How to Fix PowerPoint Found a Problem With the Content

"Encountered the 'PowerPoint found a problem with the content' error? If restarting didn't fix it, try these solutions to get back to work."

1 Review Security Settings

Malfunction of PowerPoint Content

In case you get errors when trying to open some PowerPoint files in Windows, Windows Protected Views most probably has misidentified the said files as potential security threats.

To remedy the situation:

Scan the file. Use Microsoft Defender to scan the file in question to check for any malicious content.

Turn off Protected Views (temporarily):

Launch PowerPoint

Select Options

Under Trust Center select Trust Center Settings

Under Protected View, deselect Enable Protected View for files originating from the Internet and Enable Protected View for files located in potentially unsafe locations.   

Select OK

Open file once again

Note: In general, turning off saved views is considered a security risk, so don't forget to turn both of these items back on once this problem is rectified.

An alternative way is to Add the document to Trusted Locations

Open PowerPoint and navigate to the Options.

Now, Trust Centre > Trust Centre Settings

Trusted Locations

Insert the location of where the file is kept

For Mac:

open System, and click on Security and Privacy > Click on the lock icon to unlock then click Open Anyway

Close and Launch PowerPoint

Ensure this file checkbox: right-click over the file > Get Info. Ensure that "Locked" Is not checked.

2. Troubleshoot the Presentation

First off, see if it's a corrupt file that's causing the content error. Open your PowerPoint presentation on another computer. If that doesn't work, try and repair the file.

In Windows: Open PowerPoint, click "Open," and then click on "Open." Click on the presentation, expand the "Open" dropdown menu, and click "Open and repair."

Mac users: If you're familiar with Disk Utility, you might be able to repair a corrupted file. Open Disk Utility (Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility) and execute the "First Aid" feature on the disk where your file resides. It will scan for the errors existing on that disk and suggest fixes.

Note: Always ensure backing up your disk before running disk repair to avoid losing important data.

3 Restore an Older Version

If the above tools could not repair your corrupted file, then not to worry—maybe there is a previous version waiting to be restored.

Windows users: Review your File History. This is a Windows utility which might only have a copy of your file, but maybe better than nothing. To find this utility, click Settings > Update & Security > Backup. Select the file and an earlier point in time to restore it from. If the File History option is not enabled, enable it now at least to save the files you'll be saving in the future.  

Other option: Right-click the corrupted file in File Explorer, click "Show more options," then "Restore previous versions."

Mac users: Time Machine can save your life. Open the folder with your file in it in Finder, then open Time Machine. Click on the presentation; if there is a backup, you can restore the file.

4 Download or Move the File Location

"If you have content error problems with a PowerPoint presentation, the source of the problem might be where you have placed the file. Sometimes cloud-based storage or temporary file systems present a problem.

If you collected the presentation via email, re-collect the presentation and save it to a local location on your device. This could be your Downloads folder, Desktop, or perhaps a folder set up specifically for the project.

In the case where you have Google Drive for Desktop or a similar setup that has synchronized folders, look for the .ppt or .pptx file and drag it from the cloud to the local drive, and proceed to open it to view.

5 Open and Export From Another Program

If you're having trouble opening up a PowerPoint presentation, you can open it in a compatible program. The likes of Keynote and even Google Slides do an incredibly good job of importing a PowerPoint presentation. Simply log into your Google Drive, create a new Google Slides presentation, and import your PowerPoint file. It will be uploaded to Google Slides and converted to their proprietary format. You can, of course, pick up where you left off or download/re-export your work as a PowerPoint file. If you have a Mac, you have a similar option in Keynote for opening and working with PowerPoints.

6 Update Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 applications may function poorly if they are not updated. Please ensure your applications are up-to-date for the best experience.

To update on Windows:

1. Open any Microsoft 365 application.

2. Tap Account > Microsoft 365 and Office Updates.

3. Tap "Update now."

Update on a Mac:

1. Open a Microsoft 365 app.

2. Go to Help > Check for Updates.

3. Select "Automatically keep Microsoft apps up to date" for easier settings next time.

If errors occur in the course of updates, follow troubleshooting measures related to error code 30015-26.

These steps will help you correct the error when most of the time PowerPoint found a problem with the content, which is generally due to synchronization problems or file corruptions. After the updating of the application or the error correction, you may concentrate on creating a stunning presentation with PowerPoint.

This has been our tutorial on How to Repair PowerPoint Found a Problem with the Content, so we're expecting to have helped as much as possible in helping you fix the problem.