Ever have this error pop up: 'The file cannot be opened because there are problems with the contents' error message while trying access your office documents like .docx or .xml files? On this page, we have provided three solutions including EaseUS office file recovery software to help!
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There are three ways in all to fix 'The file cannot be opened because there are problems with the contents' problem. The table below is an overview of the solution, read detailed content for full steps.
| Workable Solutions | Step-by-step Troubleshooting |
|---|---|
| Fix 1. Use Open and Repair | Start Word. On the 'File' menu or the Microsoft Office button, click 'Open'. In the Open dialog box...Full steps |
| Fix 2. Use Google Doc | Send the corrupted Word file to your Gmail account. Click the attachment to open it in Google...Full steps |
| Fix 3. Use Word recovery tool | You can troubleshoot by using EaseUS disk data recovery to retrieve corrupted DOCX...Full steps |
'When I try to open a .docx file, Microsoft Word 2013 doesn't allow me to access the file and flashes an error message saying 'The file [.docx] cannot be opened because there are problems with the contents.' Clicking on the details, it displays an 'unspecified error'. Is there a way to recover the word document or its contents?'
Causes of the Error
There are many reasons to stop Microsoft Office from working correctly and saying the .docx or .xml file cannot be opened because there are problems with the contents. The following are the most common causes for Word file cannot be opened.
- Large sized files (Files are over 200kb threshold and contains non-text elements.)
- Old and new versions are not compatible
- Complicated functioning and advanced operations
- Corruption or damage of the storage media that used to save Word document
'The file cannot be opened because there are problems with the contents' Fixes
Getting error prompt, 'The file cannot be opened because there are problems with the contents' is quite common when you try to open your office documents like .docx or .xml files. In this page, we have created three solutions, including a third-party Word file recovery software to help! Now, you can opt for any solution accordingly.
Fix1. Use Open and Repair Feature
The Word built-in 'Open and Repair' feature can probably fix the issue or corruption that detected on the document.
Step 1. Start Word.
Step 2. On the 'File' menu or the Microsoft Office button, click 'Open'.
Step 3. In the Open dialog box, click to select the blank Word file.
Step 4. Click the down arrow on the 'Open' button, and then click 'Open and Repair'.
Fix2. Use Google Doc
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Step 1. Send the corrupted Word file to your Gmail account.
Step 2. Click the attachment to open it in the Google Docs previewer.
Step 3.Click 'Open With Google Docs'. The document should open and be viewable.
Step 4. Click 'File' > 'Download As' > 'Microsoft Word (.docx)'.
Step 5. Use Microsoft Word to open the document you just downloaded.
Fix3. Use Word Recovery Software
If the above two direct solutions don't work and the problem still exists when you open the Word document, you can continue troubleshooting with EaseUS disk data recovery to retrieve damaged or corrupted DOCX files of MS Office 2019/ 2016/ 2013/ 2010/ 2007. Apart from Word document, this tool also can help you recover deleted or lost Excel file, PPT/PPTS, HTML/HTML, PDF, and more.
Except for file recovery, EaseUS data recovery software is capable of recovering lost files from formatted disk/partition, emptied recycle bin, lost partition, damaged/corrupted hard drive, etc.
Don't miss: How to recover unsaved Word document on Windows 10
Step 1. Choose the Word file location.
Do you know where you lost Word files? If it's on a USB flash drive or SD card, connect it to your computer first. Choose the hard disk drive or a specific folder and click the San button.
Step 2. Scan all lost data.
The software will start immediately scanning all lost data on the selected drive, and you'll see more and more data showing up in the scan results. After the scan, click 'Filter' and choose 'Word' from the drop-down list to navigate the wanted Word documents.
Step 3. Select Word files and recover.
You're allowed to double-click and preview a Word file if you have Microsoft Word application installed on your computer. Finally, select the desired Word file and click 'Recover'.
-->Note
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Office 365 ProPlus is being renamed to Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise. For more information about this change, read this blog post.
Symptoms
When you try to start any Office for Mac applications (Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Entourage, or Microsoft Outlook for Mac) in Mac OS X 10.6.x (Snow Leopard), you receive the following error message:
Cause
This error occurs if the Office program was moved or duplicated.
Resolution
Step 1: Check the program path
When the error message is displayed, view the comments under 'Problem Details and System Configuration.'. Note the 'Path' that is listed in the error message, and then close the error message box. The path must be as follows:
Macintosh HDApplicationsMicrosoft Office 2008
Macintosh HDApplicationsMicrosoft Office 2011
If the path in the error message differs, you must move the application folder to its correction location. To do this, follow these steps:
- Locate the Office 2008 folder.
- Click to select the folder.
- On the Finder menu, click Edit, and then select Copy Microsoft Office 2008 or Copy Microsoft Office 2011.
- On the Finder menu, click Go, and then select Applications.
- On the Finder menu, click Edit, and then select Paste the Item.
- Start the Office program to see whether the problem is resolved.
If the problem continues to occur, there might be duplicate entries.
Step 2: Delete duplicate entries
To delete duplicate entries, follow these steps:
On the Finder menu, click File, and then click Find.
In the search box, type the program name, and then press Enter. For example, type Excel.
In the results, look for duplicate instances of the Excel icon. If there is only one icon, go to 'step 3'. If there are several Excel icons, select a duplicate icon. On the Finder menu, click File, and then select Move to Trash.
Empty the Trash.
Start the Office program. If the problem continues to occur, remove and then reinstall the Office program.
Step 3: Remove and then reinstall Office
Office 2011
To remove Office 2011, follow these steps:
- Quit all applications.
- In the Finder, click Go select Computer.
- Open your hard drive (Macintosh HD), then open the Application Folder.
- Click to select Microsoft Office 2011 drag and then drop it to the Trash.
- Reinstall Office for Mac 2011.
Office 2008
To remove Office 2008, follow these steps:
- Quits all applications.
- In the Finder, click Go, and then select Computer.
- Open Macintosh HD, then open the Applications folder.
- Open the Microsoft Office 2008 folder.
- Open the Additional Tools folder.
- Double-click the Remove Office file. The 'Remove Office' window will open.
- Click Continue.
- Follow the directions that are provided.
- Reinstall Office 2008 on your computer.