File Format & Compatibility

How to Open a Word Document Saved as an Unknown Format or Image

Nimra Malik Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is attempting to open an attachment or file intended to be a Word document, but it is saved in an unknown format, likely an image file such as a JPEG.

How to Open a Word Document Converted to an Unknown Format

Product: Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Opening a downloaded or received attachment that fails to launch as a standard Word document because it was saved as an image.
Observed behavior: The file cannot be opened as an editable Word document and appears as an unknown format or image file.

Before you start

Before proceeding, enable file extensions in your computer's file explorer to confirm whether the unknown file is actually an image (e.g., .jpg, .jpeg) rather than a standard Word document (.docx).

Solution 1

Verify File Type and Open with an Image Viewer

Determine the actual file format to view its contents properly using default system applications rather than a word processor.

Often, documents are scanned or exported incorrectly by the sender, resulting in an image file instead of a text document.

Check the File Properties

Right-click the downloaded attachment and select 'Properties' (Windows) or 'Get Info' (Mac) to view the file extension.

Open with Image Viewer

If the file ends in .jpg, .jpeg, or .png, right-click the file, hover over 'Open with', and select your system's default Photos or Image Viewer application.

Solution 2Recommended

Insert the Image into a Blank Word Document

If the document was sent as a JPEG, you can place it inside a standard Word file to view or print it as part of a document.

Solution 3

Extract Editable Text using OCR Software

Use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) tools to convert the image back into editable text.

Built-in OCR Technology

Extract Text from Images Instantly with WPS Office

WPS Office comes equipped with a powerful built-in OCR (Optical Character Recognition) feature, allowing you to seamlessly convert image files like JPEGs back into fully editable Word documents without relying on third-party software.

1. Open WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and create a new blank document in WPS Writer.
2. Insert the JPEG File: Go to the 'Insert' tab on the top ribbon and click 'Picture' to add your image file.
3. Use Picture to Text (OCR): Click on the inserted image, navigate to the 'Picture Tools' tab, and select 'Picture to Text' (OCR).
4. Save as a Word Document: Review the extracted text, make any necessary edits, and save the file in .docx format for future use.

Instantly extract and convert text from JPEG and PNG imagesHighly compatible with Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx) formatsAll-in-one free, lightweight office suite for Word, PDF, and SpreadsheetsPreserves original document formatting during OCR extraction

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Word document show up as an unknown format?

The file may have been saved, scanned, or exported incorrectly by the sender as an image (like JPEG) or lacked a proper file extension. This strips the standard .docx properties, causing your system to recognize it as an unknown format.

Can I edit a JPEG image directly in Word?

No, standard word processors cannot natively edit text embedded inside a JPEG image. You must use an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) tool to extract the text first, or request the original text document from the sender.

How do I view file extensions on Windows to check the format?

Open File Explorer, go to the 'View' tab at the top, and check the box labeled 'File name extensions'. This will reveal if your downloaded attachment ends in an image format like .jpg or .png.

Document & File Issues