Resolve the “Something Went Wrong” Error When Opening Office Apps

As you launch an Office application like Word, Excel or PowerPoint on your Windows PC, you may encounter an error message stating “Something went wrong. We’re sorry, but we can’t open [app name] right now. Please try again later.” This frustrating message prevents you from accessing the app and getting your work done. Before you panic or call for technical support, try these simple steps to resolve the issue on your own and get back to maximum productivity. With a few quick fixes, you’ll bypass the error and open your Office apps as expected in no time. Stay calm and follow the solutions outlined below to overcome the “Something went wrong” error message blocking access to your Office suite.

Restart Your Computer

To resolve the “Something went wrong” error message when attempting to open one of the Office apps, the first step is to restart your computer.

A system restart will refresh your computer’s memory and clear any software conflicts that may be preventing the Office app from launching properly.

1. Save any open files and close all running programs.
2. Click the Start or Power button, then select “Restart” or “Restart now.” Alternatively, you can press and hold the power button on your computer until it shuts down, then press the power button again to restart.
3. Once your computer has fully restarted, try opening the Office app again. The restart should have cleared the issue and the app should open normally.

If restarting your computer does not fix the “Something went wrong” error, there are a few other troubleshooting steps to try:

• Repair your Office installation. Open the Control Panel, select “Programs and Features,” click your Office suite, then select “Change” or “Repair.” Follow the prompts to repair your Office installation.
• Run the Office app in Safe Mode. Press and hold the Ctrl key while opening the app to run it in Safe Mode. This will bypass certain add-ins that could be causing issues. Disable any add-ins if the app opens properly in Safe Mode.
• Check for malware infection. Run a full system scan using your antivirus software to check for any malware that could be interfering with Office. Quarantine or remove any infections found.
• Reinstall Office if needed. As a last resort, you may need to uninstall Office from your computer and then reinstall the suite. Make sure to back up your files and settings before reinstalling.

With patience and persistence, the “Something went wrong” error when launching your Office apps can usually be resolved. Let me know if you have any other questions!

Repair or Reinstall Microsoft Office

If repairing or reinstalling Microsoft Office does not resolve the “Something went wrong” error, you may need to uninstall Office and then reinstall it. As a last resort, you can try resetting or repairing Windows to fix any corruption that may be preventing Office from opening properly.

To uninstall Office, go to the Control Panel and select “Uninstall a program.” Locate any version of Microsoft Office on the list and click “Uninstall.” You may have to uninstall multiple Office programs one by one. Once everything is uninstalled, restart your computer.

Next, reinstall Office. You can download the latest version from the Microsoft website and enter your product key to activate it. If you have an Office 365 subscription, sign in to download and install the apps. During installation, pay close attention to any on-screen prompts and check for error messages to ensure Office installs correctly.

If Office still does not open after reinstalling, you may need to reset or repair Windows. Go to the Control Panel and click “Recovery.” Choose either “Reset this PC” to reset Windows settings to their defaults or “Advanced options” to run the System File Checker tool to repair corrupted system files. Make sure to backup your important files first before making any major system changes.

Resetting or repairing Windows often fixes issues that prevent programs from opening properly. However, these options will not remove your personal files, so your documents and photos should remain intact. With some patience and troubleshooting, you can get the “Something went wrong” error resolved and your Office apps up and running again.

Run the Microsoft Office Diagnostic Tool

To resolve the “Something went wrong” error message when opening an Office app, you should run the Microsoft Office Diagnostic tool. This built-in utility can detect and fix issues with Office programs.

Find the Microsoft Office Diagnostic tool

You have a few options to access the Diagnostic tool:

• Open the Start menu and search for “Microsoft Office Diagnostic”. Select the option that says “Microsoft Office Diagnostic Tool”.
• Open any Office app (such as Word, Excel or PowerPoint) and go to File > Help. Then select “Run Diagnostics”.
• Go to https://aka.ms/diag_office and select “Run Diagnostics” to start the scan.

