My docs open in the wrong program! Re-registering Word using the commandline.

My documents open in WordPad, the wrong version of Word, Powerpoint, etc.

My Word documents look like Excel spreadsheets, WordPad, etc.

I installed a new version of Word but my documents keep opening in the wrong version or have started opening in the wrong version.

Windows keeps track of which program works with which kind of file using the filename extensions. In the case of Word, those extensions are .doc, .dot, .docx, .docm, dotx, and .dotm. When you double-click on a file with one of these extensions, it is supposed to open in Word. If it doesn't, something has happened to the Windows Registry for that extension. There are a number of ways of fixing that. This page is about the most straight-forward. That is called Re-registering Word.

Re-reregistering Word can be done simply on the Windows command line. In Windows 7 and later, press the Windows key+R or you can type the command into the Start Menu search box. I would type the word "run" in that box and select the App. It will give you a dialog like the one below. In earlier versions of Windows, pick the Run command from the start menu.

When you get to the dialog allowing you to type a command, you need to type the command to re-register Word.

In many instances, the following, without quotation marks, but with the space before the "/r," will work:

"winword.exe /r"

If that does not work, you may have to point Windows to the right place. That requires a longer command where you will need the quotation marks. Likely variations are:

Word 2003

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office11\winword.exe" /r

Word 2007

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12\winword.exe" /r

Word 2010

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14\winword.exe" /r

Word 2013

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15\winword.exe" /r

Word 2016-2024/365

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16\winword.exe" /r

or

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\winword.exe" /r

If that doesn't work, try running a Repair on your office installation.

Repair or remove Office 2010 - http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/repair-or-remove-office-2010-HA010357402.aspx?CTT=1

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Copyright 2000-2024 Charles Kyle Kenyon

FAQ provided as an adjunct / hobby as a part of my web site as a criminal defense lawyer.

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