This guide will help you resolve the “The operating system is not presently set to run this application” error message. This error message is mostly observed while opening the Office applications, such as Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.
But some users have also noticed similar problem message while using the Windows Search and other applications like Skype for Business app.
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Method 1: Launch Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter
This problem message is appearing for some customers before they even begin an Office programme or any other software. This is really irritating. It’s possible that the apps you have open in the background are to blame for this issue. To remedy this, simply launch the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter.
Method 2: Verify that Windows has the most recent updates
See if Windows 11 or 10 has any updates waiting to be installed. Many people report that installing the Windows Update has resolved the issue. Possibly, this will help you as well.
The Windows Update status can be viewed in the Settings menu. Even if Windows reports that your system is current, you should still manually check for updates by selecting the Check for updates option.
Method 3: Start The Programme in Administrative Mmode.
The application in question can be launched as an administrator to see if that helps. To do this, right-click the application’s shortcut icon, then select Run as administrator from the menu.
Answer “Yes” when prompted by “User Account Control” (UAC). See whether the same error message displays now. All of the programme shortcuts have been dropped off onto the Desktop. If you can’t find the app’s icon on your desktop, try using Windows Search.
Select the program’s file location by right-clicking it in the Search Results. The Windows operating system will then load the application’s shortcut icon from the folder you specified. The shortcut icon can be sent to the desktop by right-clicking on it.
Method 4: Turn Off Any Extra Security Software or Firewalls You May Have Installed.
Turn off any antivirus software, including Windows’ built-in firewall. Start the offending programme again once you’ve disabled it. If the programme operates normally now, the firewall or antivirus software is to blame.
To resolve this, just add the offending programme to a whitelist under Windows Firewall. In order to resolve the issue, customers of third-party antivirus software should get in touch with the company’s support team.
After disabling the Firewall and antivirus software, your system becomes vulnerable to outside attacks, thus it’s important to switch them back on immediately.
Method 5: Use Safe Mode To Fix Ailing Office Programmes.
Damaged Add-ins are a likely contributor to this mistake in Office programmes. You can verify this by attempting to fix the malfunctioning Office programmes while operating in Safe mode.
By entering a command in the Run command box, Office programmes can be started in Safe mode. The keyboard shortcuts for each Office programme are unique.
To use the desired programme in Safe mode, press the Win + R keys to open the Run command box and then enter the following commands:
- Word for Windows: winword /safe
- Spreadsheet software: excel.exe /safe
- Google Slides: powerpnt /safe
- Using Outlook on a safe machine: outlook.exe /safe
To determine if an Add-in is to blame for Office’s malfunction, try starting the programme in Safe mode. Please refer to the section below for an explanation on how to troubleshoot.
These guidelines apply to Microsoft Office 2010, and later versions:
Step 1: Type the appropriate command into the Run command box to launch the faulty Office programme.
Step 2: Select “File” > “Options” from the menu bar.
Step 3: The Add-ins option can be found in the menu bar.
Step 4: Then, from the Manage menu, choose COM Add-ins, and hit the Go button. The Add-ins window will pop up with a list of everything you have loaded.
Step 5: Select OK after deselecting an Add-in.
Step 6: Next, you can launch Office in its regular mode after closing the Safe mode app. If the error warning disappears this time, the Add-in you just disabled was the cause. To that end, you might want to think about getting rid of it. If the error persists, you will need to try this step again until you identify the offending Add-in.