Run the Diagnostic scan

1. The tool will start scanning your Office installation and configuration. This may take a few minutes. Be patient and let the scan complete.
2. Once finished, the Diagnostic tool will show the results and may detect issues that can be repaired. Review the list of any detected issues.
3. Click “Repair” or “Fix All” to have the Diagnostic tool automatically repair the detected issues. Follow any on-screen prompts to complete the repairs.
4. After the repairs are complete, you may be prompted to restart your device. Save any open files and restart as recommended.
5. Open your Office app again. The “Something went wrong” error message should no longer appear. If it still shows, there may be another underlying issue. You may need to try repairing Office or contact Microsoft support for further help.

The Microsoft Office Diagnostic tool can detect and resolve a number of common issues to get your Office apps working properly again. Be sure to run it whenever you receive an error message upon opening an Office program. With some luck, it will have you back up and running in no time.

Check for and Install Windows Updates

To resolve the “Something went wrong” error message when opening an Office app, it’s important to check for and install any available Windows updates. Microsoft frequently releases patches and updates to fix issues with Office software and compatibility.

Check for Windows Updates

Open the Start menu and select the Settings gear icon. Choose “Update & Security” and then “Windows Update”. Click “Check for updates” to search for the latest updates for your version of Windows. If any updates are found, install them and restart your computer.

Install Office Updates

Once your system is up to date, open any Office app such as Word, Excel or PowerPoint. Go to “File” > “Account” and select “Update Options”. Click “Update Now” to install the latest Office updates. If updates are found, they will download and install automatically. You may be prompted to restart the app or your computer to complete the installation.

Repair your Office Installation

If updating Windows and Office does not resolve the issue, you may need to repair your Office installation. Open the Control Panel and go to “Programs” > “Programs and Features”. Find your version of Microsoft Office in the list of installed programs and click “Change”. Select “Repair” and follow the prompts to repair your Office installation. Once complete, restart your computer and open an Office app again. The “Something went wrong” error should no longer appear.

Taking the time to install the most up-to-date patches and ensuring your Office installation is functioning properly should resolve the vague “Something went wrong” error and allow you to open your Office apps as expected. Be sure to check for updates regularly to avoid issues and keep your system running efficiently. Let me know if you have any other questions!

Check Your Antivirus Software

To resolve the “Something went wrong” error message when attempting to open an Office app, it is recommended you check your antivirus software. Antivirus programs often flag Office files and can prevent the apps from launching properly.

Disable Your Antivirus Temporarily

First, try disabling your antivirus software temporarily. Open the antivirus app on your computer and find the option to disable or turn off protection. Select that option and restart your computer. Then, attempt to open your Office app again. If the app opens without issue, you will need to add an exception for Office in your antivirus settings.

Add an Exclusion for Office

To add an exclusion (also called an exception) for Office in your antivirus software:

1. Open your antivirus program and find the option for “Exclusions,” “Exceptions” or “Excluded files.” This may be under the “Settings” or “Preferences” menu.
2. Select “Add an exclusion” or “Add an exception.” Browse to and select the Office app executable file. For example, winword.exe for Word or excel.exe for Excel.
3. You may also need to exclude the entire Office folder. Browse to and select the “Program Files\Microsoft Office\” folder.
4. Save the exclusion settings in your antivirus software and restart your computer. Your Office apps should now open without displaying the “Something went wrong” error.

If disabling your antivirus or adding exclusions for Office does not resolve the issue, there may be another software conflict. You can also try running the Office app troubleshooter to diagnose and fix more problems. As a last resort, you may need to uninstall and reinstall the Office suite to repair any corrupted files. Be sure to back up your important files first before reinstalling Office.

Conclusion

With a few simple steps, you can resolve the frustrating “Something went wrong” error message and get back to using your Office apps. By running the diagnostic tool, repairing Office, and resetting your Office credentials, you put the power back in your own hands. No longer will you have to waste time searching online for solutions or waiting for Microsoft’s support. You’ll have the knowledge and confidence to tackle this issue yourself should it arise again in the future. While technology can occasionally be finicky, you now have the skills to outsmart the machine and overcome this common Office error. With Office apps functioning properly once more, you can redirect your energy to more productive tasks.