Since installing Catalina Word for Mac constantly crashes

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Level 1

8 points

Since installing Catalina Word for Mac constantly crashes

I cannot by a new computer so the latest oS is Catalina 10.15 which was recently installed by Genius bar team. I have had Mac for Word 2016 and this was working fine, even after Catalina upgrade, but suddenly this week it constantly crashes eg I open a saved document, it seems to open and then disappears and I get error message. If I email that same document to myself I can open it then and work on it and save. But when I try and reopen it, it will often crash. Any ideas? I am not tech savvie so need clear simple explanations! As someone writing reports this is a nightmare!

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.14

Posted on Nov 30, 2021 2:37 AM

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Answer 1

Sonicray

Level 5

4,556 points

Nov 30, 2021 3:56 AM in response to clecky

The only reason why it wouldn't work is either old settings transferred over or you are running a system that can only use 32-bit... How old is your Mac?

here's another thread about it:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251188341

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Answer 2

K Shaffer

Level 8

35,314 points

Nov 30, 2021 5:38 AM in response to clecky

According to one article support for the MS Office/Word 2016 had lapsed.

While there may have been an update I've not found one yet. (As I do not

use MS software in the past decade, I'd suggest to use LibreOffice first.)

• End of support for Office 2016 for Mac | support.microsoft

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/end-of-support-for-office-2016-for-mac-e944a907-bbc8-4be5-918d-a514068d0056

• Upgrade macOS to continue receiving Microsoft 365 and Office for Mac updates | support.microsoft

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/upgrade-macos-to-continue-receiving-microsoft-365-and-office-for-mac-updates-16b8414f-08ec-4b24-8c91-10a918f649f8

• Office 2016 for Mac 64-bit upgrade - Office | Microsoft Docs [11-14-2021] -- this may be of interest/or not!

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/office/troubleshoot/office-for-mac/office-2016-for-mac-64-bit-upgrade

..LibreOffice..

• macOS | LibreOffice - free Office suite - based on OpenOffice - Compatible with Microsoft

https://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/install-howto/macos/

..seems like version 7.2.2 is 'medium to well done' ~ your taste may vary..

Not sure if use of Safe mode on startup could help Catalina 10.15.7 + Word 2016 issues.

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=ms+word+2016+for+mac+10.15.7+updates&ia=web

Good luck & happy trails! ☺︎

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Answer 3

clecky Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 30, 2021 3:07 AM in response to Sonicray

But why would it suddenly start to crash when it has worked for several weeks with Catlina and prior to that Sierra?! Is there an in built Trojan horse to cause problems so I am forced to spend money I don’t have?!!

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Answer 4

clecky Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 30, 2021 3:35 AM in response to Sonicray

Why doesn’t Apple offer guidance since I have to use Word as Pages etc not supported on Catalina despite it being it’s word processing software. It shouldn’t assume that everyone can buy new hardware and software.

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Answer 5

clecky Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 30, 2021 3:46 AM in response to Sonicray

No it does not on my version of Catalina. It requires a higher no version which I am unable to install. I have spent hours both in Genius Bar and online discussing this as on my laptop (which I cannot afford to upgrade) I am now unable to access old Pages work. I have to email and view on iPad. Please be accurate of your facts.

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Answer 6

clecky Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 30, 2021 4:10 AM in response to Sonicray

to upgrade Pages requires version more recent thanCatalina 15.7 which is the last oS upgrade I can get on my late 2012 MacBook Pro. If you are telling me something that differs to 5 hours of dealing with Apple already I will scream! last time Apple advised a complete reinstall ( after 6 weeks of calls etc ) they lost all my files!

if you are advising about why Word is crashing that makes no sense since it has worked fine for years snd even post Catalina worked fine for two weeks. Not sure you can help.

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