Repair a damaged Word document

If Word cannot open a document, keep the original file and work from a copy. The right recovery step depends on what is actually damaged.

First, try Word’s own recovery options

1. Make a copy of the file, especially if it is your only copy.
2. Try opening the copy in Microsoft Word. If Word offers an automatic repair, review the result before saving over anything.
3. Check version history or backups in the place where the file was stored. An earlier intact version may preserve more content than a repair.

If the file is zero bytes or its missing content was never saved, a repair service cannot reliably recreate that content.

How AEDOC can help

AEDOC inspects the structure of supported Word documents and templates, identifies damage, and attempts conservative repairs. A free diagnosis tells you the outcome and known limitations. If a recoverable result is ready, a $14.99 USD Rescue Pass before applicable tax unlocks the document and full report. Unrecoverable results are not charged.

Supported Word formats are .docx, .docm, .dotx, and .dotm. Older .doc files and encrypted files are outside the current scope. Macro parts can be preserved, but AEDOC does not run macros or validate their behavior or digital signatures.

Review any recovered file

Check text, tables, images, layout, links, and other important content against the original or a backup. A partial recovery may have missing or changed material. AEDOC reports known loss and unresolved issues so you can decide whether the result is useful.