Start with the checklist below. It solves most cases in a minute or two.
1. Quick checklist (60–120 seconds)
- Confirm the file type: In your file manager, check the ending is really .docx / .xlsx / .pptx (not .doc / .xls / .ppt, or a renamed file).
- Try a different Microsoft app: Open Word for DOCX, Excel for XLSX, PowerPoint for PPTX (or Microsoft 365/Office app if you use it).
- Re-download once: If it came from email/Chat, download again and watch it finish before opening.
- Move it to Downloads: Copy the file from a chat/app folder into Downloads, then open it from there.
- Check storage space: Low storage can cause “failed to open” or blank previews.
- Restart the phone: Especially if this started after an Android update or app update.
If it still won’t open, the next steps focus on the most common Android-specific causes: permissions, file association, and partial/corrupt files.
2. Make sure Android is using the right app (file association reset)
Sometimes Android tries to open a Microsoft file in the wrong viewer (a drive app, a notes app, a PDF viewer), and it fails even though the file is fine.
- Long-press the file in your file manager → choose Open with.
- Select Word / Excel / PowerPoint (or Microsoft 365).
- If you see an option like Always vs Just once, pick Just once for testing.
If it keeps choosing the wrong app automatically, clear the default:
- Go to Settings → Apps.
- Open the app that keeps grabbing the file (the wrong viewer) → Open by default.
- Tap Clear defaults (wording varies by device).
Then try opening the file again and pick the correct Microsoft app.
3. Fix “Can’t access file” by granting the right Android permission
Newer Android versions are stricter about file access. If the file lives in a protected folder (or inside another app’s sandbox), Word/Excel/PowerPoint may not be allowed to read it.
- Move the file into Downloads or Documents using your file manager.
- Open the Microsoft app first (Word/Excel/PowerPoint), then use Open or Browse inside the app to pick the file (this often triggers the correct system picker permissions).
If you suspect it’s a permission block:
- Go to Settings → Apps → (Word/Excel/PowerPoint or Microsoft 365).
- Tap Permissions.
- Allow Files and media (or similar wording), then retry.
Note: You usually don’t need to grant “All files access.” If an app asks for that, pause and only proceed if you trust the app and understand why it needs it.
4. If it opens blank or errors, assume the download is incomplete
A surprisingly common cause is a partial download that “looks” finished. This happens with flaky Wi‑Fi, aggressive battery optimization, or if the download was interrupted in the background.
- Compare file size if you can (email often shows the attachment size; cloud drives show size in details).
- Download over a different connection (switch Wi‑Fi ↔ mobile data).
- Download from the source app again rather than re-opening the same saved copy (for example, re-save the attachment from Outlook/Gmail/Teams).
- Rename the file to something simple (no special characters) before opening.
If the file came from a share link, try opening the link in the official app (OneDrive/SharePoint/Teams) and choose Open in app rather than downloading first.
5. Update (or repair) the Microsoft apps without risking your document
If multiple Microsoft files fail, the issue may be the app install rather than the file.
- Update the app(s) in Google Play: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and/or Microsoft 365.
- Force stop the app: Settings → Apps → (app) → Force stop.
- Clear cache (not data): Settings → Apps → (app) → Storage → Clear cache.
If you clear storage/data, the app may sign you out and remove offline files. Cache is the safer first step.
6. Check if it’s an older Office format or protected/encrypted file
Not all “Word/Excel/PowerPoint” files behave the same.
- Old formats: .doc / .xls / .ppt can open, but compatibility varies. If possible, ask the sender to re-save as .docx/.xlsx/.pptx.
- Password-protected files: If it’s encrypted, the app should prompt for a password. If it doesn’t, the file may be damaged or the opener is wrong.
- Rights-managed files: Some work/school documents require your organization account and specific policies. Try opening while signed into the correct Microsoft account inside the app.
If it’s a work file, also try opening from within OneDrive or Teams while connected to your organization’s network/VPN (if they require it).
7. Quick corruption test (without uploading the file anywhere)
If only one specific file fails and others open fine, that file is likely corrupted or incomplete.
- Try opening a different DOCX/XLSX/PPTX you already have (a known-good file).
- Send the same file to yourself via a different method (download again from the original source rather than forwarding the broken copy).
- Open on another device if available (a different phone/tablet or a PC) to confirm whether it’s the file or Android.
If it won’t open anywhere, ask the sender for a fresh export or an earlier version.
Final thoughts
Most “won’t open” Microsoft file issues on Android come down to the wrong default app, blocked file access, or an incomplete download.
If you run the checklist, move the file to Downloads, and open it from inside the Microsoft app, you usually get a clean result without uploading your document to any converter site.