Oct 22 2021 02:23 PM - edited Oct 26 2021 08:13 AM
I'm using Word 2021 on Windows 11 with Language ID="en-gb" (because I'm in the UK). Brand new document. I insert a table. I then right click on the table and select Table->Properties. Word crashes every time. I've repaired and re-installed and it makes no difference. Is anyone else seeing this issue? Has anyone got a solution?
I've included a video below showing it happening.
Oct 23 2021 05:00 AM
Oct 23 2021 05:33 AM - edited Oct 23 2021 05:48 AM
@Milkatron it's kind of reassuring that someone else has the problem. I thought I was going mad. It seems such a basic task that shouldn't be crashing Word.
I should also have mentioned that I get the problem even when starting Word in safe mode (hold Ctrl when starting Word).
Also, If I insert a bitmap into a blank document (say a screen grab) and right click and select "Size and Position" I get a "Word has encountered a problem" messagebox. Do you get this too?
Oct 23 2021 07:44 AM
Is this Word for Windows? When Word crashes unexpectedly, the first thing to check is the printer driver. Make sure that some printer is explicitly set as the default in Windows. Any printer will do. If you don't have a physical printer that you are using with your computer, make sure that the built-in Microsoft Print to PDF driver is the Windows default (see https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/how-to-set-a-default-printer-in-windows-10-e10cf8b8-e596...).
Oct 23 2021 10:37 AM - edited Oct 23 2021 10:49 AM
Yes, Word 2021 for Windows running on Windows 11. I tried manually setting the default printer (it was originally using "allow Windows to manage my default printer") it did not help. I then changed from my physical printer (HP Officejet Pro 8600) to the Microsoft Print to PDF "printer" but that didn't help either. It's not happening when I try to print, it happens when I attempt to view the Table Properties (either from right click or from menu bar button). The Table Properties dialog box is briefly displayed but then Word crashes and restarts.
I've edited my original post to include a short video showing the problem.
Oct 23 2021 10:47 AM - edited Oct 23 2021 12:10 PM
Please note I've edited my original post to include a snippet of video showing the problem.
Oct 24 2021 10:45 AM - edited Oct 24 2021 12:30 PM
Word has a history of crashing whenever the program can't communicate properly with a printer. Symptoms aren't necessarily triggered by actually creating a printout. In fact, accessing Page Setup or font settings are common situations when you observe a problem.
In this case, testing with different printer drivers apparently didn't make a difference.
Personally, I'm running Office 2021 on Windows 10 and I'm not seeing any crashes. The problem could be between Word and Windows 11, I suppose. Have you tried updating the video driver for your system?
Are the other Office programs working properly? No crashing there?
You can always report the issue to Microsoft, via File > Feedback in Word.
Oct 24 2021 02:53 PM
Oct 25 2021 03:44 AM
All right, Word and Outlook crashes, but none of the other programs?
As far as feedback is concerned, Microsoft usually does not send a reply when you make use of the Feedback facility, but they do collect the information.
Oct 25 2021 04:27 AM
Oct 26 2021 06:07 AM - edited Oct 26 2021 08:14 AM
I've found another place where office crashes every time. From Outlook Options -> Mail -> Signatures. This always crashes and restarts Outlook 2021 on Windows 11 as soon as I press the "Signatures..." button.
Oct 26 2021 08:05 AM - edited Oct 26 2021 08:15 AM
@Milkatronare you using Language ID="en-gb" out of interest? I'm finding other issues with Outlook 2021...it crashes when I click on the "Signatures..." button in Mail settings. I found this article https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/outlook-freezes-when-selecting-the-signature-button-c70b3... which suggests this problem happens only if you are using en-gb. I just wondered if our problem with tables is connected to the language being used?
Oct 26 2021 08:08 AM - edited Oct 26 2021 08:17 AM
@Stefan_Blomare you using Language ID="en-gb" as I am? It's just that I found this article (link below) that talks about the Outlook signature problem happening only with en-gb. I know it sounds crazy but I'm wondering if the Word Table Properties is also en-gb related?
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/outlook-freezes-when-selecting-the-signature-button-c70b3...
Oct 27 2021 01:17 AM
I'm actually running a US English version. I suppose that the installed language could be the underlying cause for the issues you have encountered.
Or, perhaps more likely, the issue could be Windows 11. Are you running Word 2021 on that operating system only?
Oct 27 2021 05:21 AM
Oct 27 2021 10:02 AM
So far, I have only upgraded one computer to Windows 11, and I haven't been using it much yet. I'll keep an eye on the behavior in Word in the future.
If this is a wide-spread issue on updated systems, there will be more reports in the forums shortly.
Oct 27 2021 01:16 PM
Oct 30 2021 08:40 AM
Nov 01 2021 11:46 AM
I have now upgraded my main system to Windows 11 and I am using Office 2021 as before.
I have not (yet) been able to reproduce the issue. If you see if with a particular file, please share that file as a sample.
Nov 08 2021 06:33 AM
Dec 07 2021 04:27 AM
SolutionHey, I faced the same issue and was so agitated by it. This is what I tried.
File ---> Account ---> Update Options (Dropdown next to Office Updates) ---> Update Now
It took a while to search and update. Make sure all open files are saved as it asks to close them all. After the update, the issue has been resolved for me. Table properties and more colours are both working fine now.
I hope this helps.