Microsoft 365 Keeps Crashing? An IT Administrator’s Guide for 2026
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Written By
Aradhya Jain -
Approved By
Shivam Rathore -
Updated on
July 3rd, 2026 - Read Time
6 minutes
User Query: I subscribe to Microsoft 365, and everything was working fine until yesterday. I installed two new devices: a Logitech webcam (replacing an older Logitech webcam) and a wireless printer. Since then, Microsoft Word and Excel have opened normally. But as soon as I create a new document or open an existing one, both applications crash. Interestingly, PowerPoint and Publisher continue to work without any issues. At this point, I’m not sure what else to do. Is there a way to fix Microsoft 365 crashing without reinstalling Windows?
Introduction: Microsoft 365 is one of the most reliable productivity suites, but sometimes it suddenly starts crashing without any warning. Many users report that Word, Excel, or Outlook opens normally but closes immediately when they open a file, create a new document, or send an email. In some cases, the issue begins after installing Windows updates, new hardware, printer drivers, antivirus software, or Office add-ins. This blog explains why Microsoft 365 keeps crashing and shows several proven solutions that work for most users.
Common Causes of Office 365 Keeps Crashing
- The newly installed printer is set as the default printer, with a driver that Office can’t read properly.
- Extra bundled software (OCR tools, scanning utilities) was installed silently with the printer.
- A corrupted Normal.dotm template (Word) or a corrupted startup file (Excel).
- Office add-ins are conflicting with the new hardware drivers.
- Hardware acceleration/graphics driver conflicts.
- Corrupted Office installation files are not fully cleared by a standard reinstall.
How to Fix Microsoft 365 Keeps Crashing
In case your Microsoft Office 365 application, such as Word, Excel, or Outlook, continues to crash, there is no need to worry. The problem can easily be solved by either upgrading the Office software to its latest version or repairing the software itself. Always remember that Microsoft provides updates to address such problems.
1st Method: Update Microsoft 365 to the Latest Version
Running an outdated version of Microsoft 365 is one of the most common reasons for unexpected crashes. Installing the latest updates often fixes known issues and improves performance. Steps to update Microsoft 365:
- Open any Office application that stays open, such as Word or Excel.
- Click File and then select Account (or Office Account).
- Under Product Information, click Update Options.
- After that, select Update Now.
- Wait for the update to finish, then restart the application.
2nd Method: Online Repair to Fix Outlook 365 Keeps Crashing
- Right-click the Start button and choose Installed apps or Apps & Features.
- Find Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Office in the list.
- Click the three–dot menu next to it and select Modify.
- Then, choose Online Repair and click Repair.
- Keep your computer connected to the internet until the repair is complete.
3rd Method: Disable Office Add-ins
- First, press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
- Type winword /safe for Word or outlook /safe for Outlook, then press Enter.
- If the application opens without crashing, an add-in is likely the cause.
- Now, go to File and choose Options > Add-ins.
- At the bottom, choose COM Add-ins from the Manage drop-down list and click Go.
- Clear all the checkboxes to disable the add-ins.
- Restart the Office application normally.
4th Method: Disable Hardware Graphics Acceleration
- Open Word or Excel and click File > Options.
- Next, select the Advanced tab.
- Scroll down to the Display section.
- Check the box for Disable hardware graphics acceleration.
- Click OK, close the application, and restart your computer.
These four methods resolve most Office 365 keeps freezing problems. If the issue persists, you can continue with additional troubleshooting steps. It includes updating Windows, checking printer or display drivers, repairing system files with SFC, or creating a new Windows user profile.
Backup Your Office 365 Data Before Troubleshooting
When Microsoft 365 keeps crashing, there’s always a chance that important emails, contacts, calendars, or documents may become difficult to access. Although most crashes do not result in data loss, it’s a good practice to create a backup before making major changes.
The DRS Softech Office 365 Backup Tool is a top-notch utility to backup your Office 365 emails, contacts, calendars, and attachments. It supports several file formats and email clients, including migrate Office 365 to IMAP server. You can also apply multiple features, like date filter, remove duplicates, skip existing exports, custom folder name, and more. This tool is compatible with all Windows and Mac versions. You can download the demo version of this tool to test its features and functions.
Simple Steps to Backup Office 365 Emails:
- Download and install the DRS Softech Microsoft 365 Backup Tool.
- Enter your Office 365 Email Address and Password to Sign In.
- Get sub user from CSV file or automatically. Select Source User ID. Click Next.
- Now, you can preview and select the Office 365 emails to backup.
- Click on Save in File Format or Email Client and choose Saving Format.
- Lastly, apply advanced features and filters as per your needs. Press Start Export.
Conclusion
Microsoft 365 keeps crashing due to several reasons. It includes outdated Office builds, damaged installation files, incompatible add-ins, printer driver conflicts, or recently installed hardware. But this problem can be easily resolved by multiple different methods. You can use the update Office 365, Run Online Repair, Disable add-ins, and more. Also, make sure to take a backup of your Office 365 data before performing any method.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ans. Microsoft 365 may crash because of outdated Office versions, damaged installation files, faulty add-ins, incompatible printer or graphics drivers, corrupted Windows system files, or recent Windows updates.
Ans. You can use the Online Repair option from Apps & Features in Windows. It reinstalls Microsoft 365 program files without deleting your Office documents, emails, or personal data.
Ans. Large or corrupted PST files, damaged Outlook profiles, faulty add-ins, or insufficient system resources can cause Outlook to crash. Repairing the PST file or reducing its size often resolves the issue.
Ans. Yes. In most cases, your documents and mailbox data remain safe. However, creating a backup before repairing or reinstalling Microsoft 365 is recommended to avoid accidental data loss.
Ans. Yes. Problems with Exchange Online, OneDrive syncing, Outlook cache files, or unstable network connections can sometimes cause Office applications to freeze or crash.
Ans. Corrupted Office files do not usually compromise email security, but they can prevent Outlook from opening, sending, or receiving emails correctly. Repairing the Office installation typically fixes the issue.
Ans. If the same problem appears across several devices, it may be caused by a faulty Microsoft 365 update, incompatible Group Policy settings, shared add-ins, antivirus software, or organization-wide driver conflicts.
Ans. Yes. If Microsoft 365 services or authentication components are affected, applications such as Outlook and Microsoft Teams may experience sign-in failures, synchronization problems, or temporary connectivity issues with Exchange Online.
