It’s frustrating when you’re in the middle of an important project, and your screen suddenly displays the “Updating Office, Please Wait a Moment” message. You wait, hoping it will resolve quickly, but Microsoft Office remains stuck.
If Office gets frozen on this screen, you likely won’t be able to continue working—especially if restarting your computer or Office suite doesn’t fix the issue. This is a common problem users encounter while updating Microsoft Office.
If you’re facing this error, don’t worry! Follow the troubleshooting steps below to fix Microsoft Office stuck on “Updating Office” and get back to work without further interruptions.
Why Is Microsoft Office Stuck on “Updating Office, Please Wait a Moment”?
If your Microsoft Office is stuck on the update screen, it may be due to various reasons. Below are some of the main causes behind this issue:
- Outdated Windows System – If your Windows version is outdated, it may conflict with the latest Microsoft Office updates, causing Office apps to get stuck.
- Corrupt Office Installation – A failed or incomplete Office update can result in corrupted installation files, preventing the update from completing.
- Fast Startup is Enabled – Windows 10’s Fast Startup feature speeds up boot time but may interfere with certain applications, including Office, preventing a full update.
- Conflicting Office Versions – Having multiple Office installations, such as a mix of 32-bit and 64-bit versions, can cause conflicts that lead to update issues.
If you’re unsure what’s causing the problem, follow the troubleshooting steps below to fix the stuck update screen.
How to Fix Microsoft Office Stuck on “Updating Office, Please Wait a Moment”
Method 1: Restart Your Computer
If you’re stuck on the “Updating Office, Please Wait a Moment” screen, the first troubleshooting step is to restart your computer. A fresh restart can help resolve minor system glitches that may be preventing Microsoft Office from updating properly.
Steps to Restart Your Computer:
- Click on the Start menu and select the Power button.
- Click Restart from the dropdown menu.
- Once your computer reboots, try updating Office again to see if the issue is resolved.
Method 2: Run Microsoft Office as an Administrator
If you’re still experiencing issues updating Office, try running Microsoft Office as an administrator. Running the program with elevated privileges can bypass restrictions and allow the update to proceed smoothly.
Steps to Run Microsoft Office as an Administrator:
- Close all open Microsoft Office applications.
- Right-click on the shortcut for Microsoft Word, Excel, or any other Office app.
- Select Run as administrator from the menu.
- If prompted, click Yes to permit the action.
- Once the application launches, try updating Office again to check if the issue is resolved.
💡 Tip: If you don’t have administrator permissions on your account, you may need to request access from your IT administrator or switch to an account with administrative rights.
Method 3: Launch Microsoft Office in Safe Mode
If you’re still stuck on the “Updating Office, Please Wait a Moment” screen, try launching Microsoft Office in Safe Mode. This mode disables all third-party add-ins, which may help resolve any compatibility issues preventing the Office update from completing successfully.
Steps to Open Microsoft Office in Safe Mode:
- Close all open Microsoft Office applications.
- Press Windows + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
- Type winword /safe (or excel /safe, powerpnt /safe, etc.) and click OK.
- Once the application launches in Safe Mode, go to File > Options > Add-Ins.
- Select COM Add-Ins from the dropdown menu and click Go.
- Uncheck all the add-ins in the list and click OK.
- Restart Microsoft Office and try updating again to see if the issue is resolved.
Method 4: Restart the Microsoft Office Click-To-Run Service
If the Office update is still stuck, try restarting the Microsoft Office Click-To-Run service. This background service is responsible for managing Office installations and updates, and restarting it may fix the issue.
Steps to Restart the Click-To-Run Service:
- Close all open Microsoft Office applications.
- Right-click an empty space on your taskbar and select Task Manager.
- In the Processes or Details tab, locate Microsoft Office Click-To-Run, click on it, and select End Task.
- Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type services.msc and click OK.
- In the Services window, locate Microsoft Office Click-To-Run, then double-click on it.
- In the General tab, click Stop, wait a few seconds, and then click Start to restart the service.
- Click Apply and then OK.
- Try updating Microsoft Office again and check if the issue is resolved.
Method 5: Manually Update Microsoft Office
If you’re still experiencing the “Updating Office, Please Wait a Moment” error, try manually updating Microsoft Office. Ensuring you have the latest updates can fix bugs and performance issues.
Steps to Manually Update Microsoft Office:
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Click on Update & Security, then navigate to Windows Update.
- Click on Advanced options.
- Check the box next to Receive updates for other Microsoft products when you update Windows.
- Return to the Windows Update tab and click Check for updates.
- Once the updates are installed, restart your computer and try updating Office again.
By following these steps, you can troubleshoot and resolve the stuck Microsoft Office update issue efficiently.
Method 6: Modify the Windows Registry
If manual updates aren’t working, you can modify the Windows Registry to adjust Office update settings. However, this method does not apply to Office 365 Apps for Enterprise, Office LTSC 2021, Office 2021, 2019, or 2016.
Steps to Modify the Registry for Office Updates:
- Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type regedit, then press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open the Registry Editor with administrator access.
- In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following path: CopierModifier
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\OfficeUpdate - Locate the DWORD values and ensure they are set as follows:
- EnableAutomaticUpdates = 1
- HideEnableDisableUpdates = 0
- Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.
- Try updating Microsoft Office again to check if the issue is resolved.
Method 7: Repair Microsoft Office (Quick or Online Repair)
If a recent Office update wasn’t applied correctly, your Office apps may have corrupt files, leading to the “Updating Office, Please Wait a Moment” issue. Running a Quick Repair or Online Repair can fix this problem.
Steps to Repair Microsoft Office:
- Press Windows + X and select Apps & Features from the menu.
- Find Microsoft Office in the list of installed apps and click on it.
- Click the Modify button.
- Choose Quick Repair, then click Repair.
- Wait for the repair process to finish and restart your computer.
- If the issue persists, repeat the steps but choose Online Repair instead.
After repairing Office, launch the application and check if the update problem is resolved.
Method 8: Disable Fast Startup
The Fast Startup feature in Windows helps your PC boot faster, but it may prevent Office from updating correctly. Disabling this feature can allow your system to fully shut down, potentially resolving update-related issues.
Steps to Disable Fast Startup:
- Click on the Windows Start menu and search for Control Panel.
- Open Control Panel and select Power Options.
- If you don’t see this, change the View by option to Large icons or Small icons.
- Click on Choose what the power button does from the left-side menu.
- Click Change settings that are currently unavailable to unlock more options.
- Uncheck the box next to Turn on fast startup (recommended).
- Click Save changes and restart your computer.
After restarting, try updating Microsoft Office again.
Method 9: Update Windows
If you’re still experiencing the Office update issue, make sure your Windows OS is up to date. An outdated system can cause compatibility issues with Microsoft Office updates.
Steps to Update Windows:
- Click on the Windows Start menu and open Settings (Windows + I shortcut).
- Select Update & Security.
- In the Windows Update tab, click Check for updates.
- If updates are available, click View all optional updates and install them.
- Restart your computer after the updates are installed.
Once Windows is updated, try updating Microsoft Office again to see if the issue is resolved.
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