How to repair corrupted MS Word files in Windows?

 

A damaged document or a software issue?

A Word document can become corrupted for several reasons that will prevent you from opening it. This behavior may be related to damage to the document or to the template on which the document is based. This behavior might include the following:

·         Repeatedly renumbers the existing pages in the document

·         Repeatedly redoes the page breaks in the document

·         Incorrect document layout and formatting

·         Unreadable characters on the screen

·         Error messages during processing

·         A computer that stops responding when you open the file

·         Any other unexpected behavior that cannot be attributed to the typical operation of the program

Sometimes, this behavior can be caused by factors other than document damage. It is important to determine whether the document is damaged or whether the problem is a software issue. To eliminate these other factors, follow these steps:

1.       Look for similar behavior in other documents. Try to open other Word documents to see whether the same problem occurs. If they open correctly, then the problem might be with the Word document.

2.       Look for similar behavior in other Microsoft Office programs. If this is the case, then the issue might be with another application or the operating system.

If any of these steps indicate that the problem is not in the document, you will then have to troubleshoot Word, the Office suite, or the operating system that is running on the computer.

Recovery Methods
If you have a corrupted Microsoft Word file in Windows, you can try the following methods to repair it:

1.       Open and Repair: Start by launching Microsoft Word and then click on "File" in the top menu. Choose "Open" and locate the corrupted file. Click on the drop-down arrow next to the "Open" button, and select "Open and Repair." This option attempts to repair the file automatically.

2.       Use the Document Recovery feature: If the "Open and Repair" method doesn't work, you can try accessing the Document Recovery feature. Open Microsoft Word, click on "File," and then choose "Open." Navigate to the location of the corrupted file. In the file type dropdown menu at the bottom of the dialog box, select "Recover Text from Any File (.)" and then select your corrupted file. Word will try to recover the text from the file.

3.       Copy content to a new document: If the above methods fail, you can try copying the content from the corrupted file and pasting it into a new Word document. Open a new Word document, select the corrupted file, and copy the text and any salvageable content. Paste the content into the new document and save it.

4.       Change the template: Determine the template, which is used by the corrupted document. Rename the global template (Normal.dotm). Change the document template and verify if the new template works properly.

5.       Change the document format, and return it back to Word: Open the document and save it in a different from Word format. Open the document again and convert it back to the Word file format.

6.       Use third-party file repair tools: There are various third-party tools available that specialize in repairing corrupted Word files. These tools may be able to recover more data or fix more complex issues. Some popular options include DataNumen Word Repair, Stellar Repair for Word, and SysTools Word Recovery, among others. Ensure you download such tools from reputable sources and follow their instructions for repairing the corrupted file.

Remember to create a backup copy of the corrupted file before attempting any repairs or modifications. Additionally, if you're unable to repair the file using the above methods, you may need to consider seeking professional help or consulting Microsoft support for further assistance.

Preventing file corruption in the future

Problems with file corruption typically happen when the file is stored on a USB device that is disconnected while the device is open in Windows. You can prevent damaging files by using the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the Windows taskbar. If you don't see the icon, click the up-arrow in the notification area to show hidden icons.

In the event of a crash or loss of power, you can recover a previous version of your file if you turned on the Autorecover feature in Office.

If you're running Microsoft 365 storing your files on OneDrive and using AutoSave can help to protect your changes.