Table of Contents
Do you want to know how to Fix ‘Microsoft Setup Bootstrapper Has Stopped Working’ issue? Users of Microsoft Office and Windows have talked about the “Bootstrapper has stopped working” error in a number of online forums. Users who have reported this problem say that the “Bootstrapper has stopped working” error appears when they try to install Office or open an app from that suite. Users can’t use Office in Windows because of this problem either way. Some users are getting an error message that says “Microsoft setup boots-trapper had stopped working” when they try to open one, several, or all of the programs in the Microsoft Office suite. If you want to know more information about this Visit Official Microsoft Support site
This problem is said to happen on more than one version of Windows 11/10and is confirmed to happen with more than one version of Microsoft Office. This error message talks about Microsoft Setup Bootstrapper, which is part of the Microsoft Office (Microsoft 365) suite. It cuts down on the number of dependencies that need to be met during installation. If you get the error “Microsoft setup bootstrapper has stopped working,” this article will show you how other users have fixed the problem. Have you also been stumped by the “Bootstrapper has stopped working” error? Here’s how to Fix ‘Microsoft Setup Bootstrapper Has Stopped Working’ issue.
Run the Program Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter

Many users have said that the Microsoft Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter can help fix the “Microsoft Office Bootstrapper” error. This troubleshooter is meant to fix problems that make it hard for users to install or remove software. The Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter is not built into Windows, but it can be downloaded and run with these steps:
- Open the page where you can download the Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter.
- On the Microsoft page, click the Download troubleshooter button.
- Click the taskbar icon for File Explorer to open the folder where the downloaded file is stored.
- Double-click on the MicrosoftProgram_Install_and_Uninstall.meta.diagcab file.
- Click Next to start fixing the problem.
- Choose the option to install.
- Choose the program you’re having trouble installing and click Next again.
- Choose Yes, try uninstalling, or No, try other fixes, depending on what you would rather do.
Re-enable Task Scheduler
Forum users say that the Bootstrapper error can be fixed by editing the registry to re-enable the Task Scheduler. This error could be caused by a Task Scheduler that has been turned off and that Office services can’t get to.
- Press the Windows key and R at the same time to bring up the Run box.
- Type regedit and then press OK.
- In the Registry Editor, go to the following registry key: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Schedule
- Choose the Schedule button on the left side of the screen.
- Click the Start DWORD button twice.
- Type 2 in the Value box for the Start DWORD, and then click OK to leave the dialog box.
- Put an end to Registry Editor.
- Restart your computer.
Try Clean Boot
- Open the Search menu, type “system configuration,” and press Enter.
- Under Services, check the box that says “Hide all Microsoft services.”
- Click the All Off button.
- Go to the Startup tab and click on the Open Task Manager button.
- Choose an outside program and click Disable at the top.
- Repeat the previous step to turn off all third-party programs and apps.
- Restart your PC to enter the clean boot state and check if the problem persists.
- If the problem is resolved after a clean boot, it can be attributed to a third-party app.
- Go through all the apps and programs you recently installed and delete them one by one.
Run the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter
Another tool that might help fix the Bootstrapper error is the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter. This troubleshooter can help you fix problems with how well the Office setup file works with your computer.
- File Explorer can be opened by pressing the Windows key + E.
- Find the folder where your Office installation file is.
- Right-click the Office setup.exe file and choose “Show more options.” Check for compatibility problems.
- Select “Try out a test run” with the recommended settings.
- Test the program by pressing the button.
- Click the Next button on the troubleshooter.
- Check the box next to “Yes, save these settings.” If the setup wizard worked well when it was tested,
- After figuring out what’s wrong, try installing Office again.
Remove the AppCompactFlag Registry Key
Another way to fix the Bootstrapper error is to edit the registry by removing the AppCompatFlags key from any existing Office installation on your PC and then reinstalling Office.
- Press the Windows key and the letter R to bring up the Run box.
- When you type regedit and press Enter, the Registry Editor will open.
- In the Registry Editor, type the following address into the address bar: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion contains information about the current version of Windows.AppCompatFlags
- Right-click on the AppCompatFlags key and choose Export to make a backup.
- Pick a folder to save the exported key and click Save.
- Right-click the AppCompatFlags key and choose Delete from the menu.
- Click the Yes button in the confirmation window to delete the key and all of its subkeys.
- Put an end to the Registry Editor.
- Restart Windows.
Uninstall Third-Party Antivirus Software
The first thing you should do to fix the “Microsoft Setup Bootstrapper has stopped working” error is to uninstall any third-party antivirus software that may be on your computer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do this:
- Press the Windows key and R at the same time to bring up the Run box.
- In the box, type appwiz.cpl and then press OK.
- Find any third-party antivirus software you have installed on your computer in the Programs and Features window. Right-click on it and choose Uninstall.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to get rid of the software on your PC.
What is causing the ‘Microsoft setup boots-trapper had stopped working’ error?
We looked into this problem by reading different user reports and figuring out how the most affected users fixed it. From what we’ve learned through our investigations, there are several things that can cause this problem:
- The installer can’t talk to Microsoft’s servers because of a third-party antivirus program: McAfee, Avast, and a few others are known to be too cautious when it comes to letting the Office installer get some needed components from the Internet. If this is the case, you should be able to fix the problem by either turning off real-time protection or removing the security suite.
- Corrupted registry keys or installation files: Another thing that could cause this error is if some key registry keys or installation files that are needed to install Microsoft Office are corrupted. In this case, you should think about a Microsoft toll that can handle situations like this.
- There was a problem with an IObit program: A lot of people have said that this problem happened because some of IObit’s software products didn’t work well with each other. The only way to figure out which IObit product is causing the problem is to uninstall each one one by one until the problem stops happening.