How to Fix Office File Opening Error

Why you might see an error

Files downloaded from the internet (from all systems worldwide) are automatically marked as "blocked" by Windows for security. This is a normal Windows security feature, not a problem with your file or any system.

If you see this error when opening the file:

Microsoft Office Error Dialog

Microsoft Word/Excel error dialog

Follow these simple steps to fix it:

1
Right-click on the downloaded file

In your Downloads folder, right-click on the file you just downloaded.

2
Select "Properties"

From the context menu, click on "Properties".

3
Unblock the file

In the Properties dialog, you'll see a "Security" section at the bottom. Check the box that says "Unblock" (if it's available).

File Properties - Blocked
4
Click "OK"

Click "OK" to save the changes. The file should now open without any errors.

File Properties - Unblocked
That's it!

After unblocking the file, you can open it normally in Microsoft Office. This is a one-time step for each downloaded file.