Word and Excel 365 won't launch from Docker or Application folder

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Level 1

16 points

Word and Excel 365 won't launch from Docker or Application folder

I have two supposedly identical Mac Mini 2014s, Both have Office 365 installed. On one of them, when clicking on the Excel or Word icons in the docker, or clicking on the icons in the Applications folder, nothing happens. The Docker icon bounces for a bit, then stops. In the Applications folder the title bar goes gray for a bit -- as if the focus is shifting to another windows -- then goes back to color.

Clicking on a spreadsheet or Document will launch Excel or Word.

This had been working since installing Office 365 about 3 weeks ago and stopped working today. The other Mac Mini has no such problem.

Any ideas on this?

Mac mini 2018 or later

Posted on Dec 18, 2018 5:27 PM

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Answer 1

miyalung

Level 3

615 points

Dec 18, 2018 5:36 PM in response to markfoley

Make sure that the apps are updated, you can check this link for steps from Microsoft support team:

https://support.office.com/en-us/article/update-office-for-mac-automatically-bfd1e497-c24d-4754-92ab-910a4074d7c1

If the apps are already updated, try to create another admin account on your Mac to test:

https://support.apple.com/kb/PH25796?locale=en_US

logout from your original account and then try to login to the new admin account you created and open the Microsoft apps.

If the apps are still not opening, I would suggest uninstalling the apps and reinstalling it, If this is still not working, better call Microsoft support.

but if the apps is opening on the new admin account, call Apple because the issue is account specific.

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Answer 2

markfoley Author

Level 1

16 points

Dec 20, 2018 1:24 PM in response to miyalung

As to the Word/Excel problem, my only solution appeared to be reinstalling Office, which I did and now this problem is solved.

As to putting this user back to a normal user (not admin), I'm a bit stuck. This has created another problem. The user apparently cannot un-check his own "Allow user to administer this computer" for some silly reason. This is a network user which is probably why the user does not show up in the Users & Groups window when the *real* admin logs on.

So, am I stuck? Is there perhaps a command line too for this?

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Answer 3

miyalung

Level 3

615 points

Dec 19, 2018 5:13 PM in response to markfoley

Can you shut down the Mac and then turn it on, see if your original and test account are both showing up.

Because if you manage to create another user, you should see both under system apple logo > preferences > users and groups.

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Answer 4

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Dec 18, 2018 6:23 PM in response to markfoley

Have you tried opening Console when trying in that standard account to see if any messages or error are shown?

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Answer 5

miyalung

Level 3

615 points

Dec 18, 2018 6:47 PM in response to markfoley

You can change your account as an admin account in system preferences. Just put a check on 'allow user to administer this computer' and then restart and try opening the office app again.

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Answer 6

miyalung

Level 3

615 points

Dec 20, 2018 10:48 PM in response to markfoley

Do you have any admin account on the Mac? Can you logout and then login to the admin account.

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Answer 7

markfoley Author

Level 1

16 points

Dec 18, 2018 6:20 PM in response to miyalung

The account I was trying from in the first place wasn't an admin account. So, I logged onto the admin account and Word/Excel opened fine from the Docker and from the Applications folder.

Is there a log file that might say what the problem is?

You really think I should call Apple? ... at the Contact Support link?

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Answer 8

markfoley Author

Level 1

16 points

Dec 19, 2018 2:53 AM in response to BDAqua

Console messages are:

error 23:15:35.517426 -0500 Microsoft Word misuse at line 147979 of [2b0954060f]

error 23:15:37.021877 -0500 Microsoft Word AEGetDescData of non-desc type 'reco' not a good idea

Is this meaningful?

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Answer 9

markfoley Author

Level 1

16 points

Dec 19, 2018 3:02 AM in response to miyalung

muyalung: Changing this user to Admin didn't help. Now, how do I change the user back to normal? When unlocking Users & Groups from this user, the "Allow user to administer this computer" is grayed out; I can't uncheck it. If I log in as the existing administrator, that newly elevated user does not show in the list of users. Is this a one-way-only change?

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Answer 10

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Dec 19, 2018 2:56 AM in response to markfoley

Maybe this?

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2693802/word-for-mac-error-microsoft-word-has-encountered-a-problem-and-needs

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Answer 11

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Dec 19, 2018 3:09 AM in response to markfoley

Is that user logged out?

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Answer 12

miyalung

Level 3

615 points

Dec 20, 2018 3:31 PM in response to markfoley

Since you are unable to uncheck the 'allow this user to administer this computer' is there a padlock on the bottom left that you can use to unlock and then try making changes?

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Answer 13

markfoley Author

Level 1

16 points

Dec 20, 2018 10:30 PM in response to miyalung

Yes, of course, I did that. Checkbox still grayed out.

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Word and Excel 365 won't launch from Docker or Application folder

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