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You can't open Visio files in Visio Web Access even if Visio Viewer is installed

  • Article
  • Applies to:
    Visio Pro for Microsoft 365, Visio 2019, Visio 2016, Visio 2013

Symptoms

Consider the following scenario:

  • You are running Internet Explorer.
  • You have Visio Viewer installed on the computer.
  • You try to open Microsoft Office Visio files in Visio Web Access.

In this scenario, when you click Open in Visio, you receive the following error message:

To open this document, your computer must be running a supported version of Microsoft Visio and a browser that supports opening files directly from Visio Web Access

Cause

This issue occurs because Visio Web Access invokes the client application by using the ms-visio:ofv|u|documenturl protocol, but Visio Viewer doesn't support or process this protocol.

Workaround

To work around this issue, install Visio desktop app.

Status

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.