How to fix Something Went Wrong Error while installing Office

Microsoft Office is a widely used suite of productivity tools that includes applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. However, sometimes users may encounter issues when attempting to start Office, encountering an error message that says, Something Went Wrong While Starting Office.

This article aims to provide you with some effective troubleshooting steps to resolve this error and get your Office suite up and running again.

Easy Troubleshooting Steps to fix this Error Message Something went wrong

Update Office:

Outdated software can sometimes lead to compatibility issues and cause errors. Ensure that your Office suite is up to date with the latest patches and updates.

1. Open any Office application that is working.
2. Go to the “File” tab or “Office Account” section, depending on the version you are using. Look for options like “Office Updates” or “Update Now”.
3. Follow the prompts to install any available updates.

Repair Office Installation:

If the error persists, you can try repairing the Office installation. Microsoft Office includes a built-in repair feature that can fix common issues automatically. Here’s how to use it:

1. Open the Control Panel on your computer and navigate to “Programs” or “Programs and Features.”
2. Locate Microsoft Office in the list of installed programs and select it.
3. Click on the “Change” or “Modify” button at the top of the window.
4. Choose the “Repair” option and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the repair process.
5. Once the repair is finished, restart your computer and try launching Office again.

Disable Add-ins:

Sometimes, conflicts with third-party add-ins or plugins can prevent Office from starting correctly. To troubleshoot this, you can try disabling add-ins and then launching Office:

1. Open any Office application in Safe Mode by holding down the Ctrl key.
2. While launching the application or by using the “Run” command.
3. Add the “/safe” parameter (e.g., “winword.exe /safe”).
4. Once in Safe Mode, go to the “File” tab and click on “Options” or “Add-ins,” depending on the application.
5. Disable all add-ins by selecting them and Clicking on the “Disable” or “Remove” button.
6. Close the Office application and restart it normally to see if the error is resolved.

Uninstall and Reinstall Office:

If all else fails, you may need to uninstall and reinstall the Office suite to resolve the error. Before proceeding, make sure you have your Office product key or login credentials handy. Follow these general steps:

1. Open the Control Panel and navigate to “Programs” or “Programs and Features.”
2. Locate Microsoft Office in the list of installed programs and select it.
3. Click on the “Uninstall” or “Change” button at the top of the window.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to uninstall Office completely.
5. Restart your computer, then reinstall Office using the installation media or downloading it from the official Microsoft website.
6. Activate Office using your product key or sign in with your Microsoft account.

Restart your computer:

Before diving into complex troubleshooting methods, it’s always a good idea to start with the simplest solution. Sometimes, a simple system restart can resolve temporary glitches or conflicts that may be causing the error.

Close all Office applications, restart your computer, and then try launching Office again.

Conclusion:

Encountering the “Something Went Wrong While Starting Office” error can be frustrating, but with the troubleshooting steps outlined in this article, you should be able to resolve the issue. If the problem persists, don’t hesitate to reach out to Microsoft support for further assistance.