File Cannot Open

How to Fix Word Cannot Open DOC or DOCX Files on Mac

Maira Mehtab Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users are unable to open specific DOC or DOCX files using Microsoft Word on Mac, encountering unexpected error messages regarding permissions, memory, or text-recovery.

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: Mac
Scenario: Attempting to open existing DOC or DOCX files stored in a specific folder on a Mac.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Word fails to open the files and instead displays errors related to permissions, memory, disk space, or text recovery, even when other documents in the same folder open normally.

Before you start

Before attempting any fixes or recovery methods, create a copy of the problematic DOC or DOCX files to a different location, such as your Desktop, to prevent any accidental data loss.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the 'Recover Text from Any File' Feature

This built-in Word feature attempts to bypass standard file reading protocols to extract raw text from corrupted or unrecognized files.

When Word displays memory, disk-space, or permission errors for a specific file while others open fine, it often indicates file corruption. The text recovery converter can salvage your written content even if the file structure is broken.

Open Microsoft Word

Launch Microsoft Word on your Mac without opening a specific document.

Access the Open Dialog

Click on 'File' in the top menu bar and select 'Open' to bring up the file browser.

Change File Type Settings

Locate the 'Enable' or 'Show' dropdown menu in the Open dialog box and change it from 'All Word Documents' to 'Recover Text from Any File'.

Open the Affected File

Select your problematic DOC or DOCX file and click 'Open'. Word will attempt to extract the text.

Formatting Loss Expected: This method recovers raw text but will strip away document formatting, images, and charts. You may also see unreadable characters at the beginning or end of the document, which you can manually delete.

Solution 2

Isolate the Issue by Testing Cloud Platforms

Test the file in a cloud environment like OneDrive to determine if the issue is a local Mac permission error or actual file corruption.

Open Documents with High Compatibility

Open and Edit DOC/DOCX Files Seamlessly with WPS Office

If Microsoft Word for Mac is throwing unexpected permission or memory errors, you can try opening your documents using WPS Office. It provides excellent compatibility with Microsoft formats and can sometimes bypass specific application errors.

1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office for Mac from the official website and install it on your computer.
2. Launch WPS Writer: Open the WPS Office application and select 'Docs' to launch the word processing module.
3. Open Your Document: Click on 'Menu' > 'Open', navigate to the folder containing your problematic DOC or DOCX files, and select the file to open it.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Word DOC and DOCX formatsLightweight architecture helps avoid common memory or disk-space errorsFree to use for essential reading, editing, and saving tasksFamiliar user interface makes it easy for Mac users to adapt quickly

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word on Mac say I don't have permission to open a file?

This error can occur due to strict MacOS sandbox restrictions, incorrect folder permissions, or file corruption. Often, Word misinterprets a corrupted file structure as a permission or disk-space issue.

Can I recover a DOCX file if it shows a memory or disk-space error?

Yes. These specific errors on Mac frequently indicate that the file is corrupted rather than your Mac actually running out of space. Using the 'Recover Text from Any File' feature in Word's Open dialog can usually extract your raw text.

Does moving the corrupted file to a different folder fix the issue?

Moving the file (for example, to your Desktop) can resolve genuine MacOS folder permission issues. However, if the file's internal data is corrupted, moving it to a new location will not resolve the opening error.

Why does my recovered Word file contain unreadable characters?

When you use text recovery tools, non-text elements like images, formatting codes, embedded objects, and macros are forcefully converted into plain text. This results in random or unreadable characters appearing alongside your actual content.

Document & File Issues