While Microsoft updates could be downloaded automatically, you should check and update the software manually if you suspect there's an available update that your device hasn't installed yet.
In most situations, you can fix the 'word crashes/quits unexpectedly on Mac' issue with the below methods, irrespective of the Mac OS you're working on. 7 Methods to Fix 'Word Crashes/Quits Unexpectedly on Mac' As for a similar issue - Microsoft Word keeps freezing or not responding on start up, we've also come up with corresponding effective fixes.
