What to Do When Microsoft Word Is Not Responding And I Didn’t Save
What to do when microsoft word is not responding and i didn’t save? This situation can be frustrating, especially while working on anything important. This problem has Windows and Mac remedies. This post includes 10 strategies to solve Word not responding and recover lost or accidentally deleted data.
10 Effective Ways to Fix Microsoft Word Not Responding Issue
When dealing with “Word not responding,” it’s crucial to recognize frequent inquiries and concerns. How to save a non-responsive Word document, get Word to work again, or fix a document that wasn’t saved before the issue is commonly asked. Mac users have Word unresponsiveness questions too. Lost or unopenable files can be devastating.
We offer 10 efficient Word not responding solutions for Windows and Mac. We also propose WinfrGUI data recovery for lost or unsaved Word files. This page explains why Word becomes unresponsive and offers remedies.
1. Disable third-party plugins. (Add-ons)
Word commonly freezes or becomes sluggish due to third-party plugins or add-ins. Disabling or deleting each plugin might help find the reason. Open Microsoft Word and click File on the toolbar. Then choose Options. Disable all third-party add-ins under Options > Add-ins. Restarting your computer may fix Word not responding.
2. Start Microsoft Word in safe mode.
Starting Microsoft Word in Safe Mode can help resolve various issues related to Word. In Safe Mode, all third-party services and applications are automatically disabled. To open Word in Safe Mode, search for the Microsoft Word application on your computer, or use the Windows + S shortcut to find the program. Press and hold the Ctrl key while clicking on the Office Word program at the same time. Check if Word is functioning correctly in Safe Mode.
3. Use the MS Office application recovery tool.
Microsoft has its own recovery feature called the MS Office Application Recovery tool. Fix Word not responding and restore unsaved documents using this tool. Select the unresponsive Word file in Start -> All Programs -> Microsoft Office Tools -> MS Office Application Recovery. Recover deleted or unsaved Word documents by clicking document recovery. If this functionality isn’t available, try alternative techniques in this post.
4. Use free data recovery software.
WinfrGUI data recovery program can recover lost Word files. Windows 10/8/7 users may effortlessly recover files from various storage media with this powerful solution. WinfrGUI can restore data lost due to Word not responding or other causes. Start the scan by opening the app and selecting the partition or drive with your misplaced Word files. Once finished, store the recovered files somewhere.
>>Also Read: How to Recover a Deleted PDF File [Windows 10]: 9 Fixes
5. Fix Word that is not responding with the Office repair tool.
Microsoft Office comes with a built-in repair tool to fix issues where Word is unresponsive, freezes, or crashes. Access the control panel on your computer, go to Programs -> Uninstall a program, and then right-click on Microsoft Office Suite. Select the option to change and choose the repair feature, then proceed. Please follow the provided instructions to complete the repair process. After that, restart your computer and check if Word is functioning properly.
6. Temporarily disable the antivirus software.
Sometimes, third-party antivirus programs can interfere with the functioning of Word and cause it to become unresponsive. Temporarily disabling the antivirus software can help determine if it is the cause of the problem. Try restarting your computer and opening Word again to see if it works normally. If the issue persists, re-enable the antivirus software, as it plays a crucial role in protecting your computer from various threats.
7. Update device drivers and graphics card.
Outdated device drivers and graphics card versions may cause issues when using Word. Updating these drivers can help resolve the problem of Word not responding in Windows 10. Access the Device Manager on your computer and select the category of devices you wish to update. Right-click on the desired device and choose the “Update Driver” option. Similarly, if you want to update your graphics card driver, select “Display Adapters” and right-click on the graphics card driver. Follow the instructions to update the driver.
8. Temporarily disable hardware acceleration.
In some cases, the “Word not responding” error may be caused by hardware acceleration issues in the Windows 10 operating system. Disabling hardware graphics acceleration may help resolve this issue. Right-click on your desktop, select “Personalize,” and choose “Display.” Open the graphics properties window and click on the troubleshooting option. If permitted, adjust the hardware acceleration settings by sliding the pointer to the left or disabling it entirely. Record the changes and check if Word is functioning correctly.
9. Fix Word not responding when typing by changing the default printer.
If you encounter the issue of Word not responding while trying to type in Windows 10, changing the default printer may be an effective solution. Access the Control Panel on your computer, select “View devices and printers” under Hardware and Sound, and then right-click on the backup printer. Select the printer option as the default printer. Try restarting your computer and check if Word can print without any issues.
10. Start Windows in Safe Mode to check for system errors.
If you are experiencing the “Word not responding” issue continuously on your Windows 10 computer, booting in Safe Mode can help identify hidden system errors. Safe Mode allows you to diagnose problems related to file system corruption and hard disk errors. Restart your Windows 10 computer and hold down the Shift key. Release the key when you see Safe Boot on the startup screen. Run Word in safe mode to check if the unresponsive issue has been resolved.
How to fix Word not responding on Mac?
If you are using a Mac and encounter the issue of Word not responding, you can try the following methods:
Open and fix Word: Open Word, choose File, Open, and pick the Word DOCX file. Click the downward arrow next to Open and select “Open and Repair.”
Fix disk permissions and errors: Enter Utilities from the Go menu. Select the hard disk to repair in Disk Utility. Click First Aid to fix disk problems and permissions. Click “Done” when finished.
Safely open Word: Restart your Mac while holding Shift. At the Safe Boot screen, release the key. Check if Word for Mac is responsive in Safe Mode.
Useful tips
To prevent data loss from errors when Word becomes unresponsive, it is very important to regularly back up your important Word files. Use quality and free backup software for maximum protection.
Key summary
To avoid complications and interruptions while using Microsoft Word, it is important to save your files regularly. However, if you encounter the “what to do when microsoft word is not responding and i didn’t save” problem, follow the 10 methods mentioned in this post to recover unsaved documents and retrieve lost or accidentally deleted Word files using the WinfrGUI data recovery software.
