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

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Using Date Fields in Microsoft Word
Calculated Dates
Booklet Formatting and Printing in Microsoft Word
Changing the Default Font in Microsoft Word
Document linked to Printer in Microsoft Word
Fonts Missing from Menu in Microsoft Word
How can I get a different header / footer on the second page?
Heading? Header? Microsoft Word Help
More on Headers and Footers in Word
Letterhead
I want the filename in the footer of every document.
Margins Missing - White Space
Mapped Content Controls and Document Properties
Moving/Reorganizing Pages in Microsoft Word
Print Preview in Microsoft Word
Weird Lines and Borders
Macros and VBA
Malicious Macros vba in Microsoft Word
Master Documents Feature in Microsoft Word
A Back CoverPage in Microsoft Word
Normal Template in Microsoft Word - How to Open or Find the Normal Template
My docs open in the wrong program! Re-registering Word using the commandline.
Moving (Sharing) Customizations in Microsoft Word
