Mobile Viewer error when accessing Word on Desktop

Question

I'm getting this message when I occasionally try to access Word online on my desktop on Microsoft Edge: "Sorry, Microsoft Word Mobile Viewer ran into a problem opening this document in a browser. To view this document please open it in the desktop version of Microsoft word compatible application." Image below:

It usually fixes itself if I try again after a few hours but it's happening more and more frequently, and for longer periods of time. I'm accessing this on the latest Microsoft Edge browser on a Windows 11 desktop. This occurs for all Word documents that I have created and that have been shared with me. This DOES work if I open documents in desktop Word application, and on Chrome/Firefox. This only occurs on the Edge browser. I get similar messages for PowerPoint and Excel when this error is occurring. Edge seems to think my desktop computer is a mobile device and trying to open documents in a mobile version.

Things I've tried so far: Signing out of Edge, reinstalling Edge, resetting Edge, clearing cache and cookies, logging out of all sessions on mobile and desktop, restarting PC.

I appreciate the help if anyone has any ideas.

Answer 1

I fixed this in a relatives' edge without any cookies clearing by disabling a "Meetings Scheduler" Extension that appeared after installing Zoom.

1. Open edge://extensions/ in a tab
2. Open Word Online in a separate tab: https://www.microsoft365.com/launch/word?auth=1
3. Click "Blank Document" to reproduce the error
4. Disable one extension at a time in edge://extensions/ and re-click "Blank Document" in the other tab until the editor view of Word Online appears
5. Re-enable all other extensions except the faulty one

Consider uninstalling the "faulty" extension.

Answer 2

Hi @jose Cruz ,

I would like to confirm the following points with you for further investigation:

 

1. Are you using Free Office online in Edge to open a file?
2. According to the error image you provided, have you tried to click "Download" and open that file again?
3. Did your files contain any unsupported features for Word online?
4. Please press F12(Develop tools)to check if there is any error code.
5. Please enter "edge://settings/downloads" in Edge and check if the "Open Office files in the browser" is enabled.
6. Have you tried to disable the extension installed?

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