This helped me How to Close a Dialog Box in Microsoft Word Written by Nicole Levine, MFA
Last Updated: June 6, 2025 Tested
Using the Keyboard to Find a Dialog Box
|
Disabling an Add-in
|
Disabling Protected View
|Show more|Show less X
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Nicole Levine, MFA. Nicole Levine is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. She has more than 20 years of experience creating technical documentation and leading support teams at major web hosting and software companies. Nicole also holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Portland State University and teaches composition, fiction-writing, and zine-making at various institutions. The wikiHow Tech Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work. This article has been viewed 38,198 times.
This wikiHow teaches you how to resolve a Microsoft Word error that says Word can't perform a certain action due to an open dialog box. This type of error is usually due to a bad Word add-in or extra-strong security settings.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 3:
Using the Keyboard to Find a Dialog Box
1 Click OK on the error message. If you see a message that says Word is can't complete an action because a dialog box is open but you don't see a dialog box, you may be able to find it using a keyboard shortcut.
2 Press Alt+Tab ↹. This cycles through the open windows on your computer. You'll now see the next window that's open, which may be the open dialog box. Advertisement
3 Press Alt+Tab ↹ again until you find the dialog box. If the dialog box was just hiding behind another open window, you should be able to find it this way.
4 Click Close or OK. You may have to click a different button to close certain types of dialog boxes, such as Cancel, No, or Yes. Advertisement
Method 2 Method 2 of 3:
Disabling an Add-in
1 Start Word in Safe Mode. If you see a message that says Word is can't complete an action because a dialog box is open but you don't see a dialog box, one of your Word add-ins may be causing a problem. Start troubleshooting by opening Word in safe mode like this:[1]XResearch source
Close Word if it's open.
Press ⊞ Win+R to open the Run box.
Type Winword /safe and press ↵ Enter.
2 Try to reproduce the problem. Try doing the same thing you did that resulted in the error message. If you no longer see an error, the issue is probably due to a problematic add-in.
If you still see the error, try another method.
3 Disable an add-in. Here's how:[2]XResearch source
Click the File menu.
Click Options.
Click Add-ins.
Click Go under ″Manage.″
Remove the check mark from the first add-in. Only remove the check mark from one add-in, as each must be tested separately.
Click OK.
4 Close and re-open Microsoft Word. Restart Word normally (by clicking it in the Start menu) instead of in safe mode. The app will start up with all add-ins running except for the one you disabled.
5 Try to reproduce the problem. Again, try doing whatever action you took that resulted in the error message.
If you no longer see an error, the add-in you disabled was likely the culprit.
If you still see the error, the add-in you disabled was not the problem.
6 Disable another add-in. Return to the add-ins list and remove the check mark from another add-in. You can also re-add the check mark to the one you disabled earlier so it's usable again.
7 Repeat the testing process until you've found the add-in. Once you've found the add-in that's causing the error, you can choose to remove it or keep it disabled permanently. Advertisement
Method 3 Method 3 of 3:
Disabling Protected View
1 Open Microsoft Word. If you're trying to open a document you downloaded from the internet (such as in a web browser, email, or messaging app), you may receive an error that says: ″Word can't do this because a dialog box is open. Please close the dialog box to continue.″ This is often due to your security settings. Start by opening Word directly from the Start menu—you should find it in the Microsoft Office folder under All Apps.[3]XResearch source
Don't try this method unless you're sure the document you're trying to open is secure.
Disabling Protected View may open your computer up to viruses, so use this method at your own risk.
2 Click the File menu. It's near the top-left corner of the screen.
3 Click Options. It's near the bottom of the menu.
4 Click Trust Center. It's on the left side of the window.
5 Click Trust Center Settings. It's near the bottom-left corner of the right panel.
6 Click Protected View. It's on the left side. You'll see three settings with check boxes.
7 Remove the check mark from the first box. It's the one that says ″Enable Protected View for files originating from the Internet.″
8 Click OK.
9 Close Microsoft Word. Now that you've disabled Protected View, you should be able to double-click the document you downloaded (or in your inbox) and open it without issue.
Be sure to re-enable Protected View when you're finished.
