To disable add-ins in Word, go to File > Options > Add-ins, choose COM Add-ins in the Manage box, click Go, untick the add-in and click OK. For newer web-based Office add-ins, open Home > Add-ins (or Insert > Get Add-ins), go to My Add-ins and remove it. If Word crashes before you can do this, start it in Safe Mode, which loads no add-ins. Add-ins can also block commands such as Save As, which matters when you need to take a document out of Compatibility Mode.
Quick Answer
File > Options > Add-ins > Manage: COM Add-ins > Go > untick > OK. Restart Word.
Steps to Disable COM Add-ins
- Open Word and click File > Options.
- Select Add-ins.
- At the bottom, set Manage to COM Add-ins and click Go.
- Clear the checkbox next to the add-in and click OK.
- Close and reopen Word.
Types of Add-ins
| Type | Where to manage |
|---|---|
| COM add-ins | File > Options > Add-ins > COM Add-ins |
| Office (web) add-ins | Home > Add-ins > My Add-ins |
| Templates and global add-ins | Manage: Word Add-ins |
| Disabled items | Manage: Disabled Items (to re-enable) |
Find the Add-in That Causes Problems
If Word is slow, crashes or shows odd toolbars and you do not know which add-in is to blame, test them in turn:
- Open Word in Safe Mode by holding Ctrl while you start it. If the problem disappears, an add-in or template is the likely cause.
- Restart Word normally and go to File, Options, Add-ins, COM Add-ins, Go.
- Untick every add-in and click OK, then restart Word.
- Turn the add-ins back on one at a time, restarting Word after each, until the problem returns.
- Leave the culprit disabled, then update or reinstall it from its publisher, or remove it.
Re-enable an Add-in Word Turned Off
When an add-in crashes Word, Office can disable it automatically. To bring it back, open File, Options, Add-ins, set Manage to Disabled Items and click Go. Select the add-in, click Enable and restart Word. If it keeps crashing, check the publisher’s site for an updated version before turning it on again.
When the whole ribbon is gone rather than a single add-in tab, the cause is usually a display setting, so see where the ribbon went in Word and how to show it.
Add-ins on Work or School PCs
Some add-ins are installed by your organisation through Microsoft 365, and their checkboxes may be greyed out or the add-in may reappear after removal. Contact your IT team if a managed add-in is causing problems rather than trying to force it off.
Troubleshooting
- Word crashes on start: Hold Ctrl while opening Word, or see opening Word in Safe Mode, then disable add-ins one by one.
- Add-in comes back: Some are installed by other apps. Uninstall or update that app in Settings > Apps.
- Checkbox greyed out: The add-in may be managed by your organisation; ask IT.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does disabling an add-in delete it?
No. It just stops it loading. Tick it again to re-enable.
Why is Word slow to open?
Add-ins are a common cause. Disable them all, then turn them back on one at a time to find the culprit.
Does this apply to Excel and PowerPoint?
Yes. The same Add-ins page exists in each Office app.
Summary
- File > Options > Add-ins.
- Manage COM Add-ins > Go.
- Untick and click OK.
- Use Safe Mode if Word won’t start.
Kermit Matthews runs Live2Tech from just outside Philadelphia. He is an IT specialist with over 20 years of experience, from a university help desk to small-business IT, IT management and his own consulting practice, and has written tech guides full time since 2020. Steps are checked against the current software on a real device or the maker’s official documentation. More about Kermit.