how do you revert a file that is in its' basic format into something you can read? when i open the file it is all gibberish and unreadable

Question

when i open many files on my computer, they open in their "coded stage" and are unreadable.

how do i convert them back to the readable formats??

thanks,

j mike

Answer 1

Hello @mike kehoe

Welcome to Q&A Forum! I understand how frustrating it feels when you open a file and all you see is gibberish. I'm here with you so let’s work through some steps together to convert these Microsoft Word files back into the format you can read: 

Step 1: Identify the File Type 

• Check the file if it has the extension .docx 
• If there's no extension, right-click the file → Properties → check the Type of file. 

Step 2: Rename the File If the Extension Is Missing or Wrong 

• At the top of File Explorer, click on the View tab 
• In the Show group, check the box labeled File name extensions 
• Right-click the file → Rename 
• Add the correct extension (e.g., file_.docx_) 
• Try opening it again 

️Step 3: Repair a Corrupted Word Document 

• Create a new blank document on Microsoft Word. 
• Click on the File tab → Open → Browse to locate the problematic Word file. 
• In the file selection window, click the drop-down arrow next to the Open button. 
• Choose Open and Repair from the list. 

Step 4: Recover Text from a Damaged Word File 

• Create a new blank document on Microsoft Word. 
• Click on the File tab → Open → Browse to locate the damaged Word file. 
• In the file selection window, click the file type drop-down menu (usually labeled All Word Documents). 
• Choose _Recover Text from Any File (.) _→ Open. 

Note: This method may take some time and might not preserve formatting or images, but it can help recover important text from a severely damaged document. 

I hope these steps make it easier for you to work with your documents. However, the methods above are specifically for reopening Microsoft Word documents. If I misunderstand problem you're experiencing with other Microsoft types of files, please let me know that specific file format or share a screenshot. 

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Answer 2

The message you see suggests a damaged document or the wrong file type.

Did you receive these documents from someone else or were they created on your system?

I take it you have tried accessing the docs via File > Open > Browse, as has already been suggested.