Fix ‘The File Couldn’t Open in Protected View’ issue

In this article we will show you how to Fix ‘The File Couldn’t Open in Protected View’ issue. Microsoft’s Protected View is an extra layer of security. It is a read-only mode where most of the writing tools are turned off. Protected View is also turned on by default. This is also helpful when opening files from places on your computer, the Internet, or Microsoft Outlook that you don’t know about. Even though this mode is turned on for security, users have said that Protected View also causes problems. If you want to know more information about this Visit Official Microsoft Website.

Users have said that when they open a file, it either says it is broken or stays on the starting screen. This problem happens when either a Microsoft Word or Excel file is opened. Also, most of the files that cause problems come from Microsoft Outlook. When an Excel workbook is in Protected View mode, users can only read it. They can’t change or edit any of the data in the worksheet. But if Excel can’t be opened in Protected View, you know something needs to be changed. This post will show you ways to Fix ‘The File Couldn’t Open in Protected View’ issue.

Causes of the ‘The File Couldn’t Open in Protected View’ Issue

1. File origin: The file may have been downloaded from an untrusted or possibly dangerous source, which is why the “protected view” mode is on.
2. File type: Files that come from the internet or are attached to an email are more likely to cause the protected view mode to keep the user safe.
3. Macro or active content: If the file has macros or active content that can do potentially harmful things, it may cause the protected view mode to stop these things from happening automatically.
4. Software that is too old: If you are trying to open the file with an old version of the software, it may not work with the private view mode and cause problems.
5. Security settings: Your software or operating system might be set up so that files open in protected view by default. This could be the cause of the problem.

Ways to fix ‘The File Couldn’t Open in Protected View’ issue

Restart Your Computer

Like with our other tips, if you have problems with Microsoft Excel, we suggest that you restart your device. So, you can be sure the problem isn’t caused by a brief bug or glitch that happened while the program was running.

1. First, make sure your work is saved and close Microsoft Excel.
2. After that, click on the Power Options tab in the Start menu.
3. Last, click Restart and wait for your computer to start up again.
4. Restart your PC.
5. Once you’re done, go back to your file and try to open it to see if you can now.

Repair the Office Installation

Excel may show the “file could not open in protected view” error if the Office software is broken. So, fix your Office software and see if the problem goes away.

1. Click the Uninstall a program link under Programs in the Control Panel.
2. Under the Programs tab, click the Uninstall a program link.
3. Right-click the Microsoft Office program you’ve loaded and click the Change button.
4. Choose “Repair” and then click “Continue.”

Disable the Protected View Settings

1. Open the Excel file that is giving the problem, go to File, and click the Options tab.
2. Go to the Trust Centre and click on Trust Centre Settings in the Options box.
3. Choose the Protected View tab from the Trust Centre Settings box.
4. Uncheck the choice you want to change in the Protected View section, and then click OK to make the changes take effect. For example, if the file is a saved Outlook attachment, uncheck the “Enable Protected View for Outlook attachments” box.
5. Click OK once more.

Disable Hardware Acceleration

Hardware acceleration is a function that lets programs use your graphics card and other hardware that is compatible with it to run faster. But not all computers can take advantage of hardware acceleration, which could also cause problems. If you can’t get to your files in Microsoft Excel, try turning off hardware processing in the settings.

1. Go to File > Options on Microsoft Excel.
2. Next, go to the tab called “Advanced.”
3. Lastly, go to the tab called Display and click on the choice called “Disable Hardware Graphics Acceleration.”
4. Go to File > Options on Microsoft Excel.
5. Next, go to the tab called “Advanced.”
6. Lastly, go to the tab called Display and click on the choice called “Disable Hardware Graphics Acceleration.”

Install Latest MS Office Updates

Several Excel users have said that after moving Windows to a newer version, they have problems (like the Protected View problem) when they open an Office document like Excel, Word, or another one. This trouble could happen if the Office app and the updated version of Windows don’t work well together. You can try to fix the problem by updating the Office app. Here’s how:

1. Click the File tab in the Excel file that is giving you trouble.
2. At the bottom left of the screen, click the Account tab.
3. Expand Update Options in Office Updates, then click Update Now.

Check Your File Block Settings

The “This file couldn’t open in protected view” error could be caused by the way your Microsoft Excel file block settings are set. To fix this problem, follow the steps below to change how your block works.

1. Open Microsoft Excel on your computer as a first step.
2. After that, go to Options by clicking on the File tab.
3. Now, go to Trust Centre and click Trust Centre Settings.
4. Find ‘Excel 4 Workbooks‘ in the File Block Settings area of the side menu.
5. Last, uncheck all of the choices from “Excel 4 Workbooks” to “Excel 2 Macrosheets and Add-in Files.”

Why Protected View is Important

Protected View is important for making sure that papers are safe and correct, especially in Microsoft Excel. Here are some important things about Protected View:

1. Malicious Content Protection: Protected View helps stop possibly harmful content or malicious code in a document from being run. It protects you from files that might have viruses, malware, or other bad things in them.
2. Phishing and Social Engineering Defence: Documents from sources you don’t know or trust can be used to try to phish you or trick you into doing something. Protected View adds an extra layer of security by isolating the document and reducing its features until the user decides that it is safe.
3. File Origin Verification: Protected View helps make sure the file is real and safe by showing a message if the document was downloaded from the internet or somewhere else that could be dangerous. This alert is meant to tell you to be careful when working with the document.
4. Risk Reduction for Vulnerabilities: Software bugs in programs like Excel can be used by bad people to gain unauthorized entry to a user’s system or do other bad things on it. Protected View reduces these risks by limiting how these weaknesses can be used and how bad they could be.

How to Determine if a File is in Protected View

1. Open the file with the right program (like Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint).
2. Look at the top of the document window for a sign that tells you something is wrong. Most of the time, this warning means that the file is in Protected View.
3. Check the program window’s title bar. If the file is in Protected View, the title bar may have a label or sign that says “Protected View” or “Read-Only.”
4. Check the ribbon or menu choices to see if there are any other signs of Protected View. Some apps may have a tab or area that is just for Protected View settings.
5. Look at the details of the file. Right-click the file and choose “Properties” or something similar from the menu that appears. Look for things like a “Read-Only” flag that might indicate that the file is in Protected View.

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