We’ve all been there—trying to open a document in Word and getting that annoying error message: “This file can’t be previewed because of an error in the Microsoft Word previewer.” It’s like hitting a brick wall when you’re in a hurry. But fear not, we’ve got you covered.
One common fix is to temporarily turn off the “Protected View” for files originating from the internet. Navigate to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Protected View and uncheck the setting. But let’s be real, no one likes to mess with settings they don’t fully understand.
Another approach is to run the System File Checker (sfc /scannow) from the Command Prompt. This can help fix corrupted files that might be causing the issue. So, next time that previewer plays hard to get, try these tricks.
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How To Resolve The Microsoft Word Previewer Error
We’ve all been there: trying to preview a Word document only to be met with the frustrating message “This file can’t be previewed because of an error in the Microsoft Word Previewer.” Let’s dive into a few solutions to fix this.
Disable Protected View
First, we can try disabling Protected View for files from the internet. Be cautious, as this reduces security.
- Open Word
- Go to
File > Options - Navigate to
Trust Center > Trust Center Settings - Find Protected View and uncheck related boxes.
Repair Microsoft Office
Next, let’s attempt an Online Repair of Microsoft Office. This can often solve hidden issues.
- Right-click the Start button, select
Apps and Features - Find
Microsoft Office - Right-click, select
Change > Online Repair - Follow the prompts, then restart your device.
Update Word
Sometimes, updating Word fixes bugs that cause preview errors.
- Open Word
- Go to
File > Account > Update Options - Click
Update Now
Check File Specific Issues
If the issue persists, the problem might be file specific.
- Does this happen with all documents or just one?
- Can other applications preview files correctly?
Try Alternate Previewers
For some files, a different previewer could help. Adobe Acrobat for PDFs, for example, can bypass issues with Word’s previewer.
- Install/update Adobe Acrobat
- Right-click the file, select
Open With > Adobe Acrobat
| Step | Description | Action |
| Disable Protected View | Turn off Protected View settings in Word | Navigate through Word’s Options and Trust Center |
| Repair Microsoft Office | Online Repair of Office suite | Use Apps and Features to begin repair |
| Update Word | Check for updates to fix bugs | Use Word’s Update Options |
| Check File Specific Issues | Determine if issue is file-specific | Test with other files/apps |
| Try Alternate Previewers | Use different software for previewing | Example: Adobe Acrobat for PDFs |
Hoping these methods help us resolve that pesky Microsoft Word Previewer error! 🛠️
Common Causes Of Microsoft Word Previewer Errors
Corrupted Files
Files can get corrupted, causing the error message to appear. This happens if the file wasn’t saved properly or got damaged during a transfer.
Incompatible Add-Ins
Word add-ins can sometimes conflict with the previewer or other installed software, leading to errors in Microsoft Word.
Outdated Software
Using an outdated version of Microsoft Word or Windows may cause preview errors. Regular updates help avoid this issue.
Insufficient Permissions
If we don’t have the right permissions for a file or folder, Word might struggle to preview it.
Large File Sizes
Large Word documents can be troublesome for the previewer. Sometimes, the size simply overwhelms the system.
Antivirus Software
Our antivirus software might flag Word files or interfere with the previewer, thinking the file is harmful.
| Cause | Description | Example |
| Corrupted Files | Files that are broken or incomplete | A partially downloaded document |
| Incompatible Add-Ins | Add-ins that don’t work well | Old third-party template |
| Outdated Software | Old versions of Word or Windows | Word 2013 on Windows 10 |
| Insufficient Permissions | Lacking access rights to files | Shared folder with no edit rights |
Steps To Troubleshoot The Error
We’ve all been there—trying to preview a Word document and getting hit with that pesky error message. Let’s walk through troubleshooting steps together.
Step 1: Disable Protected View
Sometimes, the protected view setting can stop previews.
- Open Word.
- Go to File > Options > Trust Center.
- Click Trust Center Settings.
- Go to Protected View.
- Uncheck options related to files from the internet.
Step 2: Try Another File
Is it just one file or all files having issues?
- Open a few different Word documents.
- Check if the preview works for any of them.
- If other files open fine, the problem might be with that specific document.
Step 3: Enable Preview Pane
Ensure the preview pane is enabled.
- Open File Explorer.
- Click the View tab.
- Select Preview Pane.
Step 4: Open and Repair
The document might be corrupted.
- Open Word.
- Click File > Open.
- Navigate to the problematic file.
- Click the drop-down arrow next to Open button.
- Select Open and Repair.
Step 5: Update Microsoft Office
Sometimes, updates resolve these errors.
- Go to File > Account.
- Click Update Options.
- Select Update Now.
Step 6: Reinstall Office
If none of the above work, reinstalling Office might help.
- Go to Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall a program.
- Select Microsoft Office.
- Click Uninstall and follow the prompts.
- Reinstall from your Office 365 account.
Extra Tip: Check Other Apps
Is it only Word? Check PowerPoint and Excel too. If they all fail, it might be an issue with your Office installation.
Checking The File Format
It’s crucial to check the file format when troubleshooting the error in the Microsoft Word previewer. Different formats can sometimes trip up the preview feature.
First, let’s take a look at the most common formats:
| File Format | Extension | Description |
| Word Document | .docx | Newer and more efficient |
| Word 97-2003 Document | .doc | Older format |
| Rich Text Format | .rtf | Universal but basic |
| Portable Document Format | Usually read-only |
If the file is in a format other than .docx or .doc, it might be worth converting it. Sometimes, the issue comes from the way the file was saved. We can use the “Save As” feature to save it in a different format and check if that solves the issue.
When we open the file in Word, we can use the “Save As” dialog box:
- Click File in the menu.
- Select Save As.
- Choose a format from the dropdown menu.
- Save the new file.
If we still can’t preview the file, another thing to consider is whether the file is too complex. Files with lots of images, charts, and other embedded objects can cause problems. In that case, try simplifying the file by removing some of these elements.
We’ve also noticed that enabling editing can make a difference. If you manage to see the preview after enabling editing, it might mean there are protective or read-only settings affecting the preview.
Checking the file format is a small but often crucial step. It can save us a lot of headaches down the road.