“Microsoft Word Compatibility Mode” not responding is a dreaded error that will leave you hanging with an unresponsive document that can’t be edited or saved. This complete guide will help you explore the potential causes and, in turn, will equip you with a plethora of solutions. Also, the clear and concise steps discussed here will help you to get Microsoft Word back on track.
So, let us begin our journey and delve deep into the depths of this error.
But before that go through this guide and learn how to fix your Microsoft Word if it has stopped working.
Why Is Microsoft Word Compatibility Mode Not Responding?
Compatibility mode not responding can be a significant nuisance, and understanding the culprit behind it will help you address its potential solutions.
The error can occur for several reasons:
- Conflict with the older document format
- Corrupted document
- Large or complex document
- Insufficient system resources
- Document conversion issues
- Conflicting add-ins
- Software issues
How To Fix Compatibility Mode Not Responding In Word?
Here are some of the ways to fix the “Microsoft Word Compatibility Mode Not Responding” error:
1. Force Quit and Restart
By force quitting and restarting you will be successful in resolving the “Compatibility Mode not responding” error thereby closing the unresponsive instances of the program and allowing a fresh start.
Restarting after force quitting will initiate a clean launch that will potentially resolve the error and allow the program to function properly. This will be an effective method specially in situations where the program is stuck or frozen.
2. Open In Safe Mode
Starting Word in Safe Mode will turn off certain features and settings that will help you troubleshoot issues related to the compatibility mode.
This is how you can open Microsoft Word in Safe Mode:
- Hold the “Ctrl” key on your keyboard and open Microsoft Word.
- Soon after, a dialog box will appear on your screen asking for confirmation to open Word in Safe Mode.
- Click on “Yes” to confirm the same.
- Now, try opening the document that was causing issues in Compatibility Mode.
- If you are successful in opening the document, then close MS Word.
- Finally, exit Safe Mode and restart it normally.
3. Disable Add-ins
Add-ins are known to cause compatibility mode issues, so it is wise to turn off unnecessary add-ins that aren’t used regularly.
Here’s how to turn off add-ins in Microsoft Word:
- After opening “Microsoft Word”, click the “File” tab.
- Select “Options” from the file menu and choose “Add-ins” from the left sidebar.
- In the “Manage” dropdown menu, select “COM Add-ins” and click “Go.”
- Uncheck the boxes next to each add-in listed to disable them.
- Finally, click “OK” to apply the changes and close the Word Options dialog box.
- Restart MS Word and wait for the changes to take effect.
4. Delete The Corrupted Files
Corrupted Files can cause MS Word to not respond or behave as usual. The abnormal behavior or malfunction will be an essential troubleshooting step for the users to delete the corrupted files and re-install the application.
But before doing that, make sure you have created a document backup to prevent data loss.
5. Update Microsoft Word
Make sure you have the latest version of Microsoft Word. Updating Word will help you resolve the compatibility mode issue, as the newer versions include bug fixes. Updates are also known to enhance compatibility with older documents and eliminate the need for compatibility modes.
But if updating it doesn’t resolve the issue, explore other solutions.
6. Change Document Format
To prevent Word from entering Compatibility Mode, save the document in the latest Word format. To do this, follow the steps outlined below:
- Go to the “File” option and then choose the “Save As” option.
- Choose the desired format from the “Save as Type” dropdown menu.
- Choose a specific save location and then provide a file name.
- Click the “Save” button to save the document in the selected format.
7. Verify System Resources
Looking at the system resources is essential if MS Word needs to respond. Ensure the computer has enough RAM and disk space to run the application. If it is low on resources, consider a system upgrade or reduce the number of applications running in the background.
8. Repair Microsoft Office
When you repair Microsoft Office, it checks and fixes the corrupted or missing files within the Office Suite. This can be a useful step in resolving the “Microsoft Word Compatibility Mode Not Responding” issue.
Here is how you can repair it:
- Close all MS Office applications and open the Control Panel.
- Navigate to “Programs” and then select “Programs and Features”.
- Now, look for the Microsoft Office entry in the list of installed programs and right-click on it and select “Change.”
- Select the appropriate repair option in the office installation wizard based on your preference.
- Now, follow the prompts provided by the Office installation wizard and then complete the repair process.
- After the repair is over, restart the computer to apply the changes.
9. Update Driver
Updating graphics drivers can be part of your troubleshooting process if the compatibility mode is not showing in Microsoft Word.
Here are the steps to update device drivers, especially graphics drivers on your PC:
- Type “Device Manager” in the Windows Search and click on the first option.
- Look for the “Display Adapters” category and expand it.
- Right-click on it and choose the “Update Driver” option.
- Now, select the option and Search automatically for updated driver software.
- Follow the onscreen instructions and complete the entire process.
- Restart the PC and apply the changes.
10. Uninstall and Re-install Microsoft Word
Reinstalling MS Word can be a solution to the compatibility mode issue.
However, this is an extensive and time-consuming step, and before proceeding with the reinstallation process, you will have to first uninstall the existing one.
Here are the steps to uninstall the MS Word:
- Search for Control Panel and go to “Programs.”
- Select “Programs and Features” and look for MS Word in the list of installed programs.
- Right-click on MS Office and choose the “Uninstall” or “Change” option.
- Now, follow the onscreen instructions to go ahead with the uninstallation process.
Here is how you can re-install MS Word:
- After you are done with the uninstallation process, restart your computer.
- Now, log in to your Microsoft account or use your original Microsoft Office installation media to download the latest version of MS Office.
- Then, activate MS Office with the help of the product key or your Microsoft account credentials.
- Finally, open Word and check whether the compatibility mode issue is fixed.
Additional Tips And Tricks To Avoid Compatibility Mode Issue
- Save documents in the latest format
- Update MS Word and your OS frequently
- Avoid using complex macros
- Convert older documents
- Back up regularly
- Use the “Save As” option instead of using “Save”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- How Can I Open A Word Created In An Earlier Version?
To open a Word document created in an earlier version, double-click on the file. It will automatically open in MS Word with compatibility mode enabled.
- Mention Some Common Issues Of MS Word Not Responding When Dealing With Older Versions Of Word Files.
Some common issues with MS Word not responding to older versions of Word files include formatting errors, missing features, or the document needing to be displayed correctly.
- Can I Use Macros And Advanced Features In Compatibility Mode?
Compatibility Mode generally restricts certain advanced features and recommends converting the document to the latest format to utilize all the available features.
Closure
Ultimately, staying alert about software updates and document formats will help you enjoy a smooth user experience and enhance compatibility across different Microsoft Word versions.
So, go ahead and perform the troubleshooting steps, and comment below on how they helped you fix the issue.
