Repair an Office application

If an Office application such as Word or Excel isn’t working correctly, sometimes restarting it will fix the problem. If that doesn’t work, you can try repairing it. When you’re done, you might need to restart your computer.

Repair Office from the Control Panel

The steps to access the repair tool vary depending on your operating system.

Windows 10

  • Right-click the Start button Windows Start button in Windows 8 and Windows 10 (lower-left corner), and select Apps and Features on the pop-up menu.

    Screenshot of start menu showing Apps and Features
  • Select the Microsoft Office product you want to repair, and select Modify.

    Note: This will repair the entire Office suite even if it's just one application you want to repair such as Word or Excel. If you have a standalone app installed, then search for that application by name.

  • Depending if your copy of Office is Click-to-run or MSI-based install, you'll see the following options to proceed with the repair. Follow the steps for your installation type.

    Click-to-run

    In the window How would you like to repair your Office Programs, select Online Repair > Repair to make sure everything gets fixed. (The faster Quick Repair option is also available, but it only detects and then replaces corrupted files.)

    MSI-based

    In Change your installation, select Repair and then click Continue.

  • Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the repair.

Windows 8/8.1

  • Right-click the Start button Windows Start button in Windows 8 and Windows 10 (lower-left corner), and select Control Panel from the pop-up menu.

    Options and commands list see after pressing Windows logo key + X
  • From Category view, under Programs, select Uninstall a program.

  • Right-click the Microsoft Office product you want to repair, and from the drop-down, select Change.

    Note: If you have a suite such as Microsoft 365 Family, Office Home & Student 2016, or Office Home and Student 2013, search for the suite name, even if it's just a particular application you want to repair such as Word or Excel. If you have a standalone application such as Word or Excel, search for the application name.

  • Depending if your copy of Office is Click-to-run or an MSI-based install, do the following for your Office installation type:

    Click-to-Run installation type:

    In How would you like to repair your Office Programs, select Online Repair to make sure everything gets fixed, and then select Repair. (The faster Quick Repair option is also available, but it only detects and then replaces corrupted files.)

    MSI-based installation type:

    In Change your installation, select Repair and then click Continue.

  • Follow the remaining instructions on the screen to complete the repair.

Windows 7

  • Click the Start button Windows 7 Start button > Control Panel.

  • From Category view, under Programs, select Uninstall a program.

  • Click the Office product you want to repair, and then click Change.

    Note: If you have a suite such as Microsoft 365 Family, Office Home & Student 2016, or Office Home and Student 2013, search for the suite name, even if it's just a particular application you want to repair such as Word or Excel. If you have a standalone application such as Word or Excel, search for the application name.

  • Depending if your copy of Office is Click-to-run or an MSI-based install, do the following for your Office installation type:

    Click-to-Run installation type:

    In How would you like to repair your Office Programs, select Online Repair to make sure everything gets fixed, and then select Repair. (The faster Quick Repair option is also available, but it only detects and then replaces corrupted files.)

    MSI-based installation type:

    In Change your installation, select Repair and then click Continue.

  • Follow the remaining instructions on the screen to complete the repair.


Running Repair didn't help. Now what?

Use this easy fix tool to completely uninstall Office.

  1. Click the button below to download and install the Office uninstall support tool.

  2. Follow the steps below to download the uninstall support tool according to your browser.

    Tip: The tool may take a few minutes to download and install. After completing the installation, the Uninstall Office products window will open.

    Edge or Chrome

    In the lower-lower left corner right-click SetupProd_OffScrub.exe > Open.

    Where to find and open the Support Assitant download file in a Chrome web browser

    Edge (older) or Internet Explorer

    At the bottom of the browser window, select Run to launch the SetupProd_OffScrub.exe.

    Where to find and open the Support Assitant download file in the Edge or Internet Explorer web browser

    Firefox

    In the pop-up window, select Save Fileand then from the upper-right browser window, select the downloads arrow > SetupProd_OffScrub.exe.

    Where to find and open the Support Assitant download file in a Chrome web browser
  3. Select the version you want to uninstall, and then select Next.

  4. Follow through the remaining screens and when prompted, restart your computer.

    After you restart your computer, the uninstall tool automatically re-opens to complete the final step of the uninstall process. Follow the remaining prompts.

  5. Select the steps for the version of Office you want to install or reinstall. Close the uninstall tool.

    Microsoft 365 | Office 2019 | Office 2016 | Office 2013 | Office 2010 | Office 2007

Is my Office Click-to-Run or MSI-based?

  1. Open an Office application, such as Outlook or Word.

  2. Go to File > Account or Office Account.

  3. If you see an "Update Options" item, you have a Click-to-Run installation. If you don't see the "Update Options" item, you have an MSI-based install.

    CTR vs MSI