You are working on a large Word document with many images, tables, or embedded objects when Word stops responding and displays the error “Out of memory” or “Not enough memory.” This error appears because Word has a 2 GB file size limit and a 32-bit memory ceiling, but it also occurs when the document contains excessive formatting, embedded fonts, or large graphics that exhaust available system RAM. This article explains the root causes of the memory error and provides step-by-step fixes to recover your document and prevent the issue from returning.
Key Takeaways: Recovering From Word’s Out of Memory Error
- File > Options > Save > Save AutoRecover information every 1 minute: Protects against data loss when a memory error crashes Word.
- File > Open > Browse > select file > Open drop-down > Open and Repair: Recovers a corrupt document that triggers false memory errors.
- Paste Special > Paste Link or Insert Picture > Compress Pictures: Reduces the memory footprint of embedded images and OLE objects.
Why Word Shows the Out of Memory Error on Large Documents
Word is a 32-bit application by default, even on 64-bit Windows. This means Word can address a maximum of 2 GB of virtual memory per process. When a document grows in size due to embedded images, tables with complex formatting, tracked changes, or OLE objects such as embedded Excel sheets, Word must load the entire document into memory. Once the combined size of the document and Word’s internal data structures exceeds 2 GB, the operating system returns an out-of-memory error.
Another common cause is document corruption. A corrupt file can contain malformed data that forces Word to request an extreme amount of memory during parsing. This is why a 10 MB file can trigger the same error as a 500 MB file. Additionally, add-ins, especially those that interact with graphics or document metadata, can leak memory over time and cause the error to appear sooner.
File Size Limits and Memory Thresholds
The maximum file size for a .docx file is 2 GB, but in practice, performance degrades well before that limit. Word 2019 and Word for Microsoft 365 begin to show memory warnings when a document exceeds approximately 500 MB, especially if the document contains many inline images. The 32-bit memory ceiling is the hard limit; upgrading to the 64-bit version of Office removes the 2 GB process limit but does not eliminate the 2 GB file size limit.
Steps to Fix the Out of Memory Error and Recover Your Document
Follow these steps in order. Start with the recovery method, then reduce the document’s memory usage.
Method 1: Open and Repair the Document
- Open Word in Safe Mode
Press and hold the Ctrl key on your keyboard, then double-click the Word shortcut. When the dialog box appears, click Yes. Safe Mode disables all add-ins and custom settings that could contribute to memory pressure. - Use Open and Repair
In Safe Mode, go to File > Open > Browse. Locate the document that triggers the error. Click the file once to select it, then click the drop-down arrow next to the Open button. Choose Open and Repair from the list. Word will attempt to fix corruption in the file and open it with a reduced memory footprint. - Save the Repaired File
If the document opens, immediately save it with a new name using File > Save As. Choose a location and rename the file. This creates a clean copy without the corrupt data.
Method 2: Reduce Image Resolution and Compress Pictures
- Open the Document With Linked Images
If Open and Repair works but the document is slow, start by selecting any image in the document. Right-click the image and choose Format Picture. In the Format Picture pane, select the Picture icon (the one that looks like a mountain). Expand the Picture Corrections section and lower the Sharpness and Brightness if needed, but the main goal here is to compress. - Compress All Pictures
Select any one picture in the document. Go to Picture Format > Compress Pictures. In the Compression Options dialog, uncheck Apply only to this picture. Set the Resolution to 150 ppi or 96 ppi. Click OK. Word will compress every image in the document, reducing the file size significantly. - Replace Embedded Images With Linked Images
For future documents, insert images as links instead of embedding them. Go to Insert > Pictures > This Device. Select the image file, then click the drop-down arrow next to Insert. Choose Link to File. The image appears in the document but is not stored inside the .docx file. This keeps the document small and avoids memory errors.
Method 3: Disable Add-Ins and Tracked Changes
- Disable COM Add-Ins
Go to File > Options > Add-Ins. At the bottom of the dialog, set the Manage drop-down to COM Add-Ins and click Go. Uncheck every add-in in the list, then click OK. Restart Word and try opening the document again. - Accept All Tracked Changes
If the document contains tracked changes, they can bloat the file. Go to Review > Accept > Accept All Changes. Then go to Review > Delete > Delete All Comments. Save the document. Tracked changes store every edit, and accepting them removes the overhead. - Clear the Clipboard
Word stores clipboard history in memory. Press Ctrl + C to open the Clipboard pane, then click Clear All. This frees memory that Word may be holding.
Method 4: Switch to the 64-Bit Version of Office
- Check Your Current Bit Version
Open Word and go to File > Account > About Word. Look for the line that says either 32-bit or 64-bit. If you see 32-bit, you are limited to 2 GB of memory. - Download and Install 64-Bit Office
Go to your Microsoft account portal at account.microsoft.com. Under Services & subscriptions, find your Office product and click Install. Before installing, uninstall the 32-bit version from Control Panel > Programs and Features. Then run the 64-bit installer. The 64-bit version can address up to 2 TB of memory, which eliminates the memory ceiling for large documents.
If Word Still Has Issues After the Main Fix
Word Crashes When Scrolling a Large Table
If your document contains a table with hundreds of rows, Word may crash even after compression. Select the entire table, go to Table Design > Borders, and set the border style to No Border. Then go to Layout > AutoFit > Fixed Column Width. Fixed width tables use less memory than auto-fit tables.
Word Stops Responding When Printing a Large Document
The print spooler can cause memory errors. Go to File > Options > Advanced. Scroll to the Print section and check Print in background. Also set Print PostScript over text to Never. This reduces the memory used during the print process.
Error Appears on a New, Empty Document
If the error occurs even when you create a new blank document, the issue is not the document but a corrupt Word template. Close Word. In File Explorer, type %appdata%\Microsoft\Templates in the address bar. Delete the file named Normal.dotm. Word will recreate it with default settings when you restart. This clears template corruption that can cause memory errors.
32-Bit vs 64-Bit Word: Memory Limits and Document Size
| Item | 32-Bit Word | 64-Bit Word |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum addressable memory | 2 GB | 2 TB |
| Maximum .docx file size | 2 GB | 2 GB |
| Performance with embedded images | Slows down above 500 MB | Stable up to 1.5 GB |
| Compatibility with old add-ins | Works with most 32-bit add-ins | Requires native 64-bit add-ins |
| Recommended for documents over 300 MB | No | Yes |
Switching to 64-bit Word does not reduce the file size limit, but it prevents the out-of-memory error caused by the 2 GB process limit. If your document exceeds 2 GB, you must split it into multiple files regardless of the bit version.
Now you can recover a document that triggers the out-of-memory error using Open and Repair, image compression, and add-in management. To prevent future errors, always insert images as linked files and avoid embedding large OLE objects. For advanced users, consider splitting a document that exceeds 1 GB into chapters using the Master Document feature under View > Outline.