Microsoft Word fails to open with new MacOS Monterey 12.2.1 upgrade

Give this a try: boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac and test to see if the problem persists. Reboot normally and test again.

NOTE: Safe Mode boot can take up to 3 - 5 minutes as it's doing the following; 

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts 

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files

To downgrade to 12.2 follow these instructions:

How to downgrade to Big Sur?

BUT, download the 12.2 installer by entering the following command in theTerinal app:

softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 12.2

The process involves backing up, making a n USB bootable install media, boot from that install media, erase your current startup disk, reinstalling 12.2 and then restoring your data.

It's hard to give you an answer with so little information. Since Excel does open, I assume that you have a version of Microsoft Office installed that works with Monterey. In other words, a 64 bit version. I would try reinstalling Word. Sometimes that will resolve a problem. You can also contact Microsoft for help with their product.

It sounds like you need to update Microsoft Word. You can do this by opening Excel and pressing Help in the toolbar at the top of your screen and then pressing Check For Updates.

It sounds like the version of Microsoft Word that is on your Mac is incompatible with the new update.

Unfortunately, I don't have the answer but the same issue: Word fails to open while excel, ppt, etc. run well. All appear as "updated"/ latest. I tried to install the Word beta version but failed by now. - Is it possible to downgrade to MacOS Monterey 12.2.0 again? - How would this work? - Thank you.