Whenever I open Word or another Office application, I receive error 0xc000007b. I can dismiss it, but it appears every time I launch an Office app. I also get error 0xc000012f when I try to open Windows settings for Office so I can uninstall and reinstall it. The computer may become nearly unusable after the error appears. I'm running the latest version of Windows 11 and a one-time-purchase version of Office. The problem started within the last few days. I already ran DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and sfc /scannow; corrupted files were found and repaired, but the Office errors remain. What should I try next?
3 Answers
Since the normal Apps settings uninstall is failing, try repairing or removing Office with Microsoft’s official Support and Recovery Assistant. It can detect the installed Office version and perform a deeper uninstall than Windows Settings. After restarting, reinstall Office from the original installer or account associated with the purchase. Avoid downloading random DLL files, since that can make these errors worse.
The two codes can point to damaged or mismatched system components, not just a broken Word installation. Run Windows Update, restart, and then check whether the drive is reporting problems. You can inspect the drive’s health with the manufacturer’s diagnostic utility, and run chkdsk if appropriate. If corruption keeps returning, back up important files immediately because a failing drive could be involved.
Try launching Office in Safe Mode with `winword /safe`. If Word opens there, an add-in or customization may be causing the crash. You can then disable add-ins from Word’s Options and test again. If Safe Mode also fails, use the Office removal tool or the original installer’s repair option rather than relying only on the Windows Apps page.
The fact that SFC repaired files but the problem remained suggests the Office installation or another dependency may still be damaged. I’d prioritize backing up files and using the official Office removal tool before attempting another installation.