If the problem is not restricted to Word (you have this problem with excel files also) or you have many Word files with the same behavior, the problem is likely caused by a Trust Center setting. It’s likely that the files that you’re trying to open are located in a location that Office considers to be unsafe.
Here’s a quick guide with the modifications that need to be done in order to eliminate the problem:
- Open Word, Excel, or any other application from the Office suite. Expand the File tab from the ribbon and click on Options.
- In Options, click on Trust Center, then click on Trust Center Settings.
- In Trust Center settings, select Protected view and uncheck the following boxes:
Enable Protected View for Files originating from the Internet
Enable Protected View for Files located in potentially unsafe locations
Enable Protected View for Outlook attachments - Save the changes and close the Office program, then open the files that were displaying the “Word experienced an error trying to open the file. Please try the following suggestions“. They should now open without any issue.