File Corruption & Recovery

How to Fix Unreadable Content and Changed Icons in Word Documents

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user encounters an 'unreadable content' error when opening a document, and after running the automatic repair, custom icon-style bullets are incorrectly converted into standard numbers.

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Opening a document stored locally or on cloud platforms like SharePoint and OneDrive, potentially after an autosave or add-in conflict.
Observed behavior: Word displays an unreadable content prompt due to corrupted document XML and strips formatting during the repair process, altering the bullet icons.

Before you start

Before attempting repairs, locate your document in File Explorer, copy it to a safe local folder, and check your Microsoft 365 account settings to note your current build version (e.g., 16.0.18429.20158).

Solution 1Recommended

Open the Document Directly Through the Desktop Application

Bypass potential file-association or environment issues by launching Word first and manually browsing for the local file.

Opening files directly from File Explorer can sometimes trigger file-association errors or unsupported format prompts if the XML is slightly corrupted.

Launch Microsoft Word

Open the Windows desktop version of Microsoft Word before attempting to open the corrupted file.

Navigate to Browse

Click on 'File' in the top-left ribbon, select 'Open' from the left sidebar, and click on 'Browse'.

Open the Local File

Navigate to the folder containing the local copy of your document, select the file, and click 'Open' to safely trigger the built-in repair process.

Solution 2

Disable Conflicting Add-ins and Save Locally

Prevent third-party add-ins from corrupting document XML during the autosave process, especially when collaborating via Word Online or Mac.

Solution 3

Update Microsoft 365 or Contact Support

Resolve widespread XML corruption issues caused by specific, bugged Microsoft 365 updates.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Smooth, Error-Free Document Editing

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Excellent compatibility with Microsoft Word formats (.docx, .doc, .rtf).Lightweight architecture minimizes the risk of autosave crashes and XML corruption.Familiar user interface ensuring a zero-learning-curve transition.Completely free to use for daily document processing and formatting tasks.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word say my document has unreadable content?

This error generally occurs when the document's underlying XML code becomes corrupted. It is often triggered by unsupported file types, file-association problems, or conflicts with third-party add-ins during the background autosave process.

Why do my bullet points turn into numbers after Word repairs the document?

When Word performs an automated repair on corrupted XML, it strips out problematic custom formatting to salvage the text data. This safety mechanism frequently results in custom icon-style bullets reverting to default numbered lists or standard dots.

Can I recover the original formatting of my corrupted Word document?

Once Word permanently alters the bullets during repair, the best way to recover the exact formatting is to restore a previous version of the file from OneDrive, SharePoint's version history, or a local backup made before the XML corruption occurred.

How do I prevent XML corruption in Word documents?

To minimize corruption risks, keep Microsoft Office fully updated, disable unstable third-party add-ins via the File > Options > Add-ins menu, and avoid simultaneously editing highly complex documents across Word Online and the desktop application.

Document & File Issues