PowerPoint Error ‘The Memory Could Not Be Read’ on Exit: Fix

When you close PowerPoint, you see an error message that says “The memory could not be read.” This error occurs because of a conflict between PowerPoint and a specific add-in or a corrupted system file. The message appears right when the program tries to release memory during the shutdown process. This article explains the root cause of this memory read error and provides step-by-step fixes to stop it from appearing.

The error is not a sign of failing RAM or a hardware problem. It is a software conflict that happens when an add-in or a system component interferes with PowerPoint’s exit routine. You can resolve it by disabling problematic add-ins, repairing Office, or adjusting memory-related settings in Windows.

Why PowerPoint Shows “The Memory Could Not Be Read” on Exit

The error occurs because a component inside PowerPoint tries to access a memory address that has already been released or is no longer valid. This happens during the application shutdown sequence when PowerPoint unloads add-ins, closes open file handles, and releases allocated memory blocks.

The most common trigger is a third-party COM add-in that does not follow Microsoft’s memory management standards. When PowerPoint tells the add-in to unload, the add-in attempts to read from a memory pointer that the operating system has marked as freed. This triggers an access violation, and Windows displays the error message.

Other causes include:

• Corrupted Office installation files that cause improper memory cleanup
• Data Execution Prevention (DEP) blocking legitimate memory operations in PowerPoint
• Conflicts with antivirus software that monitors PowerPoint’s memory usage in real time
• Outdated graphics drivers that cause memory leaks during slide rendering

Steps to Fix the Memory-Read Error When Closing PowerPoint

Follow these methods in order. Each method targets a different cause of the error. Test after each method by closing PowerPoint to see if the error stops.

Method 1: Disable All COM Add-Ins

1. Open PowerPoint in Safe Mode
   Press and hold the Ctrl key on your keyboard. While holding Ctrl, double-click the PowerPoint shortcut. A dialog box asks if you want to start PowerPoint in Safe Mode. Click Yes. Safe Mode loads PowerPoint without any add-ins. If the error does not appear in Safe Mode, an add-in is the cause.
2. Open the Add-Ins Manager
   In PowerPoint, go to File > Options > Add-Ins. At the bottom of the dialog, next to Manage, select COM Add-ins from the dropdown list. Click Go.
3. Disable all add-ins
   In the COM Add-Ins dialog, clear every checkbox. Click OK. Restart PowerPoint normally. Close PowerPoint and check if the error appears. If it does not, enable add-ins one at a time and restart after each to identify the specific add-in causing the conflict.

Method 2: Repair the Office Installation

1. Open Programs and Features
   Press Windows key + R, type appwiz.cpl, and press Enter. This opens the Programs and Features control panel.
2. Select Microsoft 365 or Office
   Find Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Office in the list. Right-click it and select Change.
3. Run Quick Repair first
   Select Quick Repair and click Repair. Follow the on-screen instructions. After the repair completes, restart your computer. Test PowerPoint. If the error persists, repeat steps 1 and 2, then select Online Repair. This process takes longer but replaces all Office files.

Method 3: Add PowerPoint to Data Execution Prevention (DEP) Exceptions

1. Open System Properties
   Press Windows key + Pause/Break to open System. Click Advanced system settings on the left side.
2. Open Performance Options
   In the System Properties dialog, under the Advanced tab, click Settings in the Performance section.
3. Set DEP to OptOut for PowerPoint
   In Performance Options, click the Data Execution Prevention tab. Select Turn on DEP for all programs and services except those I select. Click Add. Navigate to C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\POWERPNT.EXE and select it. Click Open, then Apply, and OK. Restart your computer.

Method 4: Run the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant (SaRA)

1. Download SaRA
   Go to the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant download page. Download and install the tool.
2. Run the Office and 365 scan
   Open SaRA. Select Office and 365 from the list of applications. Select I have Office installed but I’m having problems with it. Click Next. Follow the prompts. SaRA automatically detects and repairs common Office issues including memory-related errors.

Method 5: Update Graphics Drivers

1. Open Device Manager
   Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
2. Update the display adapter driver
   Expand Display adapters. Right-click your graphics card and select Update driver. Select Search automatically for drivers. If Windows finds a new driver, install it. Restart your computer.
3. Check for driver updates from the manufacturer
   If Windows does not find a new driver, visit the website of your GPU manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel). Download and install the latest driver for your specific model.

If the Memory Error Still Appears After the Main Fixes

PowerPoint Shows “The Memory Could Not Be Read” Only With a Specific Presentation

The error may be caused by a corrupted element inside a single presentation file. Open the presentation in Safe Mode (hold Ctrl while opening PowerPoint). If the error does not appear, copy all slides to a new blank presentation. Go to Home > New Slide > Reuse Slides. Browse to the corrupted file and insert slides one by one to isolate the problematic slide.

Error Appears After Installing a Windows Update

A recent Windows update may have changed memory management settings. Open Settings > Windows Update > Update history. Click Uninstall updates. Select the most recent update and click Uninstall. Restart your computer. If the error stops, pause updates for 30 days and report the issue to Microsoft via the Feedback Hub.

Antivirus Software Blocks PowerPoint Memory Operations

Some antivirus programs scan memory when an application closes. Temporarily disable your antivirus real-time protection. Close and reopen PowerPoint. If the error disappears, add PowerPoint to your antivirus exclusion list. The exact steps depend on your antivirus software, but the typical path is Settings > Exclusions > Add process > select POWERPNT.EXE.

PowerPoint Error on Exit: Safe Mode vs Normal Mode Comparison

Item	Safe Mode	Normal Mode
Add-ins loaded	None	All enabled add-ins
Hardware graphics acceleration	Disabled	Enabled by default
Third-party templates	Not loaded	Loaded
Custom toolbars	Not visible	Visible
DEP interaction	Standard	Affected by system DEP settings

Testing in Safe Mode is the fastest way to determine whether an add-in or a graphics setting causes the memory error. If the error stops in Safe Mode, the cause is almost always a COM add-in or a hardware acceleration conflict.

You can now fix the “The memory could not be read” error when closing PowerPoint by disabling conflicting add-ins, repairing Office, or adjusting DEP settings. Start with the COM add-in disable method because it resolves the majority of cases. If the error returns after enabling an add-in, keep that add-in disabled and contact the add-in vendor for an update. Use the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant as a diagnostic tool before attempting more complex fixes like graphics driver updates.