You notice that saving a document in Word takes noticeably longer than it used to. This delay often occurs because third-party add-ins load during the save process and consume extra resources. Disabling problematic add-ins can restore normal save speeds. This article explains how to identify and disable add-ins that slow down document save times in Word for Windows.
Key Takeaways: Disabling Word Add-ins to Speed Up Saves
- File > Options > Add-ins > Manage COM Add-ins > Go: Opens the dialog to disable individual COM add-ins without uninstalling them.
- Safe Mode (hold Ctrl while starting Word): Temporarily loads Word with all add-ins disabled to test if add-ins are causing the save delay.
- Disable one add-in at a time and test save speed: Isolates the specific add-in responsible for the slowdown without losing functionality.
Why Add-ins Slow Down Document Saves
Add-ins are programs that extend Word’s functionality. They can add custom toolbars, automate tasks, or integrate with external services. When you save a document, Word triggers events that add-ins can intercept. A poorly coded or resource-heavy add-in may perform unnecessary operations during the save event, causing delays. Common culprits include grammar checkers, citation managers, document comparison tools, and connectors to cloud storage services. The more add-ins you have installed, the higher the chance that one of them is slowing down the save process.
Add-ins load when Word starts and remain active until you close the application. Even if you do not use an add-in, it can still affect performance. Disabling an add-in removes it from the current session without uninstalling the software. You can re-enable it later if needed.
Steps to Disable Add-ins That Slow Down Document Saves
Follow these steps to disable COM add-ins and test whether they are causing slow saves. The process works the same in Word 2016, Word 2019, Word 2021, and Word for Microsoft 365.
- Open Word in Safe Mode to confirm the add-in problem
Press and hold the Ctrl key on your keyboard, then double-click the Word shortcut to launch it. Keep holding Ctrl until you see a dialog asking if you want to start Word in Safe Mode. Click Yes. Safe Mode loads Word with all add-ins disabled. Try saving a document. If saving is fast in Safe Mode but slow in normal mode, an add-in is the cause. - Open the Add-ins management dialog
In normal mode, click File > Options > Add-ins. At the bottom of the Add-ins window, next to the Manage dropdown, select COM Add-ins from the list. Click Go. - Disable all COM add-ins
In the COM Add-ins dialog, uncheck every add-in listed. Click OK. Restart Word normally. Test the save speed on a document. If saves are now fast, the problem is caused by one or more of the disabled add-ins. - Enable add-ins one at a time to find the culprit
Go back to File > Options > Add-ins > COM Add-ins > Go. Check only the first add-in. Click OK. Restart Word. Save a document and note the time. Repeat this process for each add-in. The add-in that causes a noticeable delay when enabled is the one slowing down saves. - Keep the problematic add-in disabled
After identifying the slow add-in, return to the COM Add-ins dialog and uncheck that add-in. Leave all other add-ins checked. Click OK. Restart Word. The save speed should return to normal while you keep using the other add-ins.
Disable Startup Add-ins (Template Add-ins)
Some add-ins are loaded as templates rather than COM add-ins. To disable these:
- Open the Templates and Add-ins dialog
Click File > Options > Add-ins. At the bottom, select Word Add-ins from the Manage dropdown and click Go. - Uncheck the add-in templates
In the Templates and Add-ins dialog, uncheck any item listed under the Global Templates and Add-ins section. Click OK. Restart Word.
If Word Still Has Slow Saves After Disabling Add-ins
If you disabled all add-ins and save speed did not improve, the issue likely comes from a different source. Test these possibilities.
Large Embedded Images or Objects
Images and embedded objects increase file size and save time. Compress images by clicking a picture, then Picture Format > Compress Pictures. Choose a lower resolution like 150 PPI or 96 PPI. Uncheck embedded objects by opening the document and checking for OLE objects in the Object dialog (Insert > Object).
Track Changes With Many Revisions
A document with hundreds or thousands of tracked changes can save slowly. Accept or reject all changes by clicking Review > Accept > Accept All Changes. Then click Review > Delete > Delete All Comments. This reduces the metadata Word must process during save.
Corrupted Document
If a specific document saves slowly but others do not, the document may be corrupted. Use the Open and Repair feature: click File > Open, select the document, click the arrow next to the Open button, and choose Open and Repair.
Word Normal Mode vs Safe Mode: Add-in Behavior Differences
| Item | Normal Mode | Safe Mode |
|---|---|---|
| COM add-ins | All enabled | All disabled |
| Template add-ins | All enabled | All disabled |
| Custom toolbars | Visible | Hidden |
| Startup macros | Run automatically | Do not run |
| Save speed impact | Potentially slow | Baseline speed |
You can now identify and disable add-ins that slow down document saves in Word. Start by testing save speed in Safe Mode, then disable add-ins one at a time using the COM Add-ins dialog. If the issue persists, check for large images, tracked changes, or document corruption. For ongoing performance, consider disabling add-ins you rarely use and running Word in Safe Mode only when troubleshooting.