How to fix errors from Microsoft pptx. docx. and others that pop up on my Mac screen?

Daisy Fuentes 0 Reputation points
2026-09-17T04:06:37.7033333+00:00

My Macbook keep stating things like "Sorry, PowerPoint can't read /Users//Library/Mobile Documents/com~apple~CloudDocs/Chapter 11 Dietary Supplements.pptx." or "The Finder can’t complete the operation because some data in “Screenshot 2026-09-16 at 11.59.22 PM” can’t be read or written.

(Error code -36)" what si the problem

Microsoft 365 and Office | PowerPoint | Other | MacOS
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  1. Jhun Buala 5,720 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-09-17T05:03:57.4266667+00:00

    Hi Daisy,

    Good day. Those errors may be related to how your Mac is reading or syncing files through iCloud, instead of the PowerPoint itself. The Error -36 from Finder is specially worth checking since you're seeing similar problems with screenshots and other files too.

    Try this first:

    1. Copy one affected file to your Mac. Open Finder and go to the iCloud Drive location. Copy the Chapter 11 Dietary Supplements.pptx file. Paste it into your Documents or Desktop. Try opening the copied file in PowerPoint.
    2. Try to download the file from iCloud. Open iCloud Drive in your browser and find the same file. Download it and try opening the downloaded copy. If this copy works, the original iCloud copy may not have synced properly.
    3. Test another file Try copying one of the. screenshots that gives you Error -36 to your Desktop. If it still get the same error, the problem likely isn't just PowerPoint.

    By the way, don't delete the original files yet. We wanna make sure your files are safe while we figure out whether this is an iCloud sync issue or something with the Mac itself.

    If the local copies work fine, we can just focus on fixing the iCloud sync. If they don't, we'll take a different approach and check the Mac's file system storage.

    I hope this helps.
    Regards,
    Jhun

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  2. AI answer

    2026-09-17T04:06:57.9766667+00:00

    The PowerPoint message usually means the file is blocked, corrupted, or in an older or incompatible format. The Finder error -36 is a macOS file read/write error, and no supported fix for that error is provided here.

    For the PowerPoint .pptx issue on Mac, use this order:

    1. Install the latest Office updates
      • Open any Office app.
      • Select Help > Check for Updates.
      • In the updater window, turn on Automatically keep Microsoft apps up to date.
      • Select Update.
      • Install all available updates, then try opening the presentation again.
    2. Try another copy of the file
      • If the file was sent in email, ask for it to be sent again.
      • If it came from external media, try another copy.
      • Microsoft states the problem can be a file-format issue or file corruption.
    3. If the file is an older PowerPoint format
      • PowerPoint 2007 and later cannot open presentations saved as PowerPoint 95.
      • Open that file in PowerPoint 2003, 2002, 2000, or 97.
      • Use File > Save As.
      • Save it as Presentation (*.ppt).
      • Then open the new .ppt file in a newer PowerPoint version.
    4. If the file may be blocked for security reasons
      • On Windows, Microsoft 365 may block files and they can be unblocked from File Explorer > Properties > Unblock.
      • That specific unblock procedure in the provided material is for Windows, not Mac.
    5. If the file is damaged
      • Use the repair guidance in Microsoft’s corruption article referenced by the PowerPoint support page.

    For Word .docx or other Word files on Mac that show blocked/opening errors, these supported steps are available:

    1. Open Word and select File > Open.
    2. Select the document once.
    3. In the Open dropdown, select Recover Text, then select Open.
    4. If prompted, select OK.
    5. Then use File > Save As and save as Word Document (.docx).

    Other supported Word recovery options on Mac:

    • Open the file in an earlier version of Word.
    • Try opening it in Apple TextEdit with basic formatting.
    • Upload it to OneDrive, let it convert, then use File > Save as > Download a copy.
    • If it still fails, check for another version in Time Machine backups or another backup location.

    If the PowerPoint problem continues after these steps, Microsoft support is the documented escalation path.

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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