Simple Steps to Fix the Problem

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Outdated Word version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).

How to Fix "Word Experienced an Error Trying to Open the File"