I cannot open docx files

Question

Since buying office it saves my working files as Docx files. I cannot open or access them.

Answer 1

Hi Joseph,

What happens when you double-click a .docx file? If you get an error message when doing so, please post it in your next reply.

Also, can you open .docx files from the File → Open option in Word?

Answer 2

I get a pop-up window that asks me to allow the program to make changes to my computer.

As other contributors have suggested, this sounds like the User Account Control window. It pops up when Word wants to start with administrator privileges (usually not necessary or desirable). The shortcut you are using with Word may have run as administrator set as a requirement. You can (re-)create a standard shortcut that starts Word normally.

Answer 3

I get a pop-up window that asks me to allow the program to make changes to my computer.

It's the User Account Control prompt. Do you see that prompt when running winword.exe directly?

Answer 4

Docx is the current default Word format and is fully supported, so the issue is likely how the files are being opened or how Word is behaving, not a compatibility problem with .docx itself.

Try the following checks and workarounds:

1. Confirm the files are really .docx Word documents
   Make sure the files have the .docx extension (for example, MyFile.docx) and are not another format that Word cannot open on the device being used. On unsupported devices (for example, some mobile scenarios), only specific formats can be opened and edited.
2. If using Word on a mobile device
   On iOS/Android, Word can open and edit .docx files, but many other formats are read‑only or not supported at all. For example, on iOS:
   • .docx – open and edit: Yes
   • .doc – open and edit: No, open as read‑only only
   • .odt, .rtf, .txt, .pdf, .html, .xml, .wps – not supported for editing and often not openable.
     If the files are actually another format (for example, .odt or .rtf), convert them to .docx on a desktop version of Word or Word for the web, then reopen on the mobile device.
3. If Word opens but shows the file as read‑only or viewing mode
   When files are copied from another PC, external drive, or downloaded, Windows can mark them as read‑only or blocked, which makes Word open them in viewing mode:
   • Right‑click the .docx file > Properties.
   • Under Attributes, clear Read‑only, then click Apply and OK.
   • If there is an Unblock button, click it and then OK.
     After that, open the file again in Word.
4. If Word itself will not open or errors when opening any document
   If Word shows an error such as “Word has run into an error that is preventing it from working correctly” and the built‑in “Repair now” does not help, run an Online Repair of Office instead. Online Repair often reinstalls Office and fixes deeper issues that prevent Word from opening documents. See the repair steps in the referenced article.
5. If only double‑clicking fails
   If double‑clicking a .docx file does nothing, try:
   • Open Word first, then use File > Open and browse to the .docx file.
   • Or drag the .docx file onto an empty Word window.
   • Or right‑click the file and choose Open.
     If these work, the issue is with the file association in Windows rather than the .docx files themselves.

If none of the above work, test with a brand‑new document: open Word, create a new blank document, type some text, save as .docx, close Word, and then try to reopen that file. If even that file will not open, focus on repairing or reinstalling Office as described.

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References:

• Why can't I open my file?
• Why can't I open my file in Word on a mobile device?
• Unable to View or Edit Office files by using Office Online or Office Web Apps
• I just installed MS Office Home 2024. Tried to open a Word doc (Word 2010). It will not open. Is it a compatibility issue? Can this be resolved? - Microsoft Q&A
• How to fix my MS Word? - Microsoft Q&A