If your Microsoft Office installer won't open, crashes immediately, or shows an error message, follow the steps below.
Symptoms
You may see one of these errors when trying to open the installer:
Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item.
Unable to execute file in the temporary directory. Setup aborted.
Error 5: Access is denied.
You may also experience one of these symptoms:
Nothing happens when you double-click the installer.
The installer opens briefly and then closes.
The installer does not respond.
In most cases, this is caused by security software blocking the installer from running.
Solution 1 – Temporarily Disable Your Antivirus
Third-party antivirus software can sometimes block Office installers, even when the file is safe.
Try the following:
Temporarily disable your antivirus software.
If available, add the Office installer as an exception (allowlist) in your antivirus settings.
Try opening the Office installer again.
💡 Note: Some antivirus programs block files silently without displaying a warning message.
If you're unsure how to disable your antivirus, see our guide:
How to temporarily turn off your antivirus (Bitdefender, McAfee, Norton, Avast)
Solution 2 – Check Whether Windows Is Running in S Mode
If your PC is running Windows 10 or Windows 11 in S mode, the installer will not run.
S mode only allows apps from the Microsoft Store and blocks traditional .exe installers.
To continue:
Check whether your PC is in S mode.
If it is, switch out of S mode.
Try running the Office installer again.
Follow this guide:
How to switch out of S mode in Windows 10/11
Solution 3 – Try the Alternative Installation Method
If you've already:
Disabled your antivirus, and
Confirmed your PC is not running in S mode,
but the installer still won't open, try the alternative installation method shown in the video below.
📹 Follow the video carefully, then try running the installer again.
Still Need Help?
If you've completed all the steps above and the installer still won't open, please contact our support team.
Contact Support Team
To help us troubleshoot faster, include:
A screenshot of any error message (if one appears)
The version of Windows you're using
The antivirus software installed on your PC (if any)