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Search Add New Question Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement
You Might Also Like
How toLog in to WeChatHow toCopy a QR Code on AndroidHow to Download and Save Facebook Videos Without Any Software on Your Computer, Phone, or TabletHow toFind an Office Product KeyChange Your Cameos Selfie in Snapchat: 2 Simple MethodsThe Beginner's Guide on How to Use Clubhouse (& Host Your Own Room)How toMake a Background Transparent in PaintHow toAdd an Email Account to Your iPhoneHow toSelect Multiple Files on Windows 11How toContact WhatsAppHow toUse Microsoft WhiteboardHow toCheck Power Consumption of a PCHow toCollaborate on YouTubeHow toInstall Progressive Web Apps Advertisement
Written by: Nicole Levine, MFA wikiHow Technology Writer This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Nicole Levine, MFA. Nicole Levine is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. She has more than 20 years of experience creating technical documentation and leading support teams at major web hosting and software companies. Nicole also holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Portland State University and teaches composition, fiction-writing, and zine-making at various institutions. This article has been viewed 38,198 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 2Updated: June 6, 2025 Views: 38,198
Print
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 38,198 times.
Is this article up to date?
Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Written by: Nicole Levine, MFA wikiHow Technology Writer Click a star to vote Co-authors: 2Updated: June 6, 2025 Views: 38,198
You Might Also Like
How toLog in to WeChatHow toCopy a QR Code on AndroidHow to Download and Save Facebook Videos Without Any Software on Your Computer, Phone, or TabletHow toFind an Office Product Key wikiHow Newsletter You're all set! Helpful how-tos delivered toyour inbox every week! Sign me up! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy.
Home
About wikiHow
Experts
Contact Us
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Do Not Sell or Share My Info
Not Selling Info
Follow Us
×
wikiHow Tech Help:
Tech troubles got you down? We've got the tips you need
Advertisement 
Written by: Nicole Levine, MFA wikiHow Technology Writer This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Nicole Levine, MFA. Nicole Levine is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. She has more than 20 years of experience creating technical documentation and leading support teams at major web hosting and software companies. Nicole also holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Portland State University and teaches composition, fiction-writing, and zine-making at various institutions. This article has been viewed 38,198 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 2 Updated: June 6, 2025 Views: 38,198 
wikiHow Newsletter You're all set! Helpful how-tos delivered toyour inbox every week! Sign me up! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. 
389 
1 Click OK on the error message. If you see a message that says Word is can't complete an action because a dialog box is open but you don't see a dialog box, you may be able to find it using a keyboard shortcut. 
2 Press Alt+Tab ↹. This cycles through the open windows on your computer. You'll now see the next window that's open, which may be the open dialog box. Advertisement 
3 Press Alt+Tab ↹ again until you find the dialog box. If the dialog box was just hiding behind another open window, you should be able to find it this way. 
4 Click Close or OK. You may have to click a different button to close certain types of dialog boxes, such as Cancel, No, or Yes. Advertisement 
1 Start Word in Safe Mode. If you see a message that says Word is can't complete an action because a dialog box is open but you don't see a dialog box, one of your Word add-ins may be causing a problem. Start troubleshooting by opening Word in safe mode like this:[1] 
2 Try to reproduce the problem. Try doing the same thing you did that resulted in the error message. If you no longer see an error, the issue is probably due to a problematic add-in. 
3 Disable an add-in. Here's how:[2] 
4 Close and re-open Microsoft Word. Restart Word normally (by clicking it in the Start menu) instead of in safe mode. The app will start up with all add-ins running except for the one you disabled. 
5 Try to reproduce the problem. Again, try doing whatever action you took that resulted in the error message. 
6 Disable another add-in. Return to the add-ins list and remove the check mark from another add-in. You can also re-add the check mark to the one you disabled earlier so it's usable again. 
7 Repeat the testing process until you've found the add-in. Once you've found the add-in that's causing the error, you can choose to remove it or keep it disabled permanently. Advertisement 
1 Open Microsoft Word. If you're trying to open a document you downloaded from the internet (such as in a web browser, email, or messaging app), you may receive an error that says: ″Word can't do this because a dialog box is open. Please close the dialog box to continue.″ This is often due to your security settings. Start by opening Word directly from the Start menu—you should find it in the Microsoft Office folder under All Apps.[3] 
2 Click the File menu. It's near the top-left corner of the screen. 
3 Click Options. It's near the bottom of the menu. 
4 Click Trust Center. It's on the left side of the window. 
5 Click Trust Center Settings. It's near the bottom-left corner of the right panel. 
6 Click Protected View. It's on the left side. You'll see three settings with check boxes. 
7 Remove the check mark from the first box. It's the one that says ″Enable Protected View for files originating from the Internet.″ 
8 Click OK. 
9 Close Microsoft Word. Now that you've disabled Protected View, you should be able to double-click the document you downloaded (or in your inbox) and open it without issue. 
Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy.