How to fix Unfortunately PowerPoint cannot read in Windows 10

 

Sometimes we might have encountered this error saying PowerPoint file cannot be read and wondered what is causing the problem. This issue generally occurs under the following circumstances:

• PowerPoint file is downloaded from internet by unknown source
• The PowerPoint file looks unsecured to the system
• The PowerPoint file is corrupt.

In this article, let's discuss different ways to fix "Sorry, PowerPoint can't read" issue in Windows 10. Here we see different issues to fix the first two issues mentioned above. However, if the file is corrupt, these fixes will not work.

Fix 1: Disable your antivirus temporarily

Sometimes, when the PPT is downloaded from unknown, not so secure sources, it blocks the antivirus program in the system. If you received the PPT from a trusted friend or site, disable the antivirus. Try opening the PPT file and re-enabling the antivirus program.

Check if this fix works, if not try the next fix.

Fix 2: Unlock PPT file from properties

Step 1: Right-click on the PowerPoint file that you want to open and choose Properties

Step 2: In the properties window

1. Make sure you are in the General tab
2. In the Security section, tick on the Unlock option as shown below
3. Click OK
4. Finally press OK

Try if this works and see if you can open the PowerPoint file. If not, try the following solution.

Fix 3: Disable Protected View in Trust Center Settings

Step 1: Open a Microsoft PowerPoint and click on the File menu option as shown below .

Step 2: In the window that opens, click Options in the left side menu .

Step 3: In the PowerPoint Options window that opens

1. Select Trust Center on the left
2. Click Trust Center Settings

Step 4: In the Trust Center Settings window that opens

1. Choose Protected View from the menu on the left
2. Disable the Enable Protected View for files from the Internet option
3. Uncheck Enable Protected View for files located in potentially unsafe locations
4. Uncheck Enable Protected View for Outlook attachments
5. Click OK

Step 5: Click OK on the PowerPoint options

Step 6: Try to open the PowerPoint file that has problems.

Check if this fixes the problem. If not, try the following solution.

Fix 4: Update PowerPoint application

Step 1: Open a Microsoft PowerPoint and click on the File menu option as shown below .

Step 2: In the window that opens

1. In the menu on the left, click Account .
2. Click Update Options
3. Choose Update Now

Step 3: Restart your PC and try to open the file and check if the problem is solved. If not, it may mean that the PPT is corrupt and cannot be opened.

That's it. We hope this was informative. Thank you for reading. Please comment and let us know if this article helped you.