Fix: Embedded Objects Not Showing in Word

O problema

You embedded an Excel spreadsheet, PowerPoint presentation, or PDF in your Word document, but it’s not visible. The object is there (file size is larger), but you only see an empty placeholder or an icon. Clique duas vezesing the object doesn’t open it or shows only the icon. Linked objects show broken link icons instead of content.

Correção rápida

Uncheck Display as Icon immediately:

1. Clique com o botão direito the hidden object or icon in your document
2. Selecione Editar Object or Object
3. Procure properties/options dialog
4. Find and uncheck: “Display as icon”
5. Verifique: “Display as” content instead
6. Clique OK or Atualize
7. The object should now display as preview/content instead of just icon

If object still doesn’t show, proceed to Solução passo a passo.

Solução passo a passo

Step 1: Identify if Object is Embedded or Linked

Different fixes apply depending on type.

1. Clique com o botão direito the object icon or placeholder
2. A context menu aparece
3. If you see “Editar Link” or “Atualize Link,” it’s linked (references external file)
4. If you see “Editar Object” or “Object,” it’s embedded (contained within Word file)
5. Note which type you have

Step 2: Fix Linked Objects That Won’t Display

Linked objects break if source file moves.

1. Clique com o botão direito the broken link icon
2. Selecione Editar Link or Links (or go to Arquivo > Info > Editar Links to Arquivos)
3. The Links dialog opens
4. Selecione your broken link in the list
5. Clique Change Fontee
6. Navigate to where the file actually is now
7. Selecione it and click Open
8. Clique OK
9. The link is now valid and should display
10. Alternatively, click Break Link to convert to embedded (if you want the object copied into Word instead of linked)

Step 3: Convert Linked to Embedded

If links are causing display problems, embed instead.

1. Clique com o botão direito the linked object
2. Selecione Editar Link or go to Arquivo > Info > Editar Links to Arquivos
3. In the Links dialog, select the object
4. Clique Break Link
5. Word converts the object from linked to embedded
6. The object is now copied into the Word file
7. Arquivo size increases, but object is no longer dependent on external file

Step 4: Exclua and Re-insert the Object Properly

If the object is corrupted or won’t display even as embedded:

1. Clique com o botão direito the object icon or placeholder
2. Press Exclua
3. Agora reinsert it correctly:
   • Vá para Inserir > Object (or Inserir > Text > Object depending on Word version)
   • Choose Create from Arquivo
   • Clique Browse to select your file
   • Important: Verifique “Embed” checkbox (don’t check “Link”)
   • Clique OK
   • The object is now reinserted as embedded

Step 5: Ative Display of Embedded Preview

Some objects are embedded but set to display as icon only.

1. Clique com o botão direito the object
2. Selecione Object or Editar Object
3. A properties dialog or the application opens
4. Procure options related to display:
   • Uncheck “Display as icon”
   • Or select “Show preview” if available
5. Clique OK or Atualize
6. The object should now display as preview instead of icon

Step 6: Atualize the Object Content

If embedded object is outdated:

1. Clique duas vezes the object
2. The source application opens (Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
3. Editar the content
4. Close the application or click outside the object
5. Changes are saved to the embedded object
6. Word document now shows updated content

Step 7: Verifique Arquivo Associations

If Word can’t open the embedded object type:

1. Clique com o botão direito the object
2. Tente to edit it (double-click or “Editar Object”)
3. If nothing happens, the file type isn’t recognized
4. Vá para Arquivo > Opções > Trust Center
5. Clique Trust Center Settings
6. Clique Trusted Arquivo Types
7. Procure your file type (Excel, PDF, etc.)
8. Certifique-se it’s listed and trusted
9. If not trusted, you may need to install that application

Step 8: Rebuild Object if Severely Corrupted

If all else fails:

1. Selecione the problematic object
2. Clique com o botão direito and delete it
3. Create a new, simpler object to test:
   • Vá para Inserir > Object > Create from Arquivo
   • Selecione a basic file (like a simple PDF or image)
   • Verifique Embed, uncheck Display as icon
   • Clique OK
4. If this new object displays, the previous one was corrupted
5. You’ll need to recreate the original object

Step 9: Verify Application is Installed

Embedded objects require the source application.

1. If your document contains embedded Excel, you need Excel installed (or Office with Excel)
2. If it contains PDF, you need a PDF reader
3. If the source application isn’t installed, objects won’t display properly
4. Install the required application from Microsoft Office or the publisher

Por que isso acontece

1. Display as Icon checked — Object is embedded but set to show only icon
2. Linked file moved — Fontee file was deleted or moved to different location
3. Corrupted object — Object embedded but data corrupted during insertion
4. Missing source application — Computer doesn’t have Excel, PowerPoint, etc. installed
5. Outdated OLE connection — Object Linking and Embedding connection broken
6. Arquivo type not trusted — Word security settings prevent displaying object type
7. Copie/paste without embedding — Content pasted as link instead of embedded
8. Version incompatibility — Newer object format not compatible with Word version

Como evitar

1. Always embed, never link — Unless you specifically need linked updates
2. Uncheck “Display as icon” — Immediately after inserting object
3. Verify object displays before saving — Test that it’s visible before closing Word
4. Keep source files accessible — If using links, don’t move original files
5. Use simple file types — PDFs and images display more reliably than complex files
6. Include source application — Certifique-se Excel/PowerPoint installed if embedding those formats
7. Test on clean computer — Verify object displays on other computers
8. Save document after inserting object — Certifique-ses object is properly saved with Word file

Ainda não funciona? Soluções alternativas

1. Inserir as image instead — Convert object to PDF or image, then insert as picture (Inserir > Pictures)
2. Use Link to Arquivo feature — Inserir > Object > Create from Arquivo > Link to file (if source accessible)
3. Copie/paste content directly — For Excel, copy cells and paste directly into Word table
4. Create native Word alternative — Use Word tables instead of embedded spreadsheets
5. Save as PDF instead — Export Word document to PDF if possible (objects may not carry over)
6. Reinstale Office applications — Certifique-se all Office applications properly installed
7. Contact publisher — If specialized object, contact publisher for compatibility info
8. Use Office Online — Editar in Word Online which may handle objects differently

Pontos-chave

• Uncheck “Display as icon” to show embedded object preview instead of just icon
• Embed objects (don’t link) for self-contained documents
• Use Arquivo > Info > Editar Links to Arquivos for managing linked objects
• Exclua and reinsert if object corrupted (Inserir > Object > Create from Arquivo > Embed)
• Certifique-se source application installed (Excel for Excel objects, etc.)
• Test object visibility immediately after inserting, before saving
• Linked objects break if source file moves—embed or update link location
• Very large documents with many objects may display slowly; consider alternatives