Note
Office 365 ProPlus is being renamed to Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise. For more information about this change, read this blog post.
Jul 08, 2010 Solved: Microsoft word VERY slow. Discussion in 'Business Applications' started by 1rob1, Jul 1, 2010. Ive already looked in the running processes as word is starting, Ive also looked in the services for 'starting' services. (MAC) Microsoft Office Document Formatting is Off. Dear Tech Community, In our organiztion we have 35.000 users in our tenant who is experiencing slow performance on Office 365 and portal: The 35.000 users who experience the issues are scattered accross 70 different physical locations throughout Denmark. This performance issues affects the fo. Nov 09, 2019 Techniques on How to Speed up Microsoft Word Part 3. In Conclusion. People Also Read: How to Completely Uninstall Microsoft Office on Mac 2019 Update How to Fix Safari Slow to Load 2019 Update Part 1. Reasons for Why Is Microsoft Word So Slow. There are a lot of reasons as to why is Microsoft Word so slow.
Dec 11, 2018 It was so slow that I found it better to install Word on a Windows in Parallels Desktop and use it there. Even in my new Mac whenever a word file exceeds some 50 pages and some 10-20 of equations and figures Word slows down to the point that it is unbearable. Please don’t suggest alternatives to Word.
Note
If you experience specific issues when you use Word, visit the Word help center to search for information about your issue.
This article describes how to troubleshoot problems that may occur when you start or use Microsoft Word. Use the following methods in the order in which they are presented. If you try one of these methods and it does not help, go to the next method.
You might have to set Windows Update to automatically download and install recommended updates. Installing any important, recommended, and optional updates can frequently correct problems by replacing out-of-date files and fixing vulnerabilities. To install the latest Microsoft Office updates, see Update Office and your computer with Microsoft Update.
For list of the latest Office updates, see Office Updates. If your issue is not resolved after you install the latest Windows and Office updates, go to method 2.
It's a good idea to make sure that your computer has the latest updates installed for Windows. Updates often fix software problems. Before you use any of the following methods, try first to install updates. After you install the updates, restart your computer, and then start Word.
Important
Follow the steps in this section carefully. Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Before you modify it, back up the registry for restoration in case problems occur.
The final paragraph mark in a Word document contains information about the document. If the document is damaged, you may be able to retrieve the text of the document if you can omit this final paragraph mark.
To access a document but leave its final paragraph mark behind, follow these steps:
The /a switch is a troubleshooting tool that is used to determine where a problem may exist in Word. The /a switch prevents add-ins and global templates from being loaded automatically. The /a switch also locks the settings files to prevent it from being read or modified. To start Word by using the /a switch, follow these steps:
For more information about the /a switch, go to the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
826857 Description of the '/a' startup switch in Word
If the problem does not occur when you start Word by using the /a switch, try the next method to determine the source of the problem.
Most of the frequently used options in Word are stored in the Word Data registry subkey. A common troubleshooting step is to delete the Word Data registry subkey. When you restart Word, the program rebuilds the Word Data registry key by using the default settings.
Note When you delete the Word Data registry subkey, Word resets several options to their default settings. For example, Word resets the 'most recently used file' list on the File menu. Also, Word resets many settings that you customize in the Options dialog box.
Important
Follow the steps in this section carefully. Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Before you modify it, back up the registry for restoration in case problems occur.
To delete the Word Data registry subkey, follow these steps:
Exit all Office programs.
Type regedit in the Search box (in Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8) or in the Start Search box on the Start menu (in earlier versions of Windows), and then press Enter.
Locate the following registry subkey, as appropriate for the version of Word that you are using:
Word 2016HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOffice16.0WordData
Word 2013HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOffice15.0WordData
Word 2010HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOffice14.0WordData
Word 2007HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOffice12.0WordData
Word 2003HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOffice11.0WordData
Click Data, and then click Export on the File menu.
Name the file Wddata.reg, and then save the file to the desktop.
On the Edit menu, click Delete, and then click Yes.
Exit Registry Editor.
Start Word.
If Word starts and works correctly, you have resolved the problem (a damaged Word Data registry key). You may now have to change several settings to restore your favorite options in Word.
If the problem is not resolved, restore the original Word Data registry subkey, and then try the next method.
