Word Troubleshooting: WINWORD.EXE Process Remains Running Even While Word Is Closed
Symptoms
You've closed all Microsoft Word documents and the application, there are no active Word windows. However, when you check in the Task Manager, you see that WINWORD.EXE process is still running, even hogging the resources sometimes.
Resolution
- Disable, even uninstall, any 3rd party antivirus or similar security/protection applications installed on the same computer.
- Try disabling any 3rd party COM add-ins. They might cause such unexpected issues.
- In Word, navigate through "File > Options > Add-ins > Manage: COM Add-ins > Go...".
- Uncheck/disable all add-ins there.
- Click OK.
- Repair Office. First try a quick repair. If it doesn't help, also perform an online repair.
https://support.office.com/en-us/article/repair-an-office-application-7821d4b6-7c1d-4205-aa0e-a6b40c5bb88b - Ensure that Word is not running in compatibility mode.
- In the search box on the taskbar, type Word.
- Select and hold (or right-click) it, and then select Open file location.
- Select and hold (or right-click) the program file, select Properties, and then select the Compatibility tab.
- If the box "Run this program in compatibility mode for:" is ticked, untick it and click OK.
- Turn off preview pane in Windows File Explorer:
In File Explorer, click on the View tab.
In the Panes group, locate the Preview pane icon.
If it's turned on (has a blue background), click it once to turn it off:
