Fix: Word Add-in Task Pane Is Blank or White

Why Add-in Task Panes Go Blank

Word add-ins run as web applications inside a task pane. When the pane is blank, the web content failed to load.

Step-by-Step Fix

Step 1: Check Internet Connection

Most add-ins require an active internet connection:

1. Open a browser and navigate to any website
2. If your internet is working, proceed to Step 2

Step 2: Clear the Office Web Cache

1. Close Word completely
2. Press Windows + R
3. Type %localappdata%\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Wef
4. Delete all folders and files inside
5. Reopen Word and launch the add-in

Step 3: Check for Proxy/Firewall Issues

Corporate networks may block add-in connections:

1. Try loading the add-in on a personal network
2. If it works, contact your IT department to whitelist the add-in’s URLs
3. Common domains to whitelist: *.office.com, *.microsoft.com, and the add-in vendor’s domain

Step 4: Update Office

1. Go to File > Account > Update Options > Update Now
2. Install all updates and restart Word

Step 5: Try Word Online

1. Open the document in Word Online
2. Try the add-in there
3. If it works online but not in desktop Word, the issue is with your local Office installation

For GenText Users

If GenText shows a blank pane:

1. Make sure you’re signed in to your Microsoft account in Word
2. Clear the Wef cache (Step 2)
3. Try in Incognito/InPrivate mode in Word Online to rule out extensions
4. Contact support@gentext.ai if the issue persists