To restore the original Word Data registry subkey, follow these steps:
The Word Options registry key stores options that you can set in Word. These settings are divided into default and optional groups. Default settings are created during the program setup. Optional settings are not created during setup. You can change both the default and optional settings in Word.
To delete the Word Options registry key, follow these steps:
Exit all Office programs.
Type regedit in the Search box (in Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8) or in the Start Search box on the Start menu (in earlier versions of Windows), and then press Enter.
Locate the following registry subkey, as appropriate for the version of Word that you are running:
Word 2016HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOffice16.0WordOptions
Word 2013HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOffice15.0WordOptions
Word 2010HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOffice14.0WordOptions
Word 2007HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOffice12.0WordOptions
Word 2003HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOffice11.0WordOptions
Click Options, and then click Export on the File menu.
Name the file Wddata.reg, and then save the file to the desktop.
On the Edit menu, click Delete, and then click Yes.
Exit Registry Editor.
Start Word.
If Word starts and works correctly, you have resolved the problem (a damaged Word Options registry key). You may now have to change several settings to restore your favorite options in Word.
If the problem is not resolved, restore the original Word Options registry key, and then try the next method.
To restore the original Word Options registry key, follow these steps:
You can prevent formatting, AutoText, and macros that are stored in the global template file from affecting the behavior of Word and any documents that you open. To do this, replace the global template file.
Important
This method includes renaming the global template file so that Word does not find it as expected when it restarts. This forces Word to re-create the global template file. By doing this, you save the original file in case you have to restore it. Be aware that when you rename the global template file, several settings are reset to their defaults, including custom styles, custom toolbars, macros, and AutoText entries. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you save the global template file and do not delete it.
Additional note In certain situations, you may have more than one global template file. For example, this occurs if multiple versions of Word are running on the same computer, or if several workstation installations exist on the same computer. In these situations, make sure that you rename each global template file so that it clearly reflects the appropriate Word installation.
To rename the global template file, follow these steps:
Exit all Office programs.
Type cmd in the Search box (in Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8) or in the Start Search box on the Start menu (in earlier versions of Windows), and then press Enter.
At the command prompt, type the following command, as appropriate for the version of Word that you are running, and then press Enter:
Word 2016, Word 2013, Word 2010, or Word 2007
Word 2003
At the command prompt, type exit, and then press Enter.
Start Word.
If Word starts correctly, you have resolved the problem. In this case, the problem is a damaged global template file. Now, you may have to change several settings to restore your favorite options.
Note
The old global template file may contain customizations that can't be easily re-created. These customizations may include styles, macros, and AutoText entries. In this case, you may be able to copy the customizations from the old global template file to the new global template file by using the Organizer. For more information about how to use the Organizer to copy macros and styles, press F1 in Word to open Microsoft Word Help, type rename macros in the Search box, and then click Search to view the topic.
If the problem is not resolved, restore the original global template file, and then go to the next section.
To restore the original global template file, follow these steps:
Exit all Office programs.
Type cmd in the Search box (in Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8) or in the Start Search box on the Start menu (in earlier versions of Windows), and then press Enter.
At the command prompt, type the following command, as appropriate for the version of Word that you are running, and then press Enter:
Word 2016, Word 2013, Word 2010 and Word 2007
Word 2003
Type exit, and then press Enter.
Start Word.
When you start Word, Word automatically loads templates and add-ins that are located in the Startup folders. Conflicts or problems that affect an add-in can cause problems in Word. To determine whether an item in a Startup folder is causing the problem, temporarily disable the registry setting that points to these add-ins.
To do this, follow these steps:
Exit all Office programs.
Start Windows Explorer. Type windows ex in the Search box (in Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8) or in the Start Search box on the Start menu (in earlier versions of Windows), and then press Enter.
Type the following command in the address bar, as appropriate for the version of Word that you're running and its installation type, and then press Enter: Word 2016
64-bit C2R installation:%programfiles%Microsoft Officerootoffice16Startup
32-bit C2R installation:%programfiles% (x86)Microsoft Officerootoffice16Startup
64-bit MSI installation:%programfiles%Microsoft Officeoffice16Startup
32-bit MSI installation:%programfiles% (x86)Microsoft Officeoffice16Startup
Word 2013
64-bit C2R installation:%programfiles%Microsoft Officerootoffice15Startup
32-bit C2R installation:%programfiles% (x86)Microsoft Officerootoffice15Startup
64-bit MSI installation:%programfiles%Microsoft Officeoffice15Startup
32-bit MSI installation:%programfiles% (x86)Microsoft Officeoffice15Startup
Word 2010
%programfiles%Microsoft OfficeOffice14Startup
Word 2007
%programfiles%Microsoft OfficeOffice12Startup
Word 2003
%programfiles%MicrosoftOfficeOffice11Startup
Right-click one of the files that is contained in the folder, and then click Rename.
