File Cannot Open

How to Fix Blank Word and Excel Documents on Windows 10

Aamir Naveed Akram Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

Word and Excel documents are opening blank without displaying content after enabling OneDrive backup or reinstalling an older Office version.

How to Fix Blank Word and Excel Documents on Windows 10

Product: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft 365
Device & OS: Windows 10
Scenario: Attempting to open existing DOCX or XLSX files after a system change, OneDrive synchronization, or Microsoft Office reinstallation.
Observed behavior: The documents open completely blank, and Microsoft 365 may fail to appear as an option in the 'Open With' context menu.

Before you start

Before making any changes to your Office installations, copy your affected DOCX and XLSX files to a safe local folder or external drive to prevent accidental data loss during troubleshooting.

Solution 1Recommended

Check the File Size in Properties

Verify if the document actually contains data or if it is genuinely empty, which helps determine if this is a display issue or data loss.

Sometimes files open blank because they contain no data. An empty DOCX file is typically around 11 KB, while an empty XLSX file is roughly 11.8 KB. Checking the file size is the first step to diagnosing the problem.

Open File Explorer

Navigate to the folder containing the blank Word or Excel documents.

Open File Properties

Right-click on the affected DOCX or XLSX file and select 'Properties' from the context menu.

Verify File Size

Look at the 'Size' attribute. If the file is extremely small (around 11 KB), the document likely contains little to no data. If the size is significantly larger, the data is intact, but the Office program is failing to display it.

Test with Another Application: If the file size indicates there is data, try opening a copy of the file on another computer or with an alternative office suite to confirm the data is still there.

Solution 2

Remove Conflicting Word 2010 Installations

Uninstall older versions of Office that may be conflicting with Microsoft 365 file associations.

Solution 3

Perform an Online Repair of Microsoft 365

Run a built-in repair tool to fix corrupted Microsoft 365 files and restore the missing 'Open With' options.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Open and Recover Blank Documents with WPS Office

If your Microsoft 365 installation is corrupted or struggling with file associations, you can use WPS Office to instantly verify, open, and edit your DOCX and XLSX documents. It functions flawlessly on Windows without interfering with your existing setup.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and click 'Free Download' to get the installer.
2. Install the Software: Run the installer and follow the quick on-screen instructions to set up WPS Office on your Windows 10 PC.
3. Open Your Files: Right-click your blank DOCX or XLSX file, select 'Open With', and choose WPS Office to view your document's contents.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (DOCX) and Excel (XLSX) formatsHelps you instantly verify if your files contain data or if Microsoft Office is the problemLightweight installation that avoids software conflicts on Windows 10Free to use with a familiar, easy-to-navigate tabbed interface

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Microsoft 365 missing from the 'Open With' menu?

This usually happens when file associations are corrupted or when multiple versions of Office (like Word 2010 and Microsoft 365) are installed on the same computer. Running an Online Repair for Microsoft 365 typically restores the missing context menu options.

How can I tell if my DOCX or XLSX file is actually completely empty?

Right-click the file and select Properties to check its size. An entirely empty Word document is usually around 11 KB, and an empty Excel file is about 11.8 KB. If the size is significantly larger, the data is likely still inside, but the software is failing to display it.

Can OneDrive backup cause my Office documents to open blank?

Yes, if OneDrive is syncing files while you try to open them, or if the sync was interrupted, Office might struggle to load the file contents correctly. Pausing OneDrive syncing or downloading a local copy of the file can resolve this.

Document & File Issues