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Can't open Office documents? Check the File Block settings

Published on October 10, 2012 Last reviewed on May 26, 2016

This is not new to Office 2013, but apparently many users skipped Office 2010 and are only now discovering that some older files won't open in the Office applications. This is because of a security feature called File Block.

The File Block Settings will force the selected file extensions to open in Protected View or will block them completely. If you run into problems opening email attachments, you need to change the settings in the application that will open the attachment, not in Outlook.

To access the File Block Settings, open the application (Word or Excel etc) and open it's File, Options, Trust Center dialog. Select File Block Settings to view the settings.

File Block Setting in Office

Any file types selected in the Open column (1) are controlled by the selection at the bottom of the dialog (2).

Any file types that are selected in the Save column cannot be saved. You'll need to Save as in a different format.

Protected View

While you are in the Trust Center, check your Protected View settings. While Protected View won't prevent you from opening files, it will require an extra steps or two if you want to edit the file. You'll need to change the protected view settings for email attachments in the program that is used to open the attachment, not in Outlook.

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Douglas B Morrison Jr
August 2, 2018 2:22 pm
#307

What does "Comment awaiting moderation mean? Yes, I'm a dinosaur.

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Diane Poremsky(@dporemsky)
Author
Reply to  Douglas B Morrison Jr
August 2, 2018 4:21 pm
#308

it means comments are held until I answer them - I do this for two reasons:
1) it makes it easier to find the comments that need answers
2) keeps the spammers out

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Douglas B Morrison Jr
July 26, 2018 8:22 am
#304

I just clicked something by accident about opening files now cannot open any, even ones just saved. All have a docx extension with a couple boxes next to them in File Manage and whether they are selected or not, when clicked I get a window that says I need to select an app from the app store to open regular word and excel docs. The icon to the left of the documents in the file manager is blank where used to be a word or excel icon. Tried to get a snippet of the window but when click snipping tool… Read more »

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Crystal Z
October 14, 2016 7:34 pm
#267

I google the solution and tried many ways but still cannot open an 2013 version word document in 2010 format. Until I found this way, added the file location in the unblocked list, It works, thanks a lot!! :>

2
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jrc
May 26, 2016 6:19 pm
#245

Of course, this does not work at all. Many, many of us have tried to fix this 'file block' settings nonsense - it makes no difference at all. Going to Open ofc, Word 2010 and on are a total disaster.

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Diane Poremsky(@dporemsky)
Author
Reply to  jrc
May 26, 2016 6:48 pm
#246

I've never had problems with it...

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David G.
February 16, 2015 4:53 pm
#138

I have the same problem as above. I got the error message when trying to save an email message as a text file in Outlook. There is no "File Block Settings" option showing in the Outlook Trust Center settings. How would going into Word and looking for the File Block Settings there help me with saving an Outlook message?

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Diane Poremsky(@dporemsky)
Author
Reply to  David G.
February 16, 2015 6:10 pm
#139

This article applies specifically to opening email attachments. If you are having problems saving messages to your hard drive, it's a different problem.

What is the exact error message?

1
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Douglas B Morrison Jr
Reply to  Diane Poremsky
August 2, 2018 2:21 pm
#306

Thanks. problem is all files...attachments, hard drive and cloud. It asks me to select an app to open all my files (all Office docs. Will try pics now. tied Wordpad, notepad...nothing. Keep getting a window asking what app to open with and none work. It is not File Block Settings...they seemed right.

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Diane Poremsky(@dporemsky)
Author
Reply to  Douglas B Morrison Jr
August 2, 2018 4:24 pm
#309

I would do one of two things. Since a lot of files seem to be affected, I would go to Settings, Apps & Features and find Office. Click Modify and run the quick repair. It takes a few minutes and fixed shortcuts.
If only a file type or two was affected, right click on it in File Explorer and choose Open With then select the correct program to open it.

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