery tool. File corruption is one of the leading causes of a Word document not opening. In this case, we recommend using the Data Recovery Wizard tool to recover and repair your damaged Word file.

Data Recovery Wizard has over 17 years of experience in the data recovery and repair market. Its powerful scanning and recovery capabilities are the primary reasons for its popularity. Its user-friendly interface is another standout feature, making it easily accessible for both beginners and experts alike.

You can download the software below and follow the steps to repair and recover your Word file.

Step 1: Choose where to start searching for the crashed Word file

Launch the Data Recovery Wizard utility, and scan the lost or corrupted Word file.

Step 2: Scan the Lost and Damaged Word Documents

You can use the Filter to quickly locate the corrupted Word files.

Step 3: Repair the Word file and save it to a secure location

Select your Word file and click on Preview. The program will automatically repair any corrupted or virus-infected files. Click on Recover to save the repaired Word file to a secure location. (Note: Avoid saving the file back to the same hard drive partition or external device where you lost data.)

Where Do Files Go When You Delete Them and How to Recover Deleted Files

This article will answer all your questions about where files go after deletion. Read on to learn more.

"Repair Microsoft Word now cannot be opened!"

That's all the fixes for the issue of Microsoft Word won't open. The first three solutions should be enough to resolve your problem. Don't hesitate to try them one by one. Hopefully, you'll find the solution you need after reading this article.