How to Fix Microsoft Office Error Code 147-0 (EASY FIX)

The error code 147-0 is usually caused by the Microsoft Office files on your PC, which can include a faulty installation, damaged Windows Registry keys, and more. Microsoft Office error code 147-0 occurs when you are trying to open an Office app on your computer. In some instances, you can also come across the error while updating Microsoft Office.

Microsoft Office Error 147-0
Microsoft Office Error 147-0

Damage to the installation files can sometimes occur due to a recent update, or even via your system files. Nonetheless, there are various ways you can overcome the issue in question, and we will be taking you through them in this article. 

1. Delete Microsoft Office Registry Keys

Deleting the Microsoft Office registry keys on your computer should be the first thing that you do when starting to troubleshoot the problem.

In some cases, the error code can occur due to damaged registry keys which are used to define the behavior of the app on your PC.

As such, deleting the registry keys should help you in isolating the problem. Interfering with the Windows Registry can be risky, especially if you are not careful.

Therefore, we recommend creating a backup of your Windows Registry in case you do something wrong. 

With that said, follow the instructions carefully to remove the registry keys:

  1. Start by opening the Run box with the Win key + R shortcut.
  2. Type in regedit and press Enter in the Run box.
    Opening Windows Registry
  3. After that, navigate to the following path. You can copy and paste the path into the address bar to do so. 
    Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\ClickToRun
    Navigating to Registry Path
    Navigating to Registry Path
  4. Then, right-click on the Postpone key and click Delete.
    Deleting Registry Key
    Deleting Registry Key
  5. Once you do that, copy and paste the following path into the address bar:
    Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\AppVISV
    Navigating to Registry Path
    Navigating to Registry Path
  6. Delete the key in that path as well.
    Deleting Registry Key
    Deleting Registry Key
  7. Finally, close the Windows Registry and restart your PC.
  8. See if the problem persists. 

2. Update Windows

In some instances, the Windows build on your computer can also trigger the error code in Microsoft Office. In such a circumstance, you will have to install any available updates on your computer to resolve the issue. 

Windows updates often contain fixes and patches for Microsoft Office that can help you navigate the issue in question. To update Windows, follow the instructions below:

  1. First, open the Settings app by pressing the Win key + I
  2. Go to the Windows Update section in the Settings app.
    Going to Windows Update section
    Going to the Windows Update section
  3. Then, click the Check for updates option.
    Searching for Windows Updates
    Searching for Windows Updates
  4. This will force Windows to download and install any available updates for your system.
  5. Wait for it to complete and see if the problem persists. 

3. Repair System Files

The Windows system files on your PC can be another cause for the error code with Microsoft Office. This is usually due to a more underlying issue with your computer than Microsoft Office itself.

This happens when the system files are damaged or corrupted. In this case, you will need to repair the system files to resolve the issue. 

To repair the system files, you will have to use the System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tools in Windows. These tools will be able to scan and repair any damage to your system files. 

To do this, follow the instructions below:

  1. First, open the Start Menu and search for the command prompt
  2. Then, click the Run as administrator option on the right.
    Opening the Command Prompt as Admin
    Opening the Command Prompt as Admin
  3. After that, in the Command Prompt window, type in the following command and hit Enter:
    sfc /scannow
    Running SFC Scan
    Running SFC Scan
  4. Wait for the System File Checker to scan your system for any damage.
  5. After that, run the following command in the command prompt:
    DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
    Restoring System Health via DISM
    Restoring System Health via DISM
  6. Once done, restart your computer and see if the issue occurs again. 

4. Repair Microsoft Office

The installation files of Microsoft Office are often the cause of the error code in question. When this happens, you will need to repair MS Office files on your PC. This is quite easy to do with the help of the repair tools that come with Microsoft Office when you install them.

To repair Microsoft Office, follow the instructions below:

  1. First, open the Control Panel by searching for it in the Start Menu.
    Opening Control Panel
    Opening Control Panel
  2. Then, click on the Uninstall a program option to open the list of installed apps.
    Opening Installed Apps List
    Opening Installed Apps List
  3. From the list, locate Microsoft Office and select it.
  4. At the top, click on the Change option.
    Changing Microsoft Office Installation
    Changing Microsoft Office Installation
  5. After that, select the Quick Repair option and click Repair.
    Repairing Microsoft Office
    Repairing Microsoft Office
  6. Once the process finishes, see if the problem still occurs.
  7. In case the problem persists, follow the same steps again but choose Online Repair this time to perform a thorough repair of the app. 

5. Clean Boot your System

The 147-0 error code can also be attributed to the intervention of background services with MS Office on your computer. Such scenarios are quite common to occur, and you can verify the issue by performing a clean boot.

This will start your computer with only the Windows system services required to boot the computer running in the background. As such, all of the background apps and third-party services will be blocked on startup. 

If the problem goes away in a clean boot, it will be obvious a background service is the culprit. In such an instance, you will have to figure out the culprit by enabling the services one at a time. With that said, follow the below instructions to do a clean boot:

  1. First off, open the Run box. You can use the Win key + R shortcut to do so.
  2. Enter msconfig in the Run box to open the System Configuration window.
    Opening System Config
    Opening System Config
  3. After that, go to the Services tab.
  4. Now, check the Hide all Microsoft services. This will remove system services from the list.
    Removing Microsoft Services from the list
    Removing Microsoft Services from the list
  5. Once you do that, click Disable all to disable all of the remaining services.
    Turning off Startup Services
    Turning off Startup Services
  6. Then, click the Apply button to save the changes.
  7. Now, switch to the Startup tab and open a Task Manager window by clicking the Open Task Manager option.
    Opening the Task Manager via System Config
    Opening the Task Manager via System Config
  8. In the Task Manager window, click on the apps one at a time and select Disable.
    Blocking Startup Apps
    Blocking Startup Apps
  9. Finally, perform a restart to clean boot your system. 

6. Reinstall Microsoft Office

Finally, if you are not able to resolve the issue with the above methods, you will need to reinstall Microsoft Office completely on your system. Reinstalling the program will allow you to remove all of the current files from your PC and start afresh.

This can often help in isolating issues that cannot be fixed by simply repairing the installation. To uninstall Microsoft Office, follow the instructions below:

  1. Start by opening the Control Panel on your PC. Use the Start Menu to do this.
    Opening Control Panel
    Opening Control Panel
  2. After that, go to the Uninstall a program section.
    Opening Installed Apps List
    Opening Installed Apps List
  3. Locate Microsoft Office from the list and double-click it.
    Uninstalling Microsoft Office
    Uninstalling Microsoft Office
  4. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the removal of Microsoft Office.
  5. After that, download the setup file from your account and install it. 
  6. See if that resolves the issue.

You should be able to subside the 147-0 error code with the above methods. The culprit in most cases is the installation files of Microsoft Office on your system. As such, repairing the installation can often help you resolve the issue. That is something to keep in mind for the future. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Raza Arshad


Raza Arshad is a certified Google IT Support Professional. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for problem-solving, he excels in identifying and resolving bugs and Windows-related issues. Armed with a deep understanding of computer systems, Raza effortlessly navigates through complexities to pinpoint the root cause and implement effective solutions. His exceptional skills in bug detection and Windows troubleshooting make him a valuable asset in any IT support team.