How to Start LibreOffice and OpenOffice in Safe Mode

A simple tutorial showing how to start LibreOffice and OpenOffice in safe mode.

LibreOffice, a powerful open-source office suite, offers many modules for word processing, spreadsheet management, presentations, and more.

Occasionally, you might encounter issues such as crashes or unexpected behaviour while using LibreOffice.

To troubleshoot these problems, starting LibreOffice in Safe Mode can be incredibly helpful. Safe Mode allows you to launch LibreOffice with default settings and minimal extensions, making identifying and addressing any underlying problems easier.

This article will guide you through starting LibreOffice in Safe Mode.

Starting LibreOffice in Safe Mode

1. Close LibreOffice: Before you begin, make sure all instances of LibreOffice are closed.
2. Access the Command Line:
   • On Windows: Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Enter.
   • On macOS: Open the Terminal from the Applications > Utilities folder.
   • On Linux: Press Ctrl + Alt + T to open the terminal.
3. Type the following command for Windows (including the double quote).
   • "%ProgramFiles%\LibreOffice\program\soffice" --safe-mode
   • Hit enter.
4. For Linux and macOS use the following command and hit enter.
   • soffice --safe-mode

Once you open it in safemode, you should see the following prompt. It’s the confirmation that the safe mode has been activated.

You can either “continue in safe mode” or “restart LibreOffice in normal mode” from this window.

Additionally, you can also see “(safe mode)” in the title bar of LibreOffice’s main window.

OpenOffice

As per my verification, OpenOffice does not have any safe-mode. However, you can still run it using the “–safe-mode” switch from the command line.

/opt/openoffice4/program/soffice --safe-mode

Closing Notes

Starting LibreOffice in this mode provides a clean slate by temporarily disabling extensions and custom settings, allowing you to identify and resolve problems without these potential complicating factors.

Remember that this mode is a diagnostic tool, and once you’ve identified the source of the issue, you can make informed decisions on whether to disable specific extensions or reconfigure settings.

You may also read this related guide: Can’t Open LibreOffice.

Does this article solve your issue? Do let me know in the comment box.