Encountering a runtime error 53 in Word? Here's a guide on how to resolve the runtime error.

Applies to: Solving the Runtime Error 53 in Word for Microsoft Office 365, 2019, 2016, 2013, and older versions on Windows 10/8/7.

Are you receiving a “Runtime error 53: File not found” message when you try to open or launch a Word file on your computer?

Don't panic! On this page, we'll explain the symptoms, causes, and guide you through reliable Microsoft solutions to fix the Runtime Error 53 in Microsoft Word 365/2019/2016/2013, or even older versions.

Please follow the comprehensive guide right here to fix the 'Runtime Error in Word' issue on your own now, making sure to use the UTF-8 encoding format:

Overview of Word Run-time Error 53

Error name: Microsoft Word Run-time Error 53

Symptoms: A runtime error can occur at any time. Usually, when you run Microsoft Word, it will pop up an error message in a dialog box stating "Runtime error '53': File not found (***.dll)."

Causes of Runtime Error 53 in Microsoft Word

Runtime Error 53 is caused by a missing Windows component. This can be due to:

• The program is attempting to use a dynamic link library.
• The .dll file or files have been deleted.
• The program was not installed correctly.

So, how do you fix this error in Word? Follow these steps to restore your Word file to its normal state.

Miss Not: Word Runtime Error Repair Software

Notice that if while trying to open or launch a Word file, the MS Word application pops up with a Runtime Error accompanied by a specific error code (like error 53, 91, 4248, 4605, 5941, etc.), then the direct outcome of such an error is your Word file getting lost, inaccessible, or unreadable.

So before you begin to fix a particular runtime error in your Word file, you can try using a Word Runtime Error Document Repair Tool.

We have a video demonstrating how to quickly repair damaged files using the Fixo Document Repair tool. Let's take a look!

1. 00:14 Method 1: Insert into a New Word Document
2. 00:38 Method 2: Use Open and Repair
3. 00:55 Method 3: Default Settings
4. 01:30 Method 4: Use the Fixo Document Repair Tool

Here are the steps to fix and recover Word files from runtime errors:

Step 1: Download and run Fixo on your computer or laptop. Select "File Repair" to fix corrupted Office documents, including Word, Excel, and PDFs. Click "Add File" to select the damaged document.

Step 2. Click on “Repair All” to fix multiple files at once. If you only want to repair one document, hover over the target file and select “Repair.” You can also preview the document by clicking on the eye icon.

Step 3: Click “Save” to save the selected documents. Choose “Save All” to save all repaired files. Select “View Repaired Files” to locate the folder with your recovered items.

Microsoft Solution: 5 Tricks to Fix Runtime Error 53 in Word

These tips have been collected from the Microsoft Support Community and various geek websites. Try them one by one until the problem is resolved.

Hint 1: Locate the missing file and save it back to its original location.

• Run a search and type in the name of the missing file.
• Navigate to the file location and copy the missing file, for example, ***.dll.
• If you don't find anything, the file might have been deleted or is missing. Proceed to the data recovery tools mentioned above to locate your missing file or folder.
• Paste the file into the C:\Windows\System32 directory.
• Restart your computer.

If you still have problems opening a Word file, continue with the next set of steps.

Tip 2: Close conflicting programs

1. Press `Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Del` to open Task Manager. 2. Go to the "Processes" tab, select each program one by one, and click "End Task." 3. Check if the error message still appears after stopping each process. 4. When the error disappears, identify the program that caused the issue and proceed with Step 2.

Suggestion 3: Update or reinstall the conflicting program.

1. Type "Control Panel" in the Windows search bar, then click to open it. 2. Click on "Uninstall a Program," and select the problematic program. 3. Alternatively, go to the "Programs and Features" section, click on the issue-causing program, then hit "Update" or "Uninstall." 4. Follow the on-screen instructions to update or reinstall the program causing the Runtime Error 53.

Tip 4: Reinstall the runtime libraries

1. On Windows 10, open "Programs and Features." 2. Locate and right-click on the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package. 3. Click "Uninstall," then restart your computer. 4. Download and reinstall the package onto your computer.

Tip 5: Reinstall the graphics card driver

1. Open Device Manager and locate the graphics driver. 2. Right-click on the graphics driver and select "Uninstall." 3. Restart your computer, and Windows will automatically download and install the driver.

"Runtime Error 53" is fixable. Repair your files immediately.

On this page, we explain what a Word runtime error 53 is and the reasons why your Word file might be malfunctioning on your Windows PC. Please note that a Word file that currently fails to open and displays the error message 53 can be repaired.

Here are some suggestions from the editor on how to handle a Run-time Error '53' while working with a Word file:

• If you can't access the Word folder or drive, repair the file first using the Word File Repair tool.
• If you can access the folder but get a runtime error 53 with the Word file, stop using it.
• Refer to solutions provided by Microsoft or the fixes on this page to resolve the error promptly.
• Lastly, it's always helpful to back up important Word documents regularly.