unable to open the word file

Try this in order:

1. Restart the PC first If Repair Now already appeared and did not fix Word, restart Windows before trying repair again.
2. Run an Office repair from Windows
   • Right-click Start.
   • Select Apps and Features on Windows 10, or Installed apps on Windows 11.
   • Select Microsoft 365 or Office.
   • Select Modify.
   • If available, start with Quick Repair.
   • If Word still does not open, run Online Repair.
   Note: Online Repair can reinstall Office.
3. Try opening the document with Open and Repair If Word opens but the file does not:
   • Open Word.
   • Select File > Open > Browse.
   • Select the file.
   • Select the arrow next to Open.
   • Choose Open and Repair.
4. If the file is locked for editing If the message says the document is locked by another user:
   • Close all Word windows.
   • Open Task Manager and end any Winword.exe processes.
   • Browse to the folder that contains the document.
   • Delete the owner file that starts with ~$ and matches the document name.
   • Start Word and open the document again.
5. If files open in the wrong app or do not open by double-clicking
   • Open Control Panel.
   • Go to Programs > Programs and Features and repair Office.
   • If needed, go to Programs > Default Programs and set the correct file type association for Word documents.

References:

• Repair an Office application
• Open a document after a file corruption error
• "The document is locked for editing by another user" error message when you try to open a document in Word
• Double-clicking an Office file fails to open it in the correct Office program