Fix “Word Experienced an Error Trying to Open the File”

Today I will tell you how to fix the error “Word experienced an error while trying to open the file”

The error “Word experienced an error while trying to open the file” prevents Microsoft Word from opening some documents, preventing you from accessing the contents of the documents. Many times, this is due to an error caused by the file itself being blocked from Word due to permissions or security settings, such as those opened from untrusted locations or downloaded from the Internet.

How to fix the error “Word experienced an error while trying to open the file”

The main reason could be Word’s Protected View, which aims to protect against risks associated with external files. Corruption of a file, use of older versions, and problematic add-ins will be other causes.

Now that you know what’s causing it, let’s look at some solutions.

1. Disable Protected View settings

This problem arises when Word’s Protected View doesn’t allow opening documents that come from untrusted sources. Disabling its settings may allow Word to open those documents that were incorrectly labeled.

Open Word and click on File in the top left corner.

Click on Options in the left pane.
Options to select Select Options from the left menu Click the left menu Trust Center and then click the right menu button Trust Center Settings
Click Trust Center Settings Select Protected View in the next dialog box.
Uncheck Protected View in Word Uncheck all the options related to Protected View settings and click OK to save your changes.

2. Add another trusted location

Creating a new trusted location in Word will allow you to mark folders as safe, which will allow Word to bypass security checks for files in those folders. This minimizes instances where Protected View interrupts you to ensure easy access to documents.

Open Word and click File in the upper left corner.

Click Options in the next window.
Go to the Trust Center in the left pane and click Settings under Trust Center.
Select Trusted Locations Click Add New Location and fill in the chosen location in the dialog box Click the Add New
Location button Verify that this location and all its subfolders are trusted Click OK.

3. Clear File

Restrictions Files downloaded from unknown sources can cause Word to become overly cautious and lock the file in a way that prevents access. By clearing the file, you inform the application that opening that particular file is safe and bypass the security settings that block it.

Right-click your file and select Properties.
From the Properties menu, select Security and click the Unlock checkbox.
Click Apply followed by OK to save the changes.

4. Repair Word File

Word file repair checks and fixes problems in the structure of the document. This procedure resolves minor corruption or problems that cause Word to detect a potential security risk. Repairing makes the file safe and accessible, without any data loss whatsoever, hence, trouble-free access in the future.

Open Word and select File from the ribbon menu.
Now click Open, select the location of your file, right-click on the file and click the drop-down arrow on the Open button and select Open and Repair.
Opening and Repairing Word Documents

5. Repair Microsoft Office

Sometimes problems with Microsoft Word are due to issues with the Office package as a whole: Repair Office replaces broken parts, rehabilitates functionality, and fixes errors such as locked files. It ensures the correct configuration of files and Word settings for restoration of normal file use.

Open the Start menu and search for “Add or Remove Programs.” Click on it in the results.

Find Office 365 in the list and click on it.
Select Modify and then click Quick Repair Click on Repair Click on the Quick Repair radio button
Once done, check if the problem has been fixed; If not, select Online Repair.

How to Fix “Word Experienced an Error Trying to Open the File”