Excel or Word Won't Open? How to Open Old Microsoft Office Files

What should you do if Word or Excel opens blank (or not at all)?

Updated on October 21, 2021

What to Know

Make sure file blocking settings are disabled: File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > File Blocking Settings.
If the file is damaged, go to File > Open, select the file, then choose Open and Repair from the drop-down menu.
Reset file associations: In Control Panel, select Programs > Default Programs > Set Your Default Programs > Set Defaults by App.

Even with changes in Office versions and file formats, you should be able to open and work on older files in Microsoft Word and Excel. However, if Word or Excel won't open, or if either opens with a blank file, you might need to change settings or make repairs. These instructions apply to Microsoft Word and Excel for Microsoft 365 and Word and Excel versions 2019, 2016, 2013, and 2010.

File Block Settings

If you have certain file block settings enabled, you will not be able to open or edit older MS Office files. Checking these settings and changing them if necessary could resolve your issues.

If Open is selected in File Block settings, the program blocks the file type and prevents it from opening (or opens it in protected view).

Select File.
Select Options at the bottom of the pane on the right. The Word Options or Excel Options window will open.
Select Trust Center in the left pane.
Select Trust Center Settings. The Trust Center window will open.
Select File Blocking Settings in the left pane.
Make sure the file type you want to open is not selected in the Open column.
Select any checked boxes to clear them.
Select OK to apply the changes.
Close the windows to return to Word or Excel and attempt to open the file.

Repair a Damaged File

If a file is corrupted, you might not be able to open it in Excel or Word. Using the Open and Repair tool could resolve this issue.

Open Excel or Word (depending on the program in which you are unable to open a file).
Select File > Open.
Navigate to the location where the damaged file is stored. Select the name of the file.
Select the drop-down arrow next to Open.
Select Open and Repair. If the program can repair the file, it will open.

Reset File Associations

If someone changed the default file association for Word or Excel files, the program might not open as expected when you try to open a file. Resetting these file associations can be a simple fix. The settings required to make these changes are in Windows.

Type Control Panel in the Windows Search box.
Select Control Panel in the list of search results. The Control Panel window will open.
Make sure you are viewing the Control Panel in Category View and choose Programs.
Select Default Programs.
Select Set Your Default Programs. The Settings window will open with Default Apps selected.
Select Set Defaults by App. A list of programs will open.
Scroll down to Word or Excel and select it.
Choose Manage.
Select the file type that is not associated with the MS Office program and choose the program you want to use to open that type of file.

Repair MS Office

In some cases, the reason Word or Excel won't open is because of a problem with the program itself. Repairing the program could be the best resolution.

Type Control Panel in the Windows Search box.
Select Control Panel in the list of search results. The Control Panel window will open.
Make sure you are viewing the Control Panel in Category View and choose Programs.
Select Uninstall a Program. The Uninstall or Change a Program window will open.
Select your version of Microsoft Office in the list of programs.
Select Change.
Select Online Repair and then choose Repair.
Restart your computer when the repair process is complete.
Double-click the Office file you want to open.

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