After the file name, type .old, and then press Enter.
Important
Make a note of the original file name so that you can restore the file, if it is necessary.
Start Word.
If you can no longer reproduce the problem, you have found the specific add-in that causes the problem. If you must have the features that the add-in provides, contact the vendor of the add-in for an update.
If the problem is not resolved, rename the add-in by using its original name, and then repeat steps 3 through 6 for each file in the Startup folder.
If you can still reproduce the problem, type the following path in the address bar of Windows Explorer, and then click OK. For Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, or Windows Vista
%userprofile%AppDataRoamingMicrosoftWordStartup
For Windows XP
%userprofile%Application DataMicrosoftWordStartup
Repeat steps 3 through 6 for each file in this Startup folder.
If the problem is not resolved after you disable the Startup folder add-ins, go to the next method.
You can install COM add-ins in any location. Programs that interact with Word install COM add-ins. To determine whether a COM add-in is causing the problem, temporarily disable the COM add-ins by deleting the registry keys for the COM add-ins.
To delete the COM add-ins registry keys, follow these steps:
To determine which COM add-in program is causing the problem, follow these steps:
Exit all Office programs.
Double-click the Wdaddin.reg icon on your desktop.
Click Yes, and then click OK.
Use one of the following procedures, as appropriate for the version of Word that you are running:
Word 2016, Word 2013, or Word 2010
Note If an add-in is listed in the COM Add-Ins dialog box, clear the add-in check box. If more than one add-in is listed, clear only one add-in check box at a time. This procedure helps determine which add-in is causing the problem.
4. Click OK to close the COM Add-Ins dialog box.
5. On the File menu, click Exit.
Word 2007
Click the Microsoft Office Button, and then click Word options.
Click Add-ins.
In the Manage list, click COM Add-ins, and then click Go.
If an add-in is listed in the COM Add-Ins dialog box, click to clear the add-in check box. If more than one add-in is listed, click to clear only one add-in check box at a time. This procedure helps determine which add-in is causing the problem.
Click OK to close the COM Add-Ins dialog box.
Click the Microsoft Office Button, and then click Exit Word.
On the File menu, click Exit.
Start Word.
If the problem is resolved when you start Word, you have determined which COM add-in is causing the problem. If you must have the features that the add-in provides, you must determine which add-in includes those features so that you can contact the vendor for an update.
If the problem is not resolved when you start Word, repeat steps 4 and 5 for each COM add-in that's listed until you determine which add-in is causing the problem.
To restore the COM add-ins, repeat step 4, but select the check box for each COM add-in that you want to restore.
To change the default printer, follow these steps:
If you can't resolve this problem, you can use Microsoft Support to search the Microsoft Knowledge Base and other technical resources for answers. You can also customize the site to control your search. To start your search, go to the Microsoft Support website.
If you experience specific issues when you use Word, go to the following websites to search for specific information about your program version:
Too often people upgrade only to find their problems begin, or persist.
If you need help with a slow Mac running a Mac operating system, please be prepared to answer these questions, or find out how to get the answer to these questions.
Etrecheck, a software written by one of our fellow contributors, is a software that has been useful in isolating many of the issues below:
Look at these troubleshooting steps. Find
1. If MacKeeper was installed, and if it is, remove it with the instructions in this tip:
2. If any other system cache cleaner is installed. If there is, contact the vendor on how to remove it.
3. If the possibility your hard drive is over 85% full exists.
4. If Spotlight hasn't finished indexing. (does not apply to 10.3.9 or earlier). Clicking on the icon in the upper right that looks like:
(it may have a different color), will reveal if Spotlight is indexing, or is ready to search. Going to Apple menu -> System Preferences -> Spotlight -> Privacy will show if a specific folder or drive is ignored by your last Spotlight index.
5. If you are attempting to multitask with a Time Machine backup going on. (does not apply to 10.4.11 or earlier)
6. If permissions are damaged. Often a problem when using pre-2006 Classic environment on PowerPC Macs. See #10 how to identify Macs.
