PowerPoint Won't Open or Crashes on Startup

How to fix it

// try these in order, the most common fix is first

1. FIX 1Force quit and relaunch

   Copy steps
   1. 01Windows: end PowerPoint in Task Manager
   2. 02Mac: press Cmd + Option + Esc, choose PowerPoint, Force Quit
   3. 03Restart the computer and open PowerPoint again
   Did this fix it? Yes No

2. FIX 2Reset PowerPoint preferences (Mac)

   Copy steps
   1. 01Quit PowerPoint
   2. 02In Finder press Cmd + Shift + G and go to ~/Library/Preferences
   3. 03Move com.microsoft.powerpoint.plist to the Desktop
   4. 04Open PowerPoint; delete the old file if it now works
   Did this fix it? Yes No

3. FIX 3Reinstall Microsoft 365 for Mac

   Copy steps
   1. 01Drag Microsoft PowerPoint (and other Office apps) from Applications to Trash
   2. 02Download the installer from account.microsoft.com
   3. 03Install, sign in and test
   Did this fix it? Yes No

4. FIX 4Update or repair Office (Windows)

   Copy steps
   1. 01Open another Office app and go to File > Account > Update Options > Update Now
   2. 02If PowerPoint still won't open, go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Microsoft 365 > Modify
   3. 03Run Quick Repair, then Online Repair
   Did this fix it? Yes No

5. FIX 5Check macOS compatibility

   Copy steps
   1. 01Office for Mac supports the three most recent macOS versions
   2. 02Update macOS in System Settings > General > Software Update if you are behind
   Did this fix it? Yes No

Symptoms

Nothing happens when you click PowerPoint, the splash screen closes, or Mac shows 'PowerPoint quit unexpectedly'.

Why it happens

• C-01Broken update on Mac
• C-02Corrupted preferences or cache
• C-03Outdated build after a Windows upgrade
• C-04Corrupted Office installation
• C-05Unsupported macOS version

// this guide also covers

• powerpoint won't open
• powerpoint not opening
• powerpoint quit unexpectedly mac
• powerpoint crashes on startup

The same problem in other apps

All crashes, freezes & blank screens guides →

• Keynote Not Opening or Crashing on Mac (Apple Keynote)
• Pitch App Not Working or Freezing (Pitch)
• LibreOffice Won't Open or Crashes on Startup (LibreOffice)

Other Microsoft PowerPoint errors

• PowerPoint Not Responding or Freezing
• PowerPoint Found a Problem With Content
• An Error Occurred While PowerPoint Was Saving the File
• PowerPoint Cannot Play Media (Video Not Playing)
• PowerPoint Presenter View Not Working
• How to Recover an Unsaved PowerPoint
• PowerPoint Designer Not Working (Design Ideas Greyed Out)
• Copilot Not Showing in PowerPoint