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How to Fix PNG File Cannot Be Opened After Saving from Word
Question details
The user is unable to open a PNG file that was saved from Word, often encountering an encoding error message because the system is attempting to open the image file using a text editor or Word itself.
- Product
- Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to view a PNG image saved from a Word document or trying to open a PNG file directly from File Explorer.
- Observed behavior
- An error message appears asking to change the coding to make the file readable, or the file simply fails to open properly as an image.
Verify that the file extension is correctly labeled as .png and check the file properties to ensure the file size is greater than zero bytes, which indicates it was fully saved.
Open the PNG File Using a Default Image Viewer
Opening the file with a dedicated image application prevents the encoding errors that occur when Word attempts to read an image as a text document.
By default, word processors cannot open graphic files as standalone text documents. If double-clicking the file triggers an encoding error, your system might be mistakenly associating PNG files with Word.
Navigate to the folder containing your saved PNG file using File Explorer.
Right-click on the PNG file, hover over 'Open with', and select an image viewer such as 'Photos' or another installed graphics application.
If you want to permanently fix this, click 'Choose another app', select your image viewer, check the box for 'Always use this app to open .png files', and click OK.
Properly Insert the PNG File into a Word Document
If your goal is to use the image inside a document, you must insert it using the correct menu rather than trying to open the PNG directly as a Word file.
Re-save the Image to Prevent File Corruption
If the image file size shows as zero bytes or fails to open in any photo app, re-saving it ensures the file is fully downloaded and properly formatted.
Easily Manage Documents and Images with WPS Office
WPS Office provides a seamless, lightweight experience for editing documents and managing inserted images. You can effortlessly insert, save, and handle PNG files without frustrating format compatibility or encoding issues.
- 1. Download and install: Download WPS Office for free from the official website and install it on your device.
- 2. Create a document: Open WPS Writer and start a new document or open an existing one.
- 3. Insert your PNG: Go to the 'Insert' tab, click 'Picture', and select your PNG file to place it effortlessly into the document.
- 4. Extract images safely: To save an image out of the document, right-click it and choose 'Save as Picture' to export it without corruption.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Word ask me to change the coding when opening a PNG?
This happens if your computer is incorrectly set to open PNG files using a word processor instead of an image viewer. The word processor tries to read the binary image data as text, which results in a text encoding prompt.
Can I open a PNG file directly as a Word document?
No, word processors cannot open image files directly as standalone documents. Instead, you must open a document first and insert the PNG image into it using the Insert Picture tool.
What should I do if my saved PNG file size is zero bytes?
A zero-byte file indicates that the save process failed or was incomplete. Go back to the original source in your document, right-click the image, and try saving it again as a picture to a different local folder.
How do I change the default program for opening PNG files in Windows?
Right-click any PNG file in File Explorer, select 'Open with' > 'Choose another app'. Select your preferred image viewer (such as Windows Photos), check the box that says 'Always use this app to open .png files', and click OK.
