1. Try Opening with Text Recovery
- Open Word > File > Open > Browse
- Select your file > Click the ▼ arrow on "Open" button
- Choose Open and Repair or Recover Text from Any File
Why? This bypasses corrupted formatting to salvage content.
2. Check File Permissions
- Right-click the file > Properties > Security tab
- Ensure your user account has Read & Write permissions
Why? Restricted access prevents file opening.
3. Free Up Disk Space
- Press Win + E > Right-click C: drive > Properties
- Use Disk Cleanup (remove temp files and system cache)
Why? Low disk space (<10% free) causes document errors.
4. Open in Safe Mode
- Hold Ctrl while launching Word
- Try opening the file in Safe Mode
Why? Disables add-ins that may conflict with the file.
5. Create New Document & Insert Content
- Open blank Word doc > Insert tab > Object > Text from File
- Select the problematic document
Why? Sometimes imports content when direct opening fails.
6. Update or Repair Office
- Go to Windows Settings > Apps > Microsoft 365 > Modify
- Choose Quick Repair (or Online Repair if needed)
Why? Corrupted Office installation causes document errors.
Advanced Solutions
7. Change File Extension
- Rename file from .doc to .docx (or vice versa)
Why? Forces Word to use different file handlers.
8. Use OpenOffice/LibreOffice
- Install free alternative > Attempt to open file
- Save as new Word document
Why? Different software may handle corruption better.
9. Extract via ZIP Method
- Rename file extension to .zip > Extract contents
- Look for word/document.xml in extracted folders
Why? DOCX files are actually ZIP archives.
What Causes This Error?
- File corruption (improper saves/transfers)
- Permission issues (network/cloud files)
- Outdated Word version
- Conflicting add-ins
Prevention Tips
- ✔ Enable AutoRecover: File > Options > Save > Set 5-minute backups
- ✔ Use cloud saving: OneDrive/SharePoint maintains version history
- ✔ Avoid force-closing Word during file operations
- ✔ Regularly update Office (File > Account > Update Options)
If the file contains critical data, consider professional recovery tools like Stellar Repair for Word. For recurring issues, check the hard drive for errors (chkdsk /f).
