TechCommunity Report — Word extremely slow to open files (now resolved)

Issue summary
Starting on March 22nd, Word became extremely slow when opening any .docx file (even new empty files). A document that normally opens in 5 seconds suddenly required 8–10 minutes. The issue affected all my devices (Windows PC, mobile, and Word Online).

Symptoms observed

• Word took several minutes to open any file, including newly created ones
• Word Online displayed “servers are busy” errors
• My Microsoft account portals sometimes failed to load or did not recognize my identity
• The issue appeared immediately after an Office update on March 22nd
• PowerPoint and other Office apps were unaffected
• Another software opened the same files much quicker
• Reinstalling Office, repairing Office, and attempting System Restore did not fix the issue

Key diagnostic findings

• The problem was not related to my files (another free online software opened them much quicker)
• The problem was not local to my PC (same behavior on mobile and Word Online)
• The issue was clearly linked to Microsoft cloud services or the March 22nd Word build
• System Restore failed, but the issue persisted exactly the same afterward
• The problem disappeared suddenly without any local change

Resolution
The issue resolved itself spontaneously. A document that previously took 10 minutes to open now opens in 5 seconds again. This strongly suggests that the root cause was on Microsoft’s side (cloud service dependency or faulty build).

Current configuration
After reinstalling Office, I am now on:

• Microsoft Word for Microsoft 365
• Version 2408 — Build 16.0.17928.20148 (64-bit)
• This build is stable and does not exhibit the issue

Request
If possible, could Microsoft confirm whether there was a service degradation or a problematic build released around March 22nd? This would help users understand the root cause and avoid unnecessary troubleshooting.

Thank you.