- Unable To Open Word File In Mac
- Microsoft Word Opens All My Documents Mac Book
- Microsoft Word Opens All My Documents Mac Book
- Microsoft Word Opens All My Documents Macbook Pro
Summary
If the Word document contains a font that is not installed or not compatible on the system, or if the Word document is corrupted, or if the Word documents being transferred over internet being have been edited on multiple platforms/systems, the Word file may open with weird symbols or gibberish. To address this problem, you can use effective methods below. Besides, if you have Word loss, you can use the highly recommended file recovery software to restore files with ease.
Have you encountered Word file suddenly corrupted and was opened with random codes or data turned into wired symbols or gibberish? Is it possible to repair and recover gibberish Word files? How to fix corrupted Word files turned into unreadable symbols? If you are facing with Word document changed to symbols but found no way to troubleshoot, you can try the solutions in this article to fix the issue. Meanwhile, data recovery software is recommended to help you recover corrupted and lost Word document most effectively!
Workable Solutions | Step-by-step Troubleshooting |
---|---|
Fix 1. Solutions to weird symbols | 4 quick fixes for Word Document Open with Weird Symbols. For instance, use fonts that are mostly used...Full steps |
Fix 2. Repair with Microsoft Office | Click the Microsoft Office Button, and then click 'Open'. In the Open dialog box, click your Word document...Full steps |
Fix 3. Restore from Previous Version | Right-click the corrupted/damaged Word files and select 'Restore previous version'...Full steps |
Fix 4. Recover Word with a tool | If you can't restore the corrupted Word anyway, you can use EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard. ...Full steps |
That is not the case with Microsoft word. Yes, it has functions that other word processors don't. I downloaded it specifically to use the 'Compare Documents' function which Pages does not have. It crashed on me four times in the first five minutes and even made my Mac freeze.
Quick Fixes for Word Document Open with Weird Symbols
Before you repair and restore the corrupted Word files, you can first try the following simple tips to fix the issue.
1. Use fonts that are mostly used on most computers, like Arial and Times Roman.
2. Install the required font by dragging it into 'Library' > 'Fonts' on your computer.
3. Enable Font Book on Mac in the Applications folder.
4. Substitute a new compatible font in Word.
How to Repair/Restore Word Document Turned into Symbols/Gibberish
To repair and restore corrupted Word document with weird symbols, here are two possible methods.
Method 1. Repair Corrupted Word Files Showing Gibberish with Microsoft Office
- When I go to open any excel or work files from my computer it only gives me an option to open the.online. version, not the version that opens up into a new window. I paid for all the software of microsoft, not sure why this happeneed, I am sure it is a quick fix but I have no idea what to do.
- Jan 12, 2016 I am using Office 2011 (14.2.1) service pack 2 on Mac os X 10.7.3. Whenever I open Excel, all my workbooks open. How can I prevent all workbooks from opening automatically when Excel starts? I suggest you post your question on Microsoft's own forums for their Mac products, as it's their software you're having issues with.
Unable To Open Word File In Mac
Step 1. Click the Microsoft Office Button, and then click 'Open'.
Step 2. In the Open dialog box, click your Word document.
Step 3. Click the arrow on the Open button, and then click 'Open and Repair'.
Step 4. Verify that repairing the document fixes the problem and the strange behavior no longer occurs.
Method 2. Restore Word Files Open with Wired Symbols from Previous Version
Step 1.Right-click the corrupted/damaged Word files and select 'Restore previous version'.
Step 2. Find an earlier version of the damaged or corrupted Word file, and click 'Restore'.
Step 3. Run Word and open the restored Word file again, click 'OK' when a message pops up to warn that some text layers contain fonts are missing.
Step 4. Check all layers and remark the lost part with layers and save them as a new Word file.
Method 3. Recover Word Document with a File Recovery Tool
If you can't restore the corrupted Word document from previous versions, there is still another useful way to make it by using EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard. This data recovery program enables you to restore the corrupted Word document opening with wired symbols in the easiest way.
EaseUS data recovery software will help you recover lost Word document due to mistaken deletion, system/application crash, virus attack, storage device formatting/damage, and more. And you can recover data from external hard drive, emptied recycle bin, hard drive, memory card, flash drive, digital camera, and camcorder on all Windows and macOS computers.
Now, download and use this software to restore Word document opens with random codes or unreadable symbol by following the steps below.
Step 1. Choose the Word file location.
Do you know where you lost Word files? Choose the hard disk drive or a specific folder and click the San button. If it's on a USB flash drive or SD card, take one more step to connect it to your computer.
Step 2. Scan all lost data.
The software will start immediately scanning all lost data on the selected drive, and you'll see more and more data showing up in the scan results. After the scan, use the quickest way to the wanted Word documents by choosing 'Documents' from the drop-down list in 'Filter'.
Step 3. Select Word files and recover.
You're allowed to preview a Word file if you have Microsoft Word application installed on your computer. Finally, select the desired documents and click 'Recover'.
-->Note
Office 365 ProPlus is being renamed to Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise. For more information about this change, read this blog post.
Symptoms
When you start Microsoft Word for Mac, or when you try to open a new document, you experience one of the following conditions:
The program closes unexpectedly.
Error message:
Note
This error message may also occur during usage of application such as saving a document.
Resolution
To resolve this problem, follow steps below.