7. If third party software or drivers hasn't been tested with your installed operating system.
Microsoft 365 pricing for mac.
8. If You migrated data from a different Mac CPU type. I.e. from PowerPC to Intel, or Intel to PowerPC. See 10 on how to identify Macs.
9. If energy saver isn't giving some peripheral problems, because the peripheral doesn't understand low power mode.
10. If the possibility exists that there is marginal hardware on
Intel Macs or PowerPC Macs
Use: https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6413 to determine if you have PowerPC or Intel.
11. If you have had 4 language screens forcing you to restart your Mac, that's significant, and indicates what is known as a kernel panic.
Usually an issue relating to the hardware, though sometimes a directory may be damaged, or sometimes a bad or incompatible driver is installed.
Running the hardware test for Intel Macs or PowerPC Macs
will indicate if some RAM is bad, but not all RAM. Any errors found with it are significant.
12. If you don't have a current system, find out if a website you are visiting needs a newer plugin for Java, Flash, etc..(10.7.2 or earlier do not run a current Java. 10.6.7 or earlier do not run a current Flash. But updating to those is only necessary for a few websites. Check before updating to ensure you don't make yourself incompatible in other ways). Before updating to 10.7 or later, be sure to read this tip about compatibility first: https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6271
13. If your data is backed up from before or after the upgrade, and we can isolate other issues. Without a backup, we can't say if the solution might be worse than the problem.
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-1992 - tells you how to backup a functional system.
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-1689 - tells you how to recover a system that is not functional or able to boot so at least other issues can be
isolated.
14. Slowdown to internet applications may be due to third party router firmware not being up to date, too many machines using the router, an insecure router not using WPA2 connectivity (802.11b original Apple Airport can't use it, and it is better to get a WiFi ethernet bridge with at least 802.11g), proxy servers, and bad DNS issues which http://www.opendns.org/ can resolve. Additional WiFi related issues are documented on this tip:
15. A bad iTunes install, or one that isn't properly updated for the system may cause slow down. If you are trying to isolate that as a possibility, note the path to the iTunes Helper which is loaded in your System Preferences -> Accounts (Users and Groups in some versions of Mac OS X), Login Items (startup items in other versions of Mac OS X)
/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/Resources
You can use the Finder's Go to Folder command in the Go menu to reload that program after removing it from your Login Items and troubleshooting the situation.
16. Peer2peer sharing software, torrent software, both make your machine into a software server. This can slowdown your overall internet. Do not get software from such sources, as most are illegal. If you have trouble finding software for your operating system, visit http://www.roaringapps.com/ if using Mac OS X 10.7 or later, or ask on this board where to find software that is legal that does what you need.
17. If your Mac is backed up, then's the time to see if a directory repair is necessary:
18. Often times, you will see the system slowdown and get a spinning color circle indicating it is busy. After a certain amount of time, if you can risk losing the data that has not been saved on the application, force quitting the application with command-option-escape key sequence is a possibility.
If command-option-escape does not work, it may indicate one of the aforementioned issues is happening. Command and Option keys may look like some variation of:
On non-Apple keyboards the Windows key usually takes the place of the Command key, and the Alt key usually the Option key. Though Microsoft has made a patch for its keyboards that forces the two keys to switch their assigned Apple keystroke, since they are in reverse orientation of the Apple keyboard. The Escape key is typically just labelled ESC.
19. You may not experience any of the above issues with games or high end graphics applications. The graphics processor unit (GPU) recommended by the developer should be the one you have installed on your computer. Any others, and speed may be an issue with those programs. It is not to be confused with RAM or your CPU.
20. Migrating data from PowerPC Macs. See first #10 to see if you had a PowerPC Mac you were migrating from. If you did, you may have brought over some drivers the Intel Mac does not understand in the Migration or Setup Assistant. If there is a chance this may have happened, you should see this tip on migration which avoids the issue:
21. Notifications can slow Mac OS X 10.9 down. Go to Apple menu -> System Preferences -> Notifications to disable those notifications you don't need.
22. iCloud syncing (in 10.7.2 and later) can slow things down. Manage iCloud through the System Preferences to ensure syncing only happens when you need it. iSync in Mac OS X 10.6 and earlier can also slow things down when you don't need it.