Documents do not open in Microsoft Word for Mac that were created in an earlier versions

Consider the following scenario. In Microsoft Word 2008 for Mac, you try to open a document that was created in an earlier version of Microsoft Word for Mac. To do this, you use one of the following methods:

• You double-click the document.
• You drag a document to the Word 2008 for Mac program icon.
• You drag a document to the Word 2008 for Mac program icon that is in the Dock.
• You run an AppleScript that uses the Finder to open a Microsoft Word document.

In this scenario, the document does not open as expected in the Word for Mac program.

Note that Word for Mac does not support Works (wps) or Publisher (pub) files. Both of these programs do not have a Mac OS counterpart, therefore, cannot be opened on Mac OS.

To resolve this issue, download and install the latest Office for Mac updates. For more information about how to obtain the latest update for Office for Mac, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

323601  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/323601/[anySimpleType]/ )  Where and how to obtain Office for Mac software updates  

If you have the latest updates installed then try workarounds listed below. 

Workaround 1: Open the file within Word for Mac using the File/Open option

This workaround might work if you receive an error message:


To work around this issue, open the document within Word application itself and then save it with a new file format. To do this, follow these steps:  

1. Start Word for Mac application.
2. On the File menu, click Open.
3. In the Convert File window, scroll down and select Recover Text from any file. You may get a warning, click OK. Note: Some formatting might change.
4. On the File menu, click Save As.
5. In the Format list, select Word Document (.docx), then click Save.

Workaround 2: Try opening the file in earlier versions of Word for Mac application

If the Word document file cannot be opened by the methods above, you may want to test accessing it in an earlier versions of Office for Mac such as Word 2004, Word X, or Word 2001.  

Workaround 3: Open the file on PC computer to repair

If you do not have an earlier version of Microsoft Word for Mac installed, open the file on a PC computer using Microsoft Word 2003, 2007, or 2010 and use the repair functionality. To do this: 

1. Start Word on PC.
2. On the File menu, click Open. Note In Word 2007, click the Microsoft Office Button, and then click Open.
3. In the Open dialog box, click to select the file that you want to open.
4. Click the down arrow on the Open button, and then click Open and Repair.
5. Save the document when you are done.

If you cannot open the document, the file might be damaged. Search your hard drive for the backup of the file or in your email (If you ever sent the file to someone), network share, phone, or flash drive. If no backpack or copy of file is found then create a new document. 

Note If you do not have the PC version of Office, you can download the trial version on the computer with Windows. Visit http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/try/try-office-2010-FX101868838.aspx (http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/try/try-office-2010-FX101868838.aspx)  to download the trial version.

For more information about Repair functionality in Word for PC, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

893672 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893672)  How to open documents by using the Open and Repair feature in Word.

Workaround 4: Troubleshoot damaged file 

 If you cannot open older file(s) in 2008, 2007, 2004 or 2003, then it is likely they are corrupt. You might be able to restore the file by following steps in the article. 

2362088 Troubleshooting damaged documents in Word for Mac  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2362088 /[anySimpleType]/ )

This issue affects the following Word for Mac file types.

Apple's Time Machine: For help with selecting backup options, restoring files, recovering your entire system:
http://www.apple.com/support/leopard/timemachine (http://www.apple.com/support/leopard/timemachine/)




Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.

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.