Troubleshooting

AhkWord doesn't start

Nothing happens for a few seconds on the first start. That is expected: the first start compiles AhkWord, with nothing shown until the window opens. (Run from the repository rather than a release download, it also downloads its components the first time, which can take a minute or two.)

"Windows protected your PC" (SmartScreen) the first time: AhkWord isn't signed. Click More info, then Run anyway; Windows doesn't ask again for that copy.

"Smart App Control blocked an app that may be unsafe". Smart App Control, which some new Windows 11 PCs have on, blocks programs that aren't signed by a publisher it knows, with no Run anyway. AhkWord.exe is AutoHotkey under AhkWord's name, and AutoHotkey isn't signed, so it is blocked, as any AutoHotkey script would be. Smart App Control is in Windows Security > App & browser control > Smart App Control settings. Turning it off lets AhkWord run, but think before you do: on many versions of Windows 11 it can't be turned on again afterwards without resetting Windows. A signed AhkWord, which needs no change to the setting, is on the roadmap.

An error about .NET. AhkWord needs the .NET 10 Desktop Runtime; an older .NET is not enough. Install it with winget install Microsoft.DotNet.DesktopRuntime.10 and start AhkWord again.

An error with NU1100 or NU1301. The components couldn't be downloaded from nuget.org. Check that the computer can reach nuget.org (a proxy or a firewall can stop it), and the package sources the message lists.

A message that AhkWord stopped because of an error. It shows the error's text. Please report it, with that text, on the issues page.

Word and OpenDocument files

A Word file opens or saves slowly, or through another converter than you expected. Word is used only while it isn't open: with Word open, AhkWord uses LibreOffice or the built-in converter. Close Word for Word's own conversion.

A converter fails. AhkWord tries the next one, and says which it used in the status bar. The converters' log is in %LOCALAPPDATA%\AhkWord\converters.log.

Lists and numbering

Nested list items all show the first level's numbering (A. A. A.). In List Levels, tick Tab and Shift+Tab give an item its new level's numbering style.

A paragraph of a numbered style has no number. Its numbering is turned off: Tab at its start makes it a sub-level item, or the Numbering button numbers it again. See Numbering off.

Recovering a document

If AhkWord ended without closing, its next start offers the documents it was editing. Their copies are in %APPDATA%\AhkWord\Recovery until you recover or discard them.

The taskbar shows AutoHotkey's icon

Close every AhkWord window and start it again: Windows sometimes keeps a taskbar button's old icon until the program starts afresh.