Word displays error code 0xc0000142 and closes immediately when you try to start the program. This error means the application failed to initialize properly, often because of a corrupted system file or a damaged Office installation. The error can also appear after a Windows update conflicts with Word components. This article explains why error 0xc0000142 occurs and provides five working methods to fix it.
Key Takeaways: Fixing Word Error 0xc0000142
- Run the Office Repair tool (Quick Repair first): Fixes corrupted Office files without affecting your documents or settings.
- Run System File Checker (sfc /scannow): Replaces damaged Windows system files that Word depends on to launch.
- Disable antivirus temporarily or add Word as an exception: Stops security software from blocking Word startup processes.
- Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables: Restores required runtime libraries that Word needs to initialize.
- Perform a Clean Boot of Windows: Eliminates third-party service conflicts that prevent Word from loading.
Why Word Shows Error 0xc0000142 at Startup
Error code 0xc0000142 is a Windows application error that appears when a program fails to start because the system cannot properly initialize its components. In Word, this error typically points to one of three root causes.
First, a corrupted Office installation is the most common trigger. Damaged or missing Word executable files, DLLs, or registry entries prevent the application from launching. Second, Windows system file corruption can cause this error. Word relies on core Windows components like kernel32.dll and ntdll.dll. If these files are damaged, Word will not start. Third, a recent Windows update sometimes introduces a conflict with Office licensing or activation modules, producing the 0xc0000142 error.
The error always appears immediately after double-clicking the Word icon. You see a dialog box with the error code and the message “The application was unable to start correctly.” Word closes without opening any document window. The problem affects Word 2016, 2019, 2021, and Microsoft 365 versions on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Steps to Resolve Word Error 0xc0000142
Follow these methods in order. Each method targets a different possible cause. Test Word after each method to see if the error is resolved.
Method 1: Run the Office Quick Repair
- Open Programs and Features
Press Windows + R, typeappwiz.cpl, and press Enter. - Select Microsoft 365 or Office
Find your Office product in the list. Right-click it and choose Change. If prompted by User Account Control, click Yes. - Choose Quick Repair
Select the Quick Repair option and click Repair. Windows downloads and replaces damaged Office files. This process takes about 5 minutes. - Restart Word
After the repair finishes, restart Word. If the error persists, move to Method 2.
Method 2: Run System File Checker
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator
Click Start, typecmd, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator. - Run the SFC scan
Typesfc /scannowand press Enter. The scan checks all protected system files and replaces corrupted ones with cached copies. - Wait for the scan to complete
Do not close the Command Prompt window. The scan can take 15 to 30 minutes. When it finishes, you see a message stating either no integrity violations were found or that corrupted files were repaired. - Restart your computer
After the scan completes, restart Windows. Then try opening Word.
Method 3: Disable Antivirus Temporarily
- Open your antivirus software
Locate the antivirus icon in the system tray near the clock. Right-click it and select Disable or Pause protection. - Choose a short disable duration
Select 15 minutes or until the next restart. Do not leave protection disabled permanently. - Launch Word
If Word opens without the error, add Word and the entire Office folder as an exception in your antivirus settings.
Method 4: Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables
- Open Programs and Features
Press Windows + R, typeappwiz.cpl, and press Enter. - Uninstall all Visual C++ Redistributables
Scroll through the list. For each entry named Microsoft Visual C++ XXXX Redistributable, right-click and choose Uninstall. Uninstall every version you see. - Download the latest redistributables
Go to the official Microsoft download page for Visual C++ Redistributable packages. Download and install both the x86 and x64 versions of the latest supported package. - Restart your computer
After installation, restart Windows. Then open Word.
Method 5: Perform a Clean Boot
- Open System Configuration
Press Windows + R, typemsconfig, and press Enter. - Select Selective startup
On the General tab, select Selective startup. Uncheck Load startup items. - Disable all non-Microsoft services
Go to the Services tab. Check Hide all Microsoft services. Click Disable all. - Apply and restart
Click Apply, then OK. Restart your computer. When Windows starts, try opening Word. If it works, a third-party service was the cause. Re-enable services one by one to identify the offender.
If Word Still Shows Error 0xc0000142 After These Fixes
Word shows error 0xc0000142 after a Windows update
If the error started immediately after a Windows update, uninstall the most recent update. Go to Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates. Select the latest update and click Uninstall. Restart your computer and test Word. If Word works, pause Windows updates for 30 days to allow Microsoft to release a fix.
Word fails to start with error 0xc0000142 and a blank white window
This symptom points to a damaged Word data key in the registry. Close Word completely. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\XX.0\Word where XX.0 is your version number (16.0 for Office 2016, 2019, 2021, and Microsoft 365). Right-click the Word key and select Export to back it up. Then right-click the Word key again and choose Delete. Restart Word. Word recreates the key with default settings.
Word error 0xc0000142 appears only for a specific user account
Create a new Windows user profile and test Word under that account. Go to Settings > Accounts > Family and other users. Click Add someone else to this PC. Create a local account without a Microsoft account. Log in to the new account and open Word. If Word works, migrate your documents and settings to the new profile.
Office Repair Options: Quick Repair vs Online Repair
| Item | Quick Repair | Online Repair |
|---|---|---|
| Time required | 5 to 10 minutes | 30 to 60 minutes |
| Internet needed | Yes, downloads replacement files | Yes, downloads full installer |
| Affects user settings | No, keeps all customizations | No, keeps all customizations |
| Fixes corrupted registry entries | No | Yes |
| Recommended as first step | Yes | Only if Quick Repair fails |
If Quick Repair does not resolve error 0xc0000142, run an Online Repair. Go back to Programs and Features, right-click your Office product, choose Change, and select Online Repair. This process reinstalls the entire Office suite and fixes deeper corruption that Quick Repair cannot reach.
Conclusion
You can now resolve Word error 0xc0000142 using the Office Quick Repair tool, System File Checker, or a Clean Boot. Start with the Quick Repair because it is the fastest method and does not affect your documents. If the error persists, run the System File Checker with the sfc /scannow command to repair Windows system files. After fixing Word, create a system restore point so you can revert to a working state if future updates trigger the same error.