Word crashes immediately after launching or freezes during editing after a recent update. This usually happens because a new update introduced a compatibility issue with your system configuration, a conflicting add-in, or a corrupted installation file. This article explains why updates cause crashes and shows you three rollback methods: uninstalling the update, reverting to a previous version, and using Windows System Restore.
Key Takeaways: Roll Back a Faulty Word Update
- Control Panel > Programs > View installed updates: Uninstall the specific Office update that caused Word to crash.
- File > Account > Update Options > Update History > Choose version: Revert Word to a previous stable build without losing documents.
- System Restore (rstrui.exe): Roll back Windows and Office to a restore point created before the update was installed.
Why Word Crashes After a Microsoft 365 or Office Update
Microsoft releases monthly updates for Word and the rest of Office to patch security holes, add features, and fix bugs. However, an update can introduce new bugs that conflict with your system. Common triggers include:
- Driver incompatibility: A new update may rely on graphics or printer drivers that are outdated on your computer.
- Add-in conflicts: Third-party add-ins that worked with the previous version may break after an update.
- Corrupted update files: The update download or installation process can become corrupted, leaving Word in an unstable state.
- Registry or permission changes: An update can alter registry keys or file permissions that Word needs to start.
When Word crashes, you typically see one of these symptoms: Word closes immediately after the splash screen, a “Word has stopped working” dialog appears, or the program freezes when opening a document. In some cases, Word may launch but crash as soon as you try to save or print.
Three Methods to Roll Back a Word Update and Stop the Crashes
Choose the method that matches your Office installation type. Microsoft 365 subscribers and Office 2021/2019 users can uninstall the update directly. Office 2016 and earlier users may need to use System Restore. All methods require administrator access on Windows 10 or Windows 11.
Method 1: Uninstall the Office Update via Control Panel
This method works for Office 2016, 2019, 2021, and Microsoft 365 apps installed via Click-to-Run or MSI. You remove the specific update package, not the entire Office suite.
- Open Installed Updates
Press Windows + R, type appwiz.cpl, and press Enter. In the Programs and Features window, click View installed updates in the left pane. - Locate the Office Update
Scroll to the Microsoft Office section. Updates are listed by KB number (for example, KB5002328). Look for the most recent update that matches the date when Word started crashing. If you are unsure, sort by the Installed On column. - Uninstall the Update
Right-click the update entry and select Uninstall. Confirm any User Account Control prompt. Windows removes the update and restores the previous Office files. - Restart Word and Test
Open Word and try opening a document. If Word no longer crashes, the update was the cause. To prevent automatic reinstallation, pause updates: go to File > Account > Update Options > Disable Updates.
Method 2: Revert to a Previous Version Using the Update History Dialog
This method is available only for Microsoft 365 apps with Click-to-Run installation. It lets you roll back to a specific version without uninstalling individual updates.
- Open Word Account Settings
Open any Office app (Word, Excel, or Outlook). Go to File > Account. - Access Update History
Under Product Information, click Update Options and select Update History. A dialog box shows the installed version and a list of recent updates. - Choose a Previous Version
Click Choose version. A dropdown list appears with the last several versions. Select the version that was working before the crash. Click OK. - Confirm the Rollback
Word downloads the selected version and reverts the installation. This process takes a few minutes. Do not close the app or shut down your computer during the rollback. - Test Word Stability
After the rollback completes, restart Word. If the crash is gone, keep updates paused for a few weeks until Microsoft releases a fix. To pause, return to File > Account > Update Options > Disable Updates.
Method 3: Use System Restore to Roll Back Windows and Office
System Restore reverts your system files, registry, and installed programs to a point before the update. This method works for any Office version and is useful if the Control Panel method fails or if the update affected Windows itself.
- Open System Restore
Press Windows + R, type rstrui.exe, and press Enter. The System Restore wizard opens. - Choose a Restore Point
Click Next. A list of restore points appears with dates and descriptions. Select a restore point created before the Office update that caused the crash. If you have multiple restore points, pick the one closest to the date when Word worked correctly. - Confirm and Start the Restoration
Click Next, then Finish. Windows restarts and restores the system to the selected point. This process can take 15 to 30 minutes. Do not interrupt it. - Verify Word After Restart
After the computer reboots, log in and open Word. If the crash is resolved, the restore point contained a working version of Office. Note that System Restore may also remove other programs or updates you installed after the restore point date.
If Word Still Crashes After the Rollback
Word crashes even after uninstalling the update
The update may have changed a file or setting that the rollback did not fully revert. Run the Office Repair tool: open Control Panel > Programs and Features, right-click Microsoft 365 or Office, select Change, then choose Quick Repair. If that does not help, run an Online Repair which reinstalls Office completely.
Word freezes when opening a specific document after an update
The update may have corrupted a document template or a font cache. Close Word, press Windows + R, type %appdata%\Microsoft\Templates, and rename Normal.dotm to Normal.old. Restart Word. If the freeze stops, the default template was damaged. Word creates a fresh Normal.dotm automatically.
The uninstall option is grayed out in Control Panel
This happens when Office was installed via the Microsoft Store or when the update is part of a cumulative Windows update. In this case, use Method 3 (System Restore). If System Restore is not available, uninstall Office completely and reinstall it from the Microsoft 365 portal or the Microsoft Store.
Update Rollback Methods Comparison
| Item | Uninstall Update via Control Panel | Revert via Update History | System Restore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Works with | Office 2016, 2019, 2021, Microsoft 365 (MSI and Click-to-Run) | Microsoft 365 Click-to-Run only | All Office versions |
| Time required | 5–10 minutes | 10–20 minutes | 15–30 minutes |
| Affects other apps | No | No | Yes, may affect other programs and settings |
| Prevents future updates | Must manually disable updates | Must manually disable updates | Does not disable updates |
| Requires admin rights | Yes | Yes | Yes |
You now know three ways to roll back a Word update that causes crashes. Start with the Control Panel method because it is the fastest and least invasive. If that fails, use the Update History revert option for Microsoft 365. As a last resort, run System Restore. After rolling back, pause updates for at least two weeks to let Microsoft release a stable patch. To avoid future crashes, check the Office release notes before installing monthly updates.