Microsoft Office applications have a built-in Safe Mode feature. This helps when you can't use Office regularly. Maybe Word crashes every time you open it, or maybe Excel crashes when you open a single file. You can start the application in safe mode and it will most likely work normally.
What is Office Safe Mode?
When you start an Office application in safe mode, will load without plugins or extensions, and no toolbar or command bar customizations. Recovered documents that would regularly open automatically will not open. AutoCorrect and various other functions will not work and preferences cannot be saved.
If Office crashes every time you open it, probably the result of a buggy plugin, but it can also be the result of an obstacle with your customizations. Safe mode loads without all these features that can get you into trouble.
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This is different from Windows Safe Mode. In Windows Safe Mode, The entire Windows operating system restarts without third-party drivers or other startup software that can cause problems. This is an equivalent idea, but only for Office applications like Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Launch safe mode with a keyboard shortcut
To open any Office application in safe mode, press and hold the Ctrl key while launching the program shortcut.
As an example, to start Word in safe mode, you will need to locate the Word shortcut in the Start menu, on the taskbar or on the desktop. Hold down the Ctrl key and click it (whether it's in the Start menu or on the taskbar) or double click on it (if it's on your desk).
You will see a message that says “You are pressing the CTRL key. You want to start [Application] in safe mode? ”.
You can release the Ctrl key when this message box appears. Click on “To accept” para iniciar la aplicación en modo seguro.
Start safe mode with a command argument
You can also start Office applications in safe mode by launching them with the /safe option.
As an example, you can do this from the Run dialog. Press Windows + R to open it, and then type one of the following commands:
- Word:
winword /safe - Standing out:
excel /safe - PowerPoint:
powerpnt /safe - panorama:
outlook /safe - Editor:
mspub /safe - Visio:
visio /safe
Presione Entrar o haga clic en “To accept” y la aplicación se iniciará en Modo seguro.
If you need to open an Office application in safe mode regularly, you can create a new desktop shortcut to Office application and add /safe to the bottom of the Destination box in your Shortcut panel. That shortcut would always launch the app in safe mode.
How to get out of safe mode
To exit safe mode, you will need to close the Office application and start it regularly.
If Office loads fine in safe mode but fails in normal mode, the problem is likely a faulty plugin. You can view them by selecting File> Options> Add-ins in Office 2016. You may need to uninstall, reinstalling or updating one or more Office add-ins keeps crashing.
If Office still crashes in Safe Mode, your files may be corrupted. You may want to uninstall and reinstall Office on your computer.
