Share via

Some objects embedded in Word for Windows can't be opened in Word for Mac

Anonymous
2020-11-24T21:31:31+00:00

Split from this thread about a different issue.

Hi Sandro,

It happens to me too. My case is that files were embedded by using Window laptop but it can't be opened on a Mac with the below error message pop-up. (I have tried to open the embedded files on a Window laptop which works.) Is this an incompatible functions between Office for Win and Office for Mac?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
  1. Jim G 134K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2020-11-24T21:36:07+00:00

    Hi Kathy,

    This message indicates a file type other than Excel or Word was embedded into the Word document. Mac OS does not allow one app to open another application's files. Usually this happens when a Word for Windows user embeds a PDF file or PowerPoint presentation. That's allowed by Microsoft Windows but not Mac OS.

    If you need to get at the embedded object, you can do it in Finder.

    Change the file extension of the Word document from .docx to .zip then use Archve utility or Stuffit Expander to view the contents of the zip file. If you navigate through the folders you will find the embedded object.

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments

2 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Jim G 134K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2020-11-25T20:35:20+00:00

    Hi Kathy,

    You probably saw replies from Microsoft Agents who do not understand how Word for Mac works.

    Sandro offered a Word document with an embedded Excel workbook. You can open the embedded workbook because Word for Mac supports embedded Excel workbooks. It also supports embedded Word documents.

    On the other hand, if someone uses Word for Windows and embeds a file type that is OTHER THAN WORD OR EXCEL, you will get the error message you show in your question and you will not be able to open the embedded file directly in Microsoft Word.

    I split off the nutty replies and apologize for these people, who are trying to be helpful but really don't get what it is that's happening here.

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2020-11-26T01:33:19+00:00

    Thanks Jim, 

    This is exactly the case, my business partner embedded pdf files in a word (doc.) by Office for Window. I was wondering if it is because of the version but thank you so much for advising the differences between Office for Window & Mac. Really appreciated.

    0 comments