Microsoft Word is a popular word processor developed by Microsoft. It is available as a part of the Microsoft Office Suite. The files created using Microsoft Word are commonly used as the format for sending text documents via email or any other sending source because almost every user who has a computer can read the word document using Microsoft Word.

Sometimes, you may face problems like Microsoft Word crashing whenever you try to open it. This can happen due to various reasons like there may be some bug(s) that is stopping Microsoft Word from opening, there can be an issue with your customizations, there may be some default registry key, etc.

No matter what the reason is, there is one way using which Microsoft Word will work normally. That way is starting Microsoft Word in the safe mode. For this, you need not go anywhere or download any external software or application as Microsoft Word has a built-in safe mode feature. While opening Microsoft Word in the safe mode, there is a very minimal or no chance that Microsoft Word will face any opening problem or crashing issue because:

  • In the safe mode, it will load without the add-ons, extensions, toolbar, and the command bar customizations.
  • Any recovered documents which normally would open automatically, will not open.
  • Auto-correct and various other features will not work.
  • Preferences will not be saved.
  • No templates will be saved.
  • Files will not be saved to the alternate startup directory.
  • Smart tags will not load and new tags will not be saved.

Now, the question is how to start Microsoft Word in the safe mode as when you will open it normally, by default, it will not start in the safe mode. If you are looking for the answer to the above question, then keep reading this article.

How To Start Microsoft Word In Safe Mode

There are two methods available using which you can start the Microsoft Word in the safe mode. These methods are:

Contents

  • How To Start Microsoft Word In Safe Mode

    1. Start Microsoft Word in safe mode using a keyboard shortcut
    1. Start Microsoft Word in the safe mode using a command argument

  • Using a keyboard shortcut

  • Using a command argument

Let us know about each method in detail.

1. Start Microsoft Word in safe mode using a keyboard shortcut

You can easily launch Microsoft Word in a safe mode using a keyboard shortcut. To use a keyboard shortcut to start Microsoft Word in the safe mode, follow these steps:

  1. First of all, you should have Microsoft Word’s shortcut pinned at the desktop or at the start menu or at the To do so, search for Microsoft Word in the search bar and select Pin to the taskbar to pin it at the taskbar or at the start menu.

  2. Once the Microsoft Word shortcut is pinned, press and hold the Ctrl key and single-click on the Microsoft Word shortcut if it is pinned at the start menu or at the taskbar and double-click if it is pinned at the desktop.

  3. A message box will appear saying Word has detected that you are holding down the CTRL-key. Do you want to start Word in a safe word?

  4. Release the Ctrl key and click on the Yes button to start Microsoft Word in safe mode.

  5. Microsoft Word will open and this time, it will start in the safe mode. You can verify this by checking the Safe Mode written at the top of the window.

After completing the above steps, Microsoft Word will start in the safe mode.

Also Read: How to Start Outlook in Safe Mode

2. Start Microsoft Word in the safe mode using a command argument

You can also start Microsoft Word in the safe mode using a simple command argument in the Run dialog box.

  1. First of all, open the Run dialog box either from the search bar or using the Windows + R shortcut.

  2. Enter winword /safe in the dialog box and click OK. This is a user-initiated safe mode.

  3. A new Microsoft Word blank document will show up with the safe mode written at the top of the window.

You can use any of the one methods to start Word in safe mode. However, as soon as you will close and open Microsoft Word again, it will open up normally. To again open it in the safe mode, you would have to follow the steps again.

If you want to start Microsoft Word in the safe mode automatically, instead of performing any of the above methods, then follow the below steps:

  1. First of all, create a shortcut for Microsoft Word on the desktop.

  2. Right-click on the icon. A menu will appear. Click on the Properties option.

  3. A dialog box will appear. Under the Shortcut pane, add  /safe at the end.

  4. Click Apply followed by OK to save the changes.

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Now, whenever you will start Microsoft Word by clicking on its shortcut from the desktop, it will always start in the safe mode.