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Cannot Open Word Documents

Starting last night, whenever I try to open a Word document or try to create a new one, a box appears that talks about choosing an app that I want to use in order to open my documents.  Please help!  I've not done anything to update or change anything as far as I know, and it could end up in a crisis situation if I can't access my documents soon.

Hello Caroline,

To help you better, we would require the exact message which appears when you try to access the documents or create a new document.

Also let us know if the issue persists only with Word program or with all Office 2013 applications?

Do you have any option to discard or proceed further in the message window?

Reply with detailed information which will help us to analyze and assist you in better way.

Thank you.

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Open your Word program first and then open the documents. Or, were you using a trial version of Word that is no longer working? If as you say it could be a “crisis situation” and Word is not working properly, you can try opening them with WordPad.

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Try repairing the Office installation. See http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/repair-office-programs-HA010357402.aspx?CTT=1.
Stefan Blom
Microsoft 365 Word MVP since 2005
Volunteer Moderator (Office)
MS 365, Win 11 Pro
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Please note that I do not work for Microsoft
MVP program info: https://mvp.microsoft.com/
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Seems like the default program to open your word files is not set. 

First, test if your Word program runs fine. If you can open Word from programs or typing Winword into Run, that means that the problem lies within the file and connection with program.

Go to file properties 

Right click on file , go to properties.

further, in front of Open with, Click on change, and locate MS word as default program to open such files. Revert back if this works

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Question Info

Last updated October 5, 2021 Views 175 Applies to: