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How to repair a corrupted Word document [Easy Fix]
7 min. read
Updated onAugust 7, 2024
updated onAugust 7, 2024
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Loss of data from a Word document can be frustrating often. It is not nice to lose hours of work due to a power outage or a system error that can compromise your document.
But Microsoft foresaw this problem and provided to the Office suite a few features for retrieval of the information from a corrupted file. In this article, we will show you how to find out if a file is corrupted and how you can recover the data from it.
Find out if the file is damaged
If a file can be opened does not mean it is not affected. You must search for any imperfection or alteration of your text. The most common signs that a Word document is affected are:
Do not rush to solve the problem with this file. These errors may be due to the system (loss of DLLs, accidental deletion of a file, and many more). To ensure there is not an error in your system, try to use other programs of the Office suite and checks behave the same.
Another method would be to install the entire suite to make sure that all files are installed correctly. If you have tried both methods and none has solved the problem then more than sure your file is affected.
This article also covers the following topics:
How do I repair a corrupt Word document?
1. How do I recover the data from damaged files?
1.1. Try third-party tools
The fastest method for fixing and recovering data from corrupted or damaged files has always been using third-party tools.
This is mainly because they are usually aimed to have a simplistic interface, and they are programmed to be extremely efficient at fulfilling their one purpose.
That’s precisely the case with Stellar Repair for Word which, as you can guess from the name, is specialized with handling broken word documents, both .doc, and .docx.
It is an extremely easy-to-use tool, allowing you to recover data or repair an entire word document in just a few clicks.
Stellar Repair for Word
1.2. The problem could be at the printer driver
Install a different driver.
Add a new printer.
Additionally, you could use a dedicated third-party driver updater likePC HelpSoft Driver Updater:
With this automated driver manager, you can find missing drivers automatically and optimize your PC with the latest versions of any driver.
1.3. Change the document template
Find out what is your document template.
This command will show you what template is used by your document.
Your document template is Normal
Your document template is not Normal
After rebooting the computer, the problem should disappear and you should have access to the data from that file.
1.4. Run Word using default settings
1.5. Use theOpen and Repairfeature of Microsoft Word
1.6. Convert the document to Rich Text Format and after converting it back to Word
If this method doesn’t work try to convert the document intoPlain Text format (.txt)orWeb Page format (.html)but in this case you will lose pagination and design elements.
1.7. Copy all the information except the last paragraph to a new document
Create a new document.
Copy the content of the damaged document.
Try to copy the unaffected structures from your original document to a new one.
2. How do I solve the problem if the document does not open?
2.1. Open the damaged document as a draft
2.2. Insert the document as a file in a new document
This method is available only for Microsoft Office 2010.
2.3. Use theRecover Text from Any Filefeature
Note that this function recovers only the text from a document. Pagination and design elements cannot be recovered.
By following these methods, you should be able to repair any damaged Word document, or at least recover the data that was on it.
Let us know which of these solutions and suggestions helped you by leaving us a message in the comments section below.
More about the topics:Microsoft Word issues
Madalina Dinita
Networking & Security Specialist
Madalina has been a Windows fan ever since she got her hands on her first Windows XP computer.
She is interested in all things technology, especially emerging technologies – AI and DNA computing in particular.
Prior to joining the WindowsReport team, she worked in the corporate world for a number of years.
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Madalina Dinita
Networking & Security Specialist
Madalina is a Windows fan since forever, especially interested in AI, emerging technologies, privacy, and security.
