Word, Excel, PowerPoint Not Opening?

🖥️ Fixing MS Office Not Opening After Installing a Safe Exam Browser

📌 Introduction

Many schools and institutions use Safe Exam Browsers to ensure students don’t cheat during online exams. But after the exam, some students face a new issue — Microsoft Office apps like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint stop working.

This post explains why that happens and how to fix it quickly.

⚠️ Why MS Office Stops Working

Safe browsers often run in lockdown mode. They block access to other apps to keep the exam environment secure. But sometimes, even after the exam is done, these restrictions stay active, causing:

• Microsoft Office not to launch
• Error messages or crashes
• System performance issues

This usually happens when the browser:

• Adds background services that keep running
• Changes system policies (registry or Group Policy settings)
• Blocks certain programs like Office from launching

✅ How to Fix the Problem

🛠️ Method 1: Uninstall the Safe Exam Browser

• Go to Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall a program
• Find the safe browser (e.g. Safe Exam Browser, Respondus, etc.)
• Uninstall it
• Restart your PC

Most of the time, MS Office will start working again.

🛠️ Method 2: Disable Background Services

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
• Go to the Startup tab
• Disable any entries related to the safe browser
• Restart your computer

🛠️ Method 3: Clean Up with System Tools

If Office still doesn’t run:

• Run System File Checker:
  Open Command Prompt as admin, then type:

sfc /scannow

• Use System Restore if available (to a point before the browser was installed)

💡 Tip for Future Exams:
If you're an IT admin or teacher:

• Use the safe browser in guest accounts or separate profiles
• Avoid giving it full system access
• Make sure it’s configured to disable lockdown after the exam

🧑‍💻 Final Thoughts

This issue is frustrating, especially when students need MS Office for assignments. But with a quick uninstall or cleanup, you can get everything back to normal.

If you're using a specific safe browser and want help with cleanup steps, drop a comment below!