Encountering a "Word experienced an error trying to open the file" message can be incredibly frustrating. Fortunately, Microsoft Word offers built-in solutions, including the text recovery converter, designed to salvage your valuable data. This article will guide you through using the text recovery converter in various Word versions (2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021) and introduce an alternative solution using the EaseUS file repair tool.
The text recovery converter is a built-in utility in Microsoft Office Word that extracts readable text from damaged or corrupted documents. It helps restore unreadable files to a usable format, which is especially helpful after system breakdowns, power outages, or other technical issues. This Word feature can be a lifesaver when your documents become inaccessible.
The process for accessing the text recovery converter varies slightly depending on your version of Microsoft Word. Here's a step-by-step guide for each:
These versions share a similar method for accessing the text recovery converter:
Open Microsoft Word: Double-click any Word document or search for "Word" in the Windows search box.
Go to File: In the top left corner, click on "File."
Open: Select "Open" in the left-hand menu. Then choose "Computer" > "Browse".
Select the Corrupted File: Locate the corrupted document. Before clicking "Open", click the “All Files (*.*)" drop-down box and choose “Recover Text from Any File. (*.*)”.
Word 2019 and 2021 offer an "Open and Repair" option, alongside the text recovery converter:
Launch Word: Double-click the Microsoft Word icon on your desktop.
Go to File: Click the "File" tab at the top of the window.
Open: Select the "Open" tab, and then click "Browse".
Locate and Select the File: In the File Explorer window, find the corrupted document and select it. You'll see a few drop-down boxes.
While Microsoft Word's built-in tools can handle many corruption issues, severely damaged files may require a more robust solution. This is where professional third-party document repair tools like EaseUS Fixo come in handy.
EaseUS Fixo is a user-friendly software designed to repair seriously corrupted MS Word documents (DOC/DOCX) created in Word 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. It also supports other Microsoft Office files like Excel and PowerPoint, and can even repair corrupted videos and photos. The software can recover files from local disks, external hard drives, USB flash drives, and SD cards, and is compatible with Windows and macOS.
Key Features:
How to Use EaseUS Fixo:
Recovering a corrupt Word file can be a stressful experience, but Microsoft Word provides tools to help. By utilizing the text recovery converter or the "Open and Repair" option, you can often retrieve valuable content. For more severe corruption issues, consider using a dedicated repair tool like EaseUS Fixo for a more comprehensive solution. Remember to identify your Microsoft Office product version to select the appropriate recovery method.
By following these steps, you'll be well-equipped to tackle Word file corruption and minimize data loss.
