Excell & word error

Because Word and Excel are running in a browser, do not repair or reinstall desktop Office; first determine whether the failure follows the document or the browser session.

1. Separate a file problem from a browser problem

1. From the Microsoft 365 home page, create a new blank Word document and a new blank Excel workbook.
2. Open a different existing Word or Excel file.
3. Interpret the result:
   • Only one document fails: continue with File-specific checks below.
   • All existing documents fail, but new files work: the existing files may use an unsupported format or feature.
   • New and existing files all fail: skip to Reset the browser session.

2. File-specific checks

Check the filename extension:

• Word for the web supports .docx; it can also open and convert .doc. Templates such as .dotx and .dotm cannot be edited in the browser.
• Excel for the web supports .xlsx and .xlsb. Support for older or specialized formats is limited. ^1^

For an affected Excel workbook containing macros, XML maps, or other unsupported features:

1. Select Open in Excel if the error offers that option.
2. If the file opens but cannot be edited online, select Edit a Copy to create a browser-compatible copy.
3. Give the copy a different filename. Do not replace the original, because unsupported features are removed from the copy. ^2^

If no desktop Office application is installed, ask the file owner to save and resend it as:

• Word: .docx
• Excel: .xlsx or .xlsb

Converting a macro-enabled Excel file to .xlsx removes its macros, and macros do not run in Excel for the web. ^1^

If the same file also fails for another user or in another browser, the file may be damaged. Open and Repair is available only in a desktop Office application under File > Open > Browse > select the file > arrow beside Open > Open and Repair. ^3^

3. Reset the browser session

If every Word and Excel file fails, clear Microsoft 365 site data rather than repairing Office.

In Microsoft Edge:

1. Select Settings and more (…) > Settings > Privacy, search, and services.
2. Select Cookies > See all cookies and site data.
3. Search for the Microsoft 365/Office, OneDrive, and SharePoint sites you use.
4. Delete their stored cookies and site data.
5. Close all Edge windows, reopen Edge, sign in again, and test a newly created document.

Deleting cookies signs you out, but deleting only the affected sites avoids clearing unrelated browser data. ^4^

Also test once in an InPrivate window. If documents work there, the normal browser profile’s stored site data or an extension is implicated; disable extensions individually or reset that profile’s Microsoft site data.

4. If the problem remains

• Work or school account: ask the Microsoft 365 administrator to check the Service health dashboard for Word, Excel, OneDrive, or SharePoint incidents.
• Personal account: contact Microsoft Support and provide:
  • the complete error text;
  • browser name and version;
  • whether blank files work;
  • whether the same document fails in another browser;
  • the affected file extensions.

Do not include the documents themselves unless requested through an authorized support channel.

References

1. Unable to View or Edit Office files by using Office Online or Office Web Apps | Microsoft Support
2. Edit a workbook that contains features unsupported by Excel for the web | Microsoft Support
3. Open a document after a file corruption error | Microsoft Support
4. Manage cookies in Microsoft Edge: View, allow, block, delete and use | Microsoft Support