Fix Word, Excel, PowerPoint Freezing and Crashing on Android

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Microsoft Office apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are widely used on computers. With Android’s growing market share, many users also want to use these apps on their Android devices. However, sometimes these apps may freeze, crash, or stop working properly on Android. If you face such issues, don’t worry – here is a step-by-step guide to fix them.

Why Do Office Apps Freeze or Crash on Android?

There can be several reasons why Microsoft Office apps may freeze or crash on your Android device:

  • Outdated app version
  • Insufficient storage space
  • Too many background apps running
  • Corrupted app data/cache
  • Incompatible Android OS version
  • Issues with Microsoft account login

So before we move towards solutions, you need to figure out what is causing the problem on your device.

Step 1: Restart Your Android Device

The first step is to simply restart your Android phone or tablet. Restarting clears out memory, ends background processes, and refreshes the OS. This alone can fix app freezing/crashing issues in many cases.

To restart, press and hold the Power button on your device and tap ‘Restart’ on the screen. Wait for your phone to switch off and automatically reboot again. Then try opening the Office apps – they should work normally now.

Step 2: Check App Versions and Update if Needed

Outdated app versions can also lead to freezing/crashing issues. Make sure that you are running the latest versions of Microsoft Office apps on your Android.

To check for updates, open the Play Store app. Tap the profile icon in the top-right corner and go to ‘Manage apps & devices’. This will show all your installed apps with an ‘Update’ button next to those having updates available. Tap it to update the Office apps.

Step 3: Free Up Storage Space on Your Device

If your Android’s internal storage is nearly full, it can cause performance issues with apps. To check the storage space, go to Settings > Storage.

If you have low internal memory available, you need to free up space for apps to work properly:

  • Delete unused apps
  • Clear app cache/data
  • Move media files and other data to external SD card
  • Upload photos/videos to cloud storage
  • Delete downloaded files you no longer need

Aim to have at least 500MB – 1GB of free internal storage space.

Step 4: Clear App Cache and Data

Corrupted cache/data files can also create app freezing and crashing problems. Clearing this data will reset the apps and solve such issues.

To clear cache/data for Office apps on Android:

  1. Go to Settings > Apps
  2. Tap the app you want to reset e.g. Microsoft Word
  3. Tap Storage > Clear Cache and Clear Data buttons
  4. Repeat for Excel, PowerPoint and other Office apps

This will fix any corrupted files issues and refresh the apps.

Step 5: Check Android OS Version Compatibility

Sometimes, OS updates can also create compatibility issues with apps. Make sure that the Android version you are running is supported by Microsoft Office apps.

To check your Android version, go to Settings > About Phone > Android Version. If you are running an older unsupported version, you may face freezing/crashing problems. Consider upgrading to a newer Android version.

Step 6: Troubleshoot Microsoft Account Issues

Many Office apps now require you to sign-in with a Microsoft account. Login issues with the account can thus prevent the apps from working properly.

To rule out account problems, sign out from the Office apps and sign back in with your Microsoft credentials. If the apps now work fine, you know the issue was with the account sync and is now resolved.

Step 7: Uninstall and Reinstall Office Apps

If none of the above steps work, the last resort is to uninstall the Office apps completely from your Android device and install them afresh. This will refresh the apps and associated components fully, thereby fixing any freezing/crashing issues.

To uninstall apps on Android, go to Settings > Apps. Tap the app you want to remove e.g. Microsoft Word. Tap the Uninstall button and confirm removal. Repeat for other Office apps. Finally, reinstall the apps from the Play Store. Log in with your Microsoft account, allow app permissions, and you should now be able to use Office without crashes or freezes.

So that’s how you can troubleshoot and fix Microsoft Office app freezing/crashing problems on your Android device. Follow the steps outlined above one-by-one until the issue is resolved. Let us know in the comments if you have any other suggestions to fix Office on Android!

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