How to Resolve Unreadable Content Issues in Word (Windows/Android)

Actual scenario from the Microsoft community (relevant to your issue): "A 'Word found unreadable content' error occurred. Several of my Word documents fail to open, displaying an error message that says, 'Word found unreadable content in...'. Regardless of the option I choose, it subsequently displays a message...I've attempted opening and repairing the files, recovering text from any file, and other solutions, but none have been effective thus far."

It can be truly frustrating when your files encounter such an error right in the middle of your work. But fear not, help is here! In this article, we will explore various methods to fix unreadable content in Word.

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What is Unreadable Content in Word?

This error may occur when your files become damaged or corrupted due to various reasons, such as:

1. The Word document was not closed properly, including instances where the file unexpectedly shuts down, there is an unexpected power interruption, laptop battery depletion, or a system crash.

2. Virus attack.

The virus may attack your Office data, including Word files. If your file becomes infected, the document will have unreadable content.

3. Text Conversion Error: When converting Word files to another format, you may encounter an "Word found unreadable content" message or a "Word was unable to read this document" warning.

Don't worry; your Word document is still intact. Follow along as we guide you through effective methods in the next section.

How to Repair Unreadable Word Documents in Windows

In this part, examine one automatic method and two built-in functions.

Fix 1 - Utilize the Fixo Document Repair tool

If an unreadable error occurs, the most pressing task is to locate and recover all lost documents. To save time and simplify the process, opting for one of the best file repair software solutions - Fixo, is a wise choice.

Trusted by users for 17 years, the Fixo Document Repair tools can effortlessly recover and repair your lost data with just a few clicks. Whether your Word documents have been damaged due to software issues or human errors, this application swiftly restores them, repairing corrupted Word files while previewing the content.

• Efficiently repair corrupted JPEG, JPG, PNG, and BMP images
• Repair corrupted Excel, PPT, Word, and PDF documents
• Repair corrupted files for free after data recovery
• Fix damaged, broken, and corrupted files on various storage devices, including HDD, USB, SD card, external hard drive, etc.

You can download this utility and follow three simple steps to repair Word files. Watch this video and simply do the same:

1. 00:14 Method 1. Insert into a new Word document
2. 00:38 Method 2. Use Open and Repair
3. 00:55 Method 3. Default settings
4. 01:30 Method 4. Tools - Fixo Document Repair

Step 1. Download and install Fixo on your PC or laptop. Launch the application and select "File Repair" to fix corrupted Office files, which includes Word, Excel, PDF, and other file types. Click "Add Files" to choose the corrupted documents you wish to repair.

Step 2. To repair multiple files simultaneously, click the "Repair All" button. If you wish to repair a single document, hover your pointer over the target file and select "Repair." You can also preview the documents by clicking the eye icon.

Select the documents to repair

Step 3. Click "Save" to save the selected document. Choose "Save All" to save all the repaired files. Select "View Repaired" to locate the repaired folder.

Fix 2 - Utilize the "Recover Text from Any File" Feature

If you're looking for manual methods, you can utilize a Text Recovery Converter from Microsoft Word. Here's how to proceed: 1. Launch Microsoft Word. 2. Follow these steps: a) Click on the "File" tab in the upper-left corner of the Word window. b) In the File menu, select "Open." c) In the "Open" dialog box, navigate to the location where your corrupted file is saved. d) Instead of clicking on the file directly, right-click on it and choose "Open with" and then "Word Document Recovery." e) Microsoft Word will attempt to recover the content from the corrupted file. If successful, the recovered text will appear in a new document. f) Save the recovered text as a new file to prevent overwriting the original corrupted file. Remember that this method might not work in every situation, and the recovered content could be incomplete or have formatting issues.

Step 1. Navigate to the File tab > Click Open on the left panel > Click Browse on the right panel.

Step 2. On the Microsoft Open window, select the unreadable Word files.

Step 3. Select Recover Text from Any File from the dropdown menu.

Step 4. Click Open and wait. The damaged file will open, and you should save it as a new file.

Fix 3 - Utilize the "Open and Repair" Function

Solution 3 is also an inbuilt function. The steps portion is identical to the second solution. Please refer to the step-by-step guide.

< strong >Step 1. Navigate to the < strong >File tab, then click on < strong >Open, and subsequently choose < strong >Browse.

Step 2. Select the damaged file in the new window.

Step 3. Click the small triangle arrow icon > Choose Open and Repair.

Step 4. The file can now be opened, and you can save it as a new file.

