SharePoint Document Issues

Fix SharePoint 2016 Cannot Open Office Documents in Chrome Browser

Natalie Taylor Sep 25, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users are unable to open Office documents directly within the Chrome browser using SharePoint Server 2016, as the system prompts them to open files in local Microsoft Word.

How to Fix SharePoint 2016 Not Opening Office Documents in a Browser

Product: SharePoint Server 2016
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to view or edit an Office document directly in the web browser through a SharePoint 2016 library.
Observed behavior: The browser displays an error asking the user to open the document in Microsoft Word. The file can be opened locally, and this issue is confirmed across multiple computers.

Before you start

Ensure that your Office Online Server (OOS) is properly deployed and running on your network, as SharePoint Server 2016 strictly relies on it to render documents in the browser.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify Office Online Server (OOS) WOPI Bindings

Since SharePoint 2016 relies on an external Office Online Server to display documents online, checking the WOPI bindings is the primary troubleshooting step.

SharePoint Server 2016 requires a configured Office Online Server farm to provide web-based viewing and editing capabilities. If these bindings are broken or missing, the browser will force users to use a local client.

Open SharePoint Management Shell

Check current WOPI bindings

Run the command 'Get-SPWOPIBinding' to verify if the server bindings for your Office Online Server exist.

Recreate the bindings if missing

If no bindings are returned, execute 'New-SPWOPIBinding -ServerName <YourOOSServerName>' to re-establish the connection, then test opening a document in Chrome.

Verify Office Online Server (OOS) WOPI Bindings

Administrative Access Required: You must have Farm Administrator privileges to execute WOPI binding commands in the Management Shell.

Solution 2

Seek Assistance on Microsoft Q&A

If the WOPI bindings are correct and the issue persists across the farm, escalate the issue to Microsoft's specialized server support community.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Edit Office Documents Locally with WPS Office

If your SharePoint web viewer is experiencing downtime, you can easily download your files and edit them locally using WPS Office. It is a lightweight, highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office that is free to use.

1. Download the software: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installer for your operating system.
2. Install WPS Office: Run the setup file and follow the quick installation prompts to deploy the suite on your device.
3. Open your SharePoint files: Download the problematic document from your SharePoint library and open it instantly in WPS Office to continue your work.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx).Lightweight software that installs quickly and runs smoothly on older devices.Familiar user interface ensures a seamless migration with zero learning curve.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does SharePoint 2016 prompt me to open files in Word instead of the browser?

This usually occurs when the Office Online Server is disconnected, misconfigured, or its security certificates have expired. Without it, SharePoint defaults to requesting a local desktop client like Microsoft Word to open the document.

Does this document viewing error only affect Google Chrome?

While the error is commonly noticed in Chrome, underlying server configuration failures or missing WOPI bindings will generally prevent documents from opening in any modern browser, including Microsoft Edge and Firefox.

Can I use WPS Office to edit documents downloaded from SharePoint?

Yes, WPS Office is highly compatible with Microsoft Office formats. You can download the problematic file from your SharePoint library and edit it locally using WPS Office without experiencing any formatting loss.

Document & File Issues