Sorry, Powerpoint can’t read file or Presentation cannot be opened

If you come across an error message which prompts “Sorry, PowerPoint can’t read file or Presentation cannot be opened” it’s likely that Microsoft Powerpoint or Security Software has blocked the file for security reasons.

• Open Windows File Explorer and Locate the problematic file on the computer.
• Right-click on the file and select Properties at the bottom of the menu.
• In the Properties dialog box, look for an Unblock button near the bottom right of the General tab, If it exists, click to select Unblock, then click Apply, and then click OK to dismiss the dialog box.
• Now, try to open the PPT(PowerPoint) again.

Use this method to unlock your PPT file to fix the Error “Sorry, PowerPoint can’t read file”. If this workaround doesn’t work, consider applying other methods.

Starting Powerpoint in Safe Mode can let you safely use it while it has encountered errors like “Sorry, Powerpoint can’t read file”. This is helpful when you can’t open a file in normal mode because the application is crashing or there is an extension or add-in causing a problem on startup. In safe mode, the file may not open with all the formatting but can perform certain operations like edit, save, etc.

• Find the shortcut icon of Powerpoint.
• Press and hold the CTRL key and double-click the Powerpoint icon shortcut.
• Click Yes on the prompt to start the application in Safe Mode. Or Press Windows+R keys to open the Run box. Type “powerpoint /safe” into the “Open” field, and then hit Enter or click on Ok to launch Powerpoint in Safe mode.

• The PowerPoint will launch with a new blank presentation. Make sure that ‘Safe Mode’ appears with the name of the file
• Click on File menu and select Open. Navigate the file and check if it opens in the Safe Mode
• Try to re-save the file. Click on File menu and select Save as.
• Once saved try to open the saved file.

If the PowerPoint fails to open in Safe Mode, you may be required to reinstall the application from a reliable resource.

If your file is considered potentially dangerous or from an untrusted source, the protected view won’t allow you to open it and can cause error “Sorry, PowerPoint can’t read file or Presentation cannot be opened”. To fix this, you need to disable the protected view.

• Open PowerPoint, and Go to “File”.
• Select “Options” in the menu.
• In the options, select “Trust Center”.
• At the Trust Center window, click the button for Trust Center Settings.

• Click the option for Protected View and uncheck the following these 3 options
  • Enable Protected View For Files Originating From The Internet. – controls documents opened from a website.
  • Enable Protected View For Files Located In Potentially Unsafe Locations. – controls files opened from folders considered unsafe, such as Temporary Internet Files, etc.
  • Enable Protected View For Outlook Attachments. – controls email attachments,

• Click “Ok”.

Now, try to open the file again.

To workaround, try temporarily disabling your security software and opening the PPT file. If that doesn’t work, try uninstalling the antivirus software temporarily.

• Open Antivirus application installed on the computer and then click on settings and navigate to real-time protection.
• Turn Off real-time protection.Then Navigate to Antivirus firewall.
• Turn off Antivirus firewall. Then Click on YES or OK confirmation prompt if prompted.

Don’t forget to reinstall or turn on the antivirus software after the file is opened and re-save the file.

Microsoft PowerPoint also provides an option to repair PowerPoint files.

• Launch Microsoft PowerPoint, and go to “File” menu on the top right corner.
• Select “Open” in the menu, and click “Browse”.
• Locate the file that needs to be repaired and select it.
• Click the small arrow located beside Open button and select Open and Repair option
• Press “Repair” in the pop-up window.
• Wait for the completion of the repair process

Now, try to open the file again.

This method can help you repair a slightly corrupted PowerPoint file. It may not work every time but it’s worth a try.

If Microsoft Powerpoint is behaving unusual then consider updating the Microsoft Office so that it will install new security patches and updates. Please follow the steps mentioned below to update the Microsoft Office to the latest version:

• Open Microsoft PowerPoint, go to “File”.
• Click on “Account”, and from “Office Updates” click on Update Options.
• Click “Update Now” to update your PowerPoint.

This method can only fix the errors that have been resolved by Microsoft, but it’s worth a try.

We’ve compiled all the resolutions and workarounds verified by the experts to fix the mentioned error. These resolutions and workarounds helped the users to fix the error on their system. Try implementing these resolutions on your computer and if the preceding suggestions fail to solve the error, please feel free to Ask an Expert.