Resolve "Word Found Unreadable Content" on Android with OneDrive

If you've saved your Word files to OneDrive, you can utilize OneDrive's Version History feature to revert the Word document to an earlier version. The following steps are recommended to be performed on a computer:

If you're using the web version of OneDrive, follow these steps:

Step 1. Log in to your OneDrive account.

Step 2. Right-click on the file you wish to revert to an earlier version and select Version History.

Step 3. On the Version History window, click the arrow next to the file and then click Restore.

If you're running the OneDrive app on your PC, you can access it through File Explorer.

Step 1. Click on OneDrive in the left panel > Click on the Document folder and select the files you wish to recover.

Step 2. Select Version History > Click the dots next to the desired version > Tap on Restore.

Windows/Android User: Find Your Answer Here

Has the issue with unreadable content in Microsoft Word been resolved? We've outlined 3 methods compatible with Windows in Part 1 and one reliable solution for Android users in Part 2. To safeguard against potential data loss, it's advisable to use File History to backup your Word file during your free time.

"Word Found Unreadable Content" FAQs

Refer to the frequently asked questions to receive additional assistance with unreadable content in Word.

1. Why did all the content vanish from my Word document?

Here's the reason why the Word document disappeared:

Microsoft Word documents can vanish under特定 circumstances. For instance, it might disappear following a force quit, power outage, or if it was closed without saving any changes.

< strong >2. Can you repair a corrupted Word document?< /strong >

Yes, here are the steps to follow to repair a corrupted Word document online:

1. Select the corrupted Word .doc/.docx file. 2. Enter your email address to receive the repaired Word file. 3. Wait for the repair process to finish.

3. How to recover unsaved Word documents? If you accidentally close Microsoft Word or your computer crashes without saving your work, there are a few methods you can try to recover unsaved Word documents: 1. **AutoRecover**: Microsoft Word has an AutoRecover feature that saves your document at regular intervals. To access these files: - Open Microsoft Word. - Click on "File" in the top-left corner. - Select "Open" and then "Recent Documents." - Look for any files listed under "Auto Recover" or "AutoSave." - Choose the file you need and click "Open." 2. **Temp Folder**: Sometimes, Word saves temporary files that you can recover. - Press `Win + E` (Windows) or `Cmd + Space` (Mac) to open File Explorer or Finder. - In Windows, search for `%temp%` and hit Enter. On a Mac, navigate to `~/Library/Caches/com.microsoft.Word`. - Look for files with the `.asd` or `.tmp` extension, which might be your unsaved document. - Copy the file to a safe location and rename it with the `.docx` extension. - Open the file with Word. 3. **Shadow Copies (Windows only)**: If you have enabled Shadow Copy, you may find previous versions of the document. - Right-click on the folder where the document was being created and select "Properties." - Go to the "Previous Versions" tab. - If available, click on "Restore" to retrieve an earlier version of the file. 4. **Third-party software**: There are various recovery tools available that can help locate and restore unsaved Word documents. Be cautious when downloading and using such software, as some may not be trustworthy. Remember to save your work frequently to avoid losing progress in the future.

Steps to recover unsaved Word documents in Windows 10: 1. **Check AutoRecover**: - Open Microsoft Word. - Click on "File" in the top-left corner. - Select "Info" from the options. - In the right panel, click "Manage Versions." - Choose "Recover Unsaved Documents" and see if your unsaved document is listed. 2. **Use File History (if enabled):** - Go to "File" > "Options" in Word. - Click on "Advanced." - In the "General" section, find "Backup Settings." - If "Keep a backup of my documents" is checked, click "Browse" to locate the backup folder. - Navigate through the files to find your unsaved document. 3. **Review Recent Documents:** - Open Word and look at the "Recent Documents" list. - Sometimes, recently opened but unsaved files might appear here. 4. **Search System Folders:** - Press "Windows key + E" to open File Explorer. - Type `%localappdata%\Microsoft\Word\` into the address bar and press Enter. - Look for files with the extension `.asd` or `.tmp`. These could be unsaved Word documents. 5. **Use Third-Party Recovery Tools:** - If the above methods don't work, you can try using data recovery software like Recuva or tools Data Recovery Wizard. - Download and install the tool, then scan your system for lost or unsaved Word files. Remember, prevention is key. Always save your work regularly to avoid losing important documents.

1. In Microsoft Word, click on the File tab located in the top-left corner. 2. Click on Manage Document, then select Recover Unsaved Documents from the dropdown menu. 3. Look for your missing file in the dialog box that appears. If the loss occurred recently, it should be listed. 4. Open the recovered Word document and click on the Save As button located in the top banner.