How to Fix PowerPoint File Not Opening

Are you wondering why your PowerPoint file is not opening?

You might have a scheduled presentation in the office or school, and upon opening your presentation, you are presented with a ‘PowerPoint Found a Problem with the Content’ error message. 

Now, you are caught off guard by the error code and don’t know what to do. 

When this error code occurs on PowerPoint, you won’t be able to open your presentation unless you figure out the cause of the problem. 

After doing some research, we’ve found out several reasons why this issue occurs. 

First, it can be due to the ‘Protected Views’ feature of PowerPoint. When this feature is enabled on your end, users who downloaded your presentation from the web won’t be able to open the file. 

On the other hand, it can also be due to corrupted data, incorrect file location, or third-party applications. 

In this guide, we will show you how to fix your PowerPoint file if it’s not opening. 

Let’s dive right in!

1. Disable Protected Views. 

As stated above, the Protected Views feature of PowerPoint is the primary culprit for this error on the app. If you can’t open your presentation, it’s likely that the feature is enabled on your computer. 

Here’s what you need to do: 

1. First, launch PowerPoint on your computer. 
2. After that, click on File and choose Options. 
3. Now, go to the Trust Centers tab and click on Protected View. 
4. Lastly, disable the feature and save the changes. 

Restart PowerPoint on your computer and check if the problem is solved. 

2. Add the Folder to Safe List. 

If you have downloaded your presentation from the internet, it is possible that its location is not included on PowerPoint’s safe list. In this case, you can follow the steps below to add the file or folder to the list. 

1. Launch PowerPoint on your computer. 
2. Next, click on File in the menu bar and choose Options. 
3. Access the Trust Center afterward and click on Trust Center Settings. 
4. Click on Trusted Locations and choose Add New Location.
5. Finally, browse and add the location where your presentation is stored. 

Try opening your presentation afterward to check if the problem is solved. 

3. Move the File From Cloud Folder.

If the steps above did not work, it is possible that you’ve put your presentation in a cloud folder such as OneDrive or Dropbox. To avoid issues, we suggest moving your file to a regular folder or the desktop first. 

Here’s what you need to do: 

1. First, open the File Explorer and locate your presentation. 
2. After that, decide where you want to store it and open the location on a separate window. 
3. Lastly, drag the file to the new folder or paste it into the directory. 

Once done, try opening your presentation again. 

4. Unblock the File. 

There are instances when Windows mistakenly blocks your presentation if you’ve downloaded it from the web. This is an additional safety measure on Windows that prevents viruses and malware from infiltrating your system. 

See the guide below to unblock your presentation: 

1. Launch the File Explorer and navigate to your presentation. 
2. Right-click on the file and choose Properties. 
3. Now, go to the General tab and find the Security section. 
4. Finally, click on Unblock and save the changes. 

Open your presentation once again to check if the problem is solved. 

5. Update Windows. 

The version of Windows you are using might have an underlying issue that causes PowerPoint to malfunction. To be sure, we suggest updating your system to the latest version possible to patch bugs and glitches. 

Here’s how you can update Windows: 

1. On your keyboard, press the Windows + I keys to open Windows Settings. 
2. Next, look at the side menu and access Windows Update. 
3. Finally, click on Download & Install if there’s an available update. 

Restart your system afterward and check if the problem is solved. 

6. Reinstall PowerPoint. 

If none of the solutions above worked for you, the problem could be with PowerPoint itself. In this case, we recommend reinstalling the program on your computer to ensure that everything is in order. 

Follow the steps below to delete PowerPoint: 

1. Launch the Control Panel on your computer. 
2. Next, click on Uninstall a Program and locate PowerPoint. 
3. Finally, right-click on the software and choose Uninstall. 

Reinstall PowerPoint on your computer and see if the same problem occurs. 

That sums up our guide for fixing your PowerPoint file if it’s not opening on your computer. For your questions and other concerns, leave a comment below, and we’ll do our best to help. 

If this guide helped you, please share it. 🙂