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Why Does Office 365 Keep Crashing? (7 Fixes)

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Published By Mohit Kumar Jha
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Published On June 30th, 2025
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Reading Time 4 Minutes Reading

If you’re searching Why does Office 365 keep crashing, I can help with it. Recently, I faced this same situation, and to overcome this error, I researched and found 7 main causes and their fixes. Here, I will explain all of them. Let’s start!

Common Reasons Why Microsoft Office 365 Keeps Crashing

Here are the most common reasons why Office 365 crashes: 

  • Running an older Office 365 version leads to crashes. To fix it:
    • Open any Office app like Word.
    • Click File > Account > Update Options > Update Now.
  • A third-party add-in can cause the problem. Some add-ins don’t run nicely with Office 365 updates. To disable them, follow the steps:
    • Open Outlook, Excel, or Word in Safe Mode.
    • Go to File > Options > Add-ins.
    • Disable all add-ins and re-enable them one by one.
  • Sometimes, the user profile or installation itself becomes corrupt. Here’s how to fix:
    • Go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps.
    • Find Microsoft 365, click Modify, and choose Online Repair.
  • I’ve noticed crashes when I have multiple applications running, especially on lower-end laptops. I resolved the Microsoft Office 365 keeps crashing issue by:
    • Check Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) to see CPU/RAM usage.
    • Close unnecessary background apps.
  • After a Windows update, Outlook started crashing on my PC until I ran a compatibility troubleshooter:
    • On Windows: Right-click the Office app > Properties > Compatibility tab > Run Compatibility Troubleshooter.
    • On Mac: Ensure macOS is updated to a supported version.
  • I’ve personally rolled back a Windows update after Office apps began freezing. Sometimes, updates introduce conflicts with Office components. For the same:
    • Go to Settings > Windows Update > Update History.
    • Uninstall recent updates or restore your system to an earlier point.
  • Certain antivirus programs, like Avast or McAfee, have been known to interfere with Office 365. To address:
    • Open your antivirus dashboard.
    • Add Word, Excel, etc., to the exception list.

Also Read: How to Fix Office 365 Shared Mailbox Emails Stuck in Outbox?

Why Does Office 365 Keep Crashing – Additional Troubleshooting Steps

Below are the quick steps to resolve the Microsoft Office 365 keeps crashing error:

  • Run Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant. This free tool helped me fix a crashing Outlook app within minutes.
  • Sometimes Windows profile is the issue. I tested this by creating a new user account, and Office ran fine there.
  • Always keep a backup of your Office 365 data, especially when unexpected crashes occur. Recently, my Outlook has crashed, and I need access to my emails and attachments. That’s why I now use the SysTools Office 365 Backup Tool. It helps me back up emails, contacts, calendars, OneDrive files, and more locally. Now, I can easily access my data even in an Office 365 crashing situation.

What If Office 365 Keeps Crashing After All Fixes?

If nothing works, and you are still asking why Office 365 keeps crashing, try these:

  • Contact Microsoft Support
  • Reinstall Office 365 Completely: Uninstall Office from Control Panel > Programs, then reinstall via the Microsoft 365 Portal.
  • Check System Requirements

Also Read: How to Remove Office 365 Subscription from PC?

Final Thoughts

After reading this guide, you will have the proper understanding of why does Office 365 keep crashing and how to resolve it in minimal time. Additionally, it is suggested to have a backup of the Office 365 service to access data locally, even if Microsoft Office 365 keeps crashing.  

FAQs

Q1. Why does Outlook 365 keep crashing when I open it?

It’s usually caused by corrupt profiles or incompatible add-ins. Try opening in Safe Mode (Ctrl + click Outlook) and disabling add-ins.

Q2. Does reinstalling Office 365 fix crash issues?

Yes, if the crashes are due to corrupt installations or files.

Q3. Can antivirus software crash Office 365 apps?

Yes. Overprotective antivirus or firewall settings can block Office components, leading to crashes.