Fix Microsoft Office Stuck on Getting Things Ready

If Microsoft Office is stuck on the “Getting Things Ready� screen, the fix is usually to close the Office app completely and restart it, or to run the Office Repair tool. This article explains why this happens and gives step-by-step fixes that work for Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Why Office Gets Stuck on “Getting Things Ready�

The “Getting Things Ready� message appears when Office is updating, installing, or repairing itself. Normally it lasts a few seconds, but it can hang if a previous update left a lock file, if the installation is corrupted, or if a background process is blocking the update. The most common causes are:

• A previous Office update that didn’t finish cleanly.
• Antivirus software interfering with Office’s update process.
• Corrupted user profile or Office cache files.
• Windows Update conflicts, especially after a major Windows feature update.
• Multiple Office versions installed side by side.

Quick Fix: Force Close and Restart Office

Often the simplest solution works. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. Look for any Office process (like Word, Excel, or Outlook) under “Apps� and also under “Background processes�. Right-click each one and select End task. Then reopen the Office app. If it opens normally, the problem was a temporary lock.

If it still hangs, restart your PC. A clean reboot clears temporary files and releases any stuck locks. After restarting, open the Office app again. If the “Getting Things Ready� screen appears, wait up to 10 minutes – sometimes the update is still running in the background, especially after a feature update.

Run Office Repair (Quick or Online)

If a restart doesn’t help, the built-in Repair tool is the next step. It checks for corrupted files and fixes them without uninstalling Office.

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Apps > Installed apps (or Apps & features in Windows 10).
3. Scroll to Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Office (the name depends on your version).
4. Click the three-dot menu (or select it) and choose Modify (or Change).
5. Select Quick Repair first – it runs without internet and takes a few minutes.
6. If that doesn’t work, repeat the steps and choose Online Repair – it downloads files and takes longer but is more thorough.

After the repair finishes, restart your PC and open Office again. This fixes the issue in most cases.

Check for Background Office Processes

Sometimes an Office process like OfficeClickToRun.exe or msiexec.exe gets stuck and blocks the update. You can end these in Task Manager, but be careful: ending the wrong process can break Office. A safer approach is to restart the “Microsoft Office ClickToRun Service� in Windows Services.

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Scroll to Microsoft Office ClickToRun Service.
3. Right-click it and select Restart (if it’s not running, select Start).
4. Open Office again.

If the service is missing, your Office installation may be damaged – run the Repair tool from the previous section.

Clear Office Cache and Temporary Files

Corrupted cache files can also cause the hang. Clearing them is safe and often resolves the issue.

1. Close all Office apps.
2. Press Windows + R, type %temp%, and press Enter.
3. Delete everything in the folder that opens (some files may be in use – skip those).
4. Also type %localappdata%\Microsoft\Office\16.0 in the Run box (the “16.0â€� folder is used by Office 2016 and later).
5. Delete the contents of the Cache and Licensing subfolders if they exist.

Be careful not to delete files that are clearly not cache (like your templates or custom dictionaries). If you’re unsure, skip this step and rely on the Repair tool.

Update Windows and Office

Sometimes the “Getting Things Ready� hang is caused by a Windows update that didn’t install correctly, or by an Office update that requires a newer Windows version. Make sure both are up to date:

• Go to Settings > Windows Update and click Check for updates. Install any pending updates and restart.
• Open any Office app (like Word), go to File > Account > Update Options > Update Now.

If Office won’t open at all, you can’t update from within the app. In that case, run the Online Repair from the section above – it also updates Office files.

If Nothing Works: Uninstall and Reinstall

As a last resort, uninstall Office completely and reinstall it. This is more time-consuming but guarantees a clean installation.

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
2. Find Microsoft 365/Office, click the three-dot menu, and choose Uninstall.
3. Restart your PC.
4. Reinstall from your Microsoft account (account.microsoft.com) or from your original purchase source.

Before uninstalling, make sure you have your product key or are signed in to your Microsoft account – otherwise you may not be able to reactivate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Office say “Getting Things Ready� every time I open it?

This usually happens when an update is pending or a previous update didn’t complete. It can also occur if your Office license needs to refresh. Running a Quick Repair often stops the repeated message.

Can I skip the “Getting Things Ready� screen?

No, you shouldn’t skip it – it’s part of Office’s update process. Interrupting it can cause corruption. If it stays for more than 10 minutes, force close and restart, then run a repair.

Will repairing Office delete my documents?

No. The Repair tool only fixes program files. Your documents, spreadsheets, and presentations are stored separately and are not touched.

How long should I wait before giving up?

For a normal update, 5–10 minutes is reasonable. If it’s been over 15 minutes with no progress, it’s likely stuck. Use Task Manager to end Office processes and then run a repair.

Does this happen on Mac too?

No, the “Getting Things Ready� screen is specific to Windows. Mac users may see a different update prompt, but the fix is similar: restart the app or reinstall Office.

Is there a way to prevent this in the future?

Keep Windows and Office updated, avoid interrupting updates, and run a Quick Repair after a major Windows update. Also, make sure you have enough free disk space – Office needs room for temporary files.

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