File Corruption & Recovery

How to Fix Word Found Unreadable Content Error in Multiple Documents

Khadija Khan Sep 28, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user is encountering a recurring error where Microsoft Word states it found unreadable content, preventing multiple documents from opening properly.

How to Fix 'Word Found Unreadable Content' Error in Multiple Documents

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to open existing Word documents across one or more devices.
Observed behavior: Word displays an error message stating 'Word found unreadable content' in the file. The software may prompt a recovery attempt, but frequently fails to open the documents or crashes entirely.

Before you start

Before attempting any recovery steps, make sure to create backup copies of your affected documents by copying and pasting them into a new folder to prevent accidental data loss.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Word's Open and Repair Feature

This is the best method for fixing minor file corruption directly within Microsoft Word without altering external settings.

Microsoft Word includes a built-in diagnostic tool designed to scan documents for formatting errors and automatically repair corrupted components during the opening process.

Launch Microsoft Word

Open the Microsoft Word application on your computer. Do not open the document directly by double-clicking it.

Navigate to the Open menu

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

Select the corrupted file

Locate the folder containing the affected document and click on the file once to highlight it.

Execute Open and Repair

Click the small drop-down arrow next to the 'Open' button at the bottom right of the dialog box, and select 'Open and Repair'. Wait for Word to process and restore the file.

Save a fresh copy: Once the document successfully opens, immediately go to 'File' > 'Save As' and save it as a new file to prevent future corruption.

Solution 2

Adjust Trust Center and Macro Settings

Use this solution if the unreadable content error is triggered by strict macro security blocks or untrusted file locations.

Solution 3

Repair or Reinstall Microsoft Office

Perform a software repair if the unreadable content error affects all your documents, which indicates a problem with the Office installation itself.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Seamless and Error-Free Experience

If Microsoft Word continues to crash or display unreadable content errors, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a lightweight, free alternative that offers exceptional compatibility with Word documents without the heavy installation footprint or frustrating update bugs.

1. Download the installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded setup file and follow the brief on-screen instructions to install the suite.
3. Open the problematic file: Right-click your unreadable Word document, select 'Open with', and choose WPS Office Writer to safely access your content.

Highly compatible with all Microsoft Word formats, including .docx, .doc, and .rtf.Lightweight architecture prevents sluggish performance and unexpected application crashes.Familiar user interface makes migrating completely effortless without a learning curve.Powerful built-in file reading capabilities often allow it to open corrupted documents that MS Word rejects.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word constantly say it found unreadable content?

This error generally occurs due to file corruption, interrupted document saves, incompatible text formatting, macro security restrictions, or a damaged Microsoft Office installation.

Can I extract my text if the Word file is completely unreadable?

Yes. You can often recover raw text by opening Word, navigating to File > Open, selecting your document, and choosing 'Recover Text from Any File' from the file type drop-down menu. Note that formatting and images will be lost.

Does the unreadable content error mean my document has a virus?

Not necessarily. While malicious macros can cause file blocks, the error is much more frequently caused by unexpected system shutdowns, software glitches, or saving directly to an unstable USB drive.

Will I lose my formatting if I use Open and Repair?

In most cases, Open and Repair attempts to preserve your formatting. However, if the formatting tags themselves are the source of the corruption, Word may strip them out to successfully recover the readable text.

Document & File Issues