Why can't I open a .docx file from email?

Files from the internet or email are 'blocked' by Windows security. Right-click the file, go to Properties, and check 'Unblock' at the bottom. Then try opening it again.

Fix: Cannot Open .docx File in Word

Why .docx Files Won’t Open

There are several reasons a .docx file might not open, from security blocks to file associations.

Step-by-Step Fix

Problem: “File blocked” or Security Warning

Right-click the file in File Explorer
Select Properties
At the bottom of the General tab, check Unblock
Click OK and try opening again

Problem: Opens in Wrong Program

Right-click the .docx file
Select Open with > Choose another app
Select Microsoft Word
Check Always use this app to open .docx files
Click OK

Problem: Word Opens But Document Is Blank

Try Open and Repair: File > Open > Browse > select file > Open dropdown > Open and Repair
Check if the document is protected: Review > Restrict Editing > Stop Protection
Try opening in Draft view: View > Draft (some display issues only affect Print Layout)

Problem: Error Message When Opening

Note the exact error message
Try opening the file on a different computer
Try opening in Word Online at office.com
Try opening in Google Docs (upload to Google Drive)
Use the Recover Text from Any File method: File > Open, change file type filter

Problem: File Is Actually Not a .docx

Sometimes files have wrong extensions:

Right-click > Properties and check the file size
A .docx file under 100 bytes is likely corrupted or empty
Try opening with a text editor to see if it’s actually a different format
Rename to .doc and try opening if .docx fails

Preventive Measures

Always save with Ctrl+S rather than closing the window and choosing Save
Don’t rename file extensions manually
Scan downloaded files for malware before opening