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Summary: Word document corruption issues are common and easily resolvable. At times, users face a situation when they need their file, but it cannot be opened due to corruption. Our blog outlines different ways to counter this issue. From an easy open and repair option to using a professional utility like Kernel for Word Repair, follow our lead and get your document corruption issues sorted out in no time.

Even with the years of tech advancement, there is no such replacement possible for Microsoft Word, and it is the best document processing and drafting platform for freelancers, SMEs and large-scale organizations. But as errors prevail, your Word document corruption can become a major issue and hamper your work productivity.

Word file corruption is a mess and needs immediate resolution or is there another way out to open corrupt word doc and docx files? Without effective repair, you can also access the corrupted Word file. Our blog will assist you with everything you need to know about opening corrupt Word files along with a top repair professional solution that effectively fixes any Word corruption issues with ease.

Inside

MS Word is one amongst the most used applications, which holds content for different requirements.

File corruption is a prevalent concern, particularly when dealing with software tools such as Microsoft Word. Even documents created using Word 2016, despite their compatibility, are not immune to corruption. Numerous factors can contribute to corruption, posing a potential threat to both the document itself and the valuable data it contains.

In this article, we have compiled a set of techniques for opening corrupted Word DOC and DOCX files. Additionally, we provide professional tips on how to identify corrupt and damaged Word documents effectively.

At the outset, users often prefer manual methods for recovering Word documents, avoiding the need for downloading and installing additional software or dedicated tools. However, as mentioned earlier, Microsoft Word may lack comprehensive recovery capabilities. Nonetheless, there are still some approaches you can explore.

Repair corrupt Word files with Open and Repair feature

The feature ‘Open and Repair’ which is present in MS Word, first repairs minor issues in the file and then opens it.

Below given are the steps to try to repair corrupt or damaged Word document using MS Word itself:

  1. Open Microsoft Word 2016.
  2. Click on Open Other Documents at the bottom left.
    Click on Open Other Documents
  3. Click Browse.
    Click on Browse
  4. Inside the Open file window, select the Word file, click on the drop-down, and select Open and Repair.
    Select Open and Repair
    Note: Microsoft Word will attempt to repair the document, wait for the process to complete.
Using Read only option

At times, you might also get a pop-up error quoting, “Word experienced an error trying to open the file…”. To counter this error, follow the steps below and open your unreadable corrupted file.

  • Right-click on the Word file and tap on Properties.
  • From the General tab, uncheck the Read-Only box and hit OK.
  • Try to access your Word file on your PC.

Moreover, you can also use a previous version of the document via Version History option. Here is how.

  • Access the file in OneDrive and tap on the file title.
  • Click on Version History and choose a version to open it.Click on Version History
  • Tap on Restore to get back to that document version.Restore

Tips to find corrupt or damaged Word documents

While resolving corrupt files is undeniably crucial, it’s equally vital to promptly identify corrupted documents for timely fixes. Before delving into our mission to assist you in overcoming corruption issues, let’s first illuminate some professional tips to aid you in recognizing whether a Word document is indeed corrupt or damaged.

What to check in your Word document?

When Microsoft Word documents become corrupted, they often exhibit unusual behavior. You can investigate potential corruption by checking for the following indicators when a document is open:

  • The numbering of existing pages repeats in the document.
  • Continuous page break in the document.
  • Wrong document layout and formatting.
  • Error message pop on-screen while processing.
  • The system stops responding when you open the document.
  • Unreadable characters fall on-screen.
  • Word documents exhibit other strange behavior unlike the normal operation.

Cross-check with other Word documents and Microsoft programs

Other factors can indeed lead to strange behavior in documents, similar to the indicators mentioned above. To eliminate these potential factors, consider implementing the following points:

  • Check if other documents are showing the same strange behavior.
  • It is possible that Office programs other than Microsoft Word can display the same strange behavior; so, look for the same.

If any of the aforementioned conditions prove to be true, consider them as valuable clues confirming that a document is indeed damaged. Consequently, you may encounter difficulties in opening the Word file within the program as expected.

Microsoft Word and other similar programs often lack robust capabilities for repairing or resolving errors and issues in documents. As a result, users are left with little choice but to resort to third-party Word file repair software for effective solutions.

Third-party software can be characterized as dedicated and professional tools designed specifically to address associated errors and problems. To address the issue of MS Word document corruption, we recommend using Kernel for Word Repair.
Word Repair software

Advanced tool to repair corrupt or damaged Word DOC and DOCX files

Below steps are given to help guide you on how to open corrupt word DOC and DOCX files with ease:

    1. Launch Kernel for Word Repair tool.
  1. Click on Add File(s) button to select the corrupt or damaged MS Word document. Click on Repair File(s).
    Click on Repair File
    Note: The tool enables you to select more than one damaged Word document.
  2. It is necessary to close all running instances of MS Word in the background before Kernel for Word Repair starts proceeding next and click Ok.
    Select multiple Wrod file
  3. Select a file save location and click Ok.
    Click ok
  4. Wait for the repair and recovery process to complete.
    Wait to complete the process
    Note: You can stop the progress at any moment in case something goes wrong, or you want to select a different Word document.
  5. Click Ok.
    Click Ok
  6. Click on the hyperlink given in the window to open the file (or navigate manually); else, click Ok.
    Process done

Conclusion

With our stepwise and detailed guidance related to accessing corrupt Word files, we hope you are no longer stuck with Word-related corruption issues. Following our steps, you can recover your documents with ease. Moreover, for severe issues with Word, we have recommended Kernel for Word Repair tool. Its top-notch algorithms, easy to use interface and no data loss features make it a no brainer when looking to counter Word corruption issues. Get your hands on the trial version today.

Kernel for Word Repair