After the Microsoft Security Updates for April 2025, Microsoft Word 2016 will crash immediately after opening.

Here are the steps to fix this issue.

1. Go into TaskManager and make sure Word is not running in the background
2. Choose Start, Run and type in winword /safe
3. When Word opens click File, choose Options
4. Click Add-ins on the left hand menu
5. At the bottom Manage – COM Add-ins click Go
6. Uncheck Acrobat PDF
7. Click OK
8. Close and Reopen Word and you should be all set

Until Microsoft fixes this problem in the monthly update for April that is for Microsoft Office 2016, the Acrobat PDF feature can not be turned on.

Fix released by Microsoft for this issue 4/10/2025 – KB5002623