Dear @Diane Rodill,
Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum.
I understand how inconvenient it must be when Word isn’t updating properly, especially on a new device.
To help me better understand the situation and assist you effectively, could you please share a few details such as:
1/ Is your account a personal account (such as @gmail.com, @outlook.com, @hotmail.com) or a work or school account managed by your organization?
2/ If your account is a work or school account, are you the IT administrator?
3/ Which Microsoft 365 license do you have? Could you please provide a screenshot of your license details?
You can check this in office.com. Then navigate to Apps > Install Apps > Microsoft 365 apps > Click on Subscriptions.
4/ Are other Office apps (e.g., Excel, PowerPoint) updating successfully?
5/ When you try to update Word, do you see any specific error messages or code?
6/ What is the Windows version of your new device?
You can find this information by going to Settings > System > About.
This will help us better understand the context and provide more targeted support. Any additional information will help us better understand and support you.
In the meantime, you can refer to these workarounds to verify the issue:
Option 1: Repair the Word app
Repairing Word helps resolve unexpected issues without removing your files or settings. It’s a quick and safe way to fix problems like update failures or app crashes.
This article provides further guidance on the topic: Repair an Office application - Microsoft Support
Option 2: Reinstall Office apps
Please uninstall the current Office applications and reinstall them via office.com. This ensures you get the latest version and a clean installation.
Please sign in to your account at office.com to proceed. Then navigate to Apps > Install Apps > Microsoft 365 apps > Click on Apps & devices > Install Office.
Note: Please make sure you're signed in with an account that has an active license for Office apps.
As a temporary workaround, you can use Word Online as an alternative while the desktop app isn’t working. Go to the Apps section and select Word from the list.
As community moderators, we kindly ask for your understanding that our access to internal development details is limited. Our primary role is to guide users toward the appropriate resources and support channels. While we may not have visibility into performing deeper backend analysis, we’ll continue doing our best to support you within the scope of our responsibilities.
I hope the information provided proves useful. Please proceed with the outlined steps and let me know whether they resolve the issue. If not, I’ll be glad to continue working with you to find a solution.
Thank you for your patience and understanding throughout this process. Should you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out at any time.
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