Cannot Open Microsoft Word Documents

Dec 20, 2016  can not open word document. Since updating to win 10 anniversary edition I cannot get a preview of Word documents in File Explorer - all other files show a preview. This is on a Sony Vaio all in one PC with Office 2010. Windows 10 changing attributes of office Document and Word files. In Microsoft Office and 365.

Occasionally, Windows files can get damaged or corrupted, making it difficult to open them in Microsoft Word. If this happens to you, the below guide can help you recover the files and continue working.

The instructions in this guide are for Word for Office 365, Word 2019, Word 2016, Word 2013, Word 2010, and Word 2007.

How to Repair Microsoft Word File Associations

Windows file associations can change inadvertently. Follow these steps to fix the issue:

1. Navigate to the file in Windows and right-click on it.

2. Select Open With from the menu.

3. Select Microsoft Word from the list of options. The next time you click on the file, it will open correctly.

How to Open a Damaged Word File

If your file is damaged, try using the Open and Repair feature to recover it.

1. Within Word, select File > Open > Browse and navigate to the file's location. Don't try to open the file using the Recent section.

   If you're using Office 2013, select the location, then select Browse. If you're using Office 2010, you don't need to click Browse.

2. Select the file you want, then click the arrow next to the Open button and select Open and Repair.

How to Avoid File Corruption

Files typically become corrupted when your computer crashes or loses power. If this happens, you can open a previous version of the file if you've turned on the AutoRecover feature in Word's preferences.

Cannot Open Documents In Microsoft Word Starter 2010

File corruption also occurs when the file in question is stored on a USB device that's disconnected while it's open in Windows. If the device's activity light is flashing, wait a few seconds after it quits blinking before removing it. If it doesn't stop, use the Safely Remove Hardwareicon in the Windows taskbar.

Additionally, if you're using Office 365, you can store your files on OneDrive and use the AutoSave feature as an extra layer of protection.

If you are using Microsoft Office Word 2007 or Word 2010, you can open .docx or .docm files that were created in Word 2016 and 2013. However, a few newer features may not be supported in older versions or they may not be editable. For example, equations in later files are converted to images in earlier versions of Word, which can't be edited.

Here's a list of document elements in files created in Word 2013 and 2016 that work differently when they're opened in Word 2010:

• Apps for Office: The app doesn't run, but it will be available if the document is upgraded to Word 2013 or 2016.

• Web Video: The video is permanently converted to a picture with a hyperlink to the web video.

• Comment replies and comments marked 'done': Comment replies become top-level individual comments, and all comments marked 'done' appear as regular comments. If the comments are not changed, the original state will be restored if the document is upgraded in Word 2016 or 2013.

• Headings that are collapsed by default: Headings are expanded by default; the property is permanently removed.

• Content controls: Repeating section content controls are converted to static text; XML mappings on rich text content controls are permanently removed.

Documents created in Word 2010

Here's a list of document elements in files created in Word 2010 that work differently when they're opened in Word 2007:

• New numbering formats: Converted to Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4, ...).

• New shapes and text boxes: Converted to the effects available in Word 2007.

• Text effects: Permanently removed unless the effects are applied by using a custom style. If they are applied by using the style, the text effects with shapes and text boxes are converted to effects available in Word 2007.

  Effects will appear again if the document is reopened in Word 2010.

• Alternative text in tables: Removed.

• OpenType features: Removed.

• Blocking authors: Blocks applied to regions of the document are removed.

• WordArt effects: Removed.

• Content controls: Converted to static content.

Can't Open Microsoft Word 97 2003 Document

Documents created in Word 2013, 2016

Can T Open Word Documents

Here's a list of document elements in files created in Word 2013 and 2016 that work differently when they're opened in Word 2007:

Why Microsoft Word Cannot Open