Microsoft Word for Mac 2008 or Later
Step 1: Quit all applications
On the Apple menu, click Force Quit.
Select an application in the 'Force Quit Applications' window.
Click Force Quit.
Repeat the previous steps until all active applications.
Warning
When an application is force quit, any unsaved changes to open documents are not saved.
Step 2: Remove Preferences
Quit all Microsoft Office for Mac programs.
On the Go menu, click Home.
Open Library.
Note
The Library folder is hidden in MAC OS X Lion. To display this folder, hold down the OPTION key while you click the Go menu.
Open the Preferences folder.
Look for a file that is named com.microsoft.Word.plist.
If you locate the file, move it to the desktop. If you do not locate the file, the program is using the default preferences.
If you locate the file and move it to the desktop, start Word, and check whether the problem still occurs. If the problem still occurs, quit Microsoft Word, and restore the file to its original location. Then, go to the next step. If the problem seems to be resolved, you can move the com.microsoft.Word.plist file to the trash.
Quit all Microsoft Office for Mac programs.
On the Go menu, click Home.
Open Library.
Note
The Library folder is hidden in MAC OS X Lion. To display this folder, hold down the OPTION key while you click the Go menu.
Open the Preferences folder.
Open the Microsoft folder.
Locate the file that is named com.microsoft.Word.prefs.plist.
Move the file to the desktop.
Start Word, and check whether the problem still occurs. If the problem still occurs, quit Word, and restore the file to its original location. Then, go to the next step. If the problem seems to be resolved, you can move the com.microsoft.Word.prefs.plist file to the trash.
On the Go menu, click Home.
Open Library.
Note
The Library folder is hidden in MAC OS X Lion. To display this folder, hold down the OPTION key while you click the Go menu.
Open the Application Support folder.
Open the Microsoft folder.
Open the Office folder.
Open the User Templates folder.
Locate the file that is named Normal, and move the file to the desktop.
Start Word and check whether the problem still occurs. If the problem seems to be resolved, you can move the Normal file to the Trash. If the issue continues to occur, proceed to the next step.
If the issue continues to occur, go to the next step.
Step 3: Peform clean boot
For information how to clean start your Operating system (OS), see Microsoft Knowledge Base article:
2398596 How to use a 'clean startup' to determine whether background programs are interfering with Office for Mac
If the issue continues to occur in Safe mode, go to the next step.
Step 4: Remove and then reinstall Office
For information how to remove and then reinstall Office, see the following article:
If after removing and then reinstalling Office, the problem continues to occur, go to the next step.
Step 5: Use the 'Repair Disk Permissions' option
You can use the Repair Disk Permissions option to troubleshoot permissions problems in Mac OS X 10.2 or later versions. To use the Repair Disk Permissions option, follow these steps:
Microsoft Word Opens All My Documents Mac Book
- On the Go menu, click Utilities.
- Start the Disk Utility program.
- Click the primary hard disk drive for your computer.
- Click the First Aid tab.
- Click Repair Disk Permissions.
Note
The Disk Utility program only repairs software that is installed by Apple. This utility also repairs folders, such as the Applications folder. However, this utility does not repair software that is in your home folder.
Microsoft Word 2004 for Mac
Quit all Microsoft Office for Mac programs.
On the Go menu, click Home.
Open Library.
Note
The Library folder is hidden in MAC OS X Lion. To display this folder, hold down the OPTION key while you click the Go menu.
Open the Preferences folder.
Look for a file that is named com.microsoft.Word.plist.
If you locate the file, move it to the desktop. If you do not locate the file, the program is using the default preferences.
If you locate the file and move it to the desktop, start Word, and check whether the problem still occurs. If the problem still occurs, quit Word, and restore the file to its original location. Then, go to the next step. If the problem seems to be resolved, you can move the com.microsoft.Word.plist file to the trash.
Qit all Microsoft Office for Mac programs.
On the Go menu, click Home.
Open Library.
Note
The Library folder is hidden in MAC OS X Lion. To display this folder, hold down the OPTION key while you click the Go menu.
Open the Preferences folder.
Open the Microsoft folder.
Look for a file that is named com.microsoft.Word.prefs.plist.
Move the file to the desktop.
Start Word, and check whether the problem still occurs. If the problem still occurs, quit Word, and restore the file to its original location. Then, go to the next step. If the problem seems to be resolved, you can move the com.microsoft.Word.prefs.plist file to the trash.
On the Go menu, click Home.
Open the Documents folder.
Open the Microsoft User Data folder.
Locate the file that is named Normal, and move the file to the desktop.
Start Word, and check whether the problem still occurs. If the problem seems to be resolved, you can move the Normal file to the trash.
Third-party disclaimer information
Microsoft Word Opens All My Documents Mac Book
The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, about the performance or reliability of these products.
Microsoft Word Opens All My Documents Macbook Pro
The information and the solution in this document represent the current view of Microsoft Corporation on these issues as of the date of publication. This solution is available through Microsoft or through a third-party provider. Microsoft does not specifically recommend any third-party provider or third-party solution that this article might describe. There might also be other third-party providers or third-party solutions that this article does not describe. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, this information should not be interpreted to be a commitment by Microsoft. Microsoft cannot guarantee or endorse the accuracy of any information or of any solution that is presented by Microsoft or by any mentioned third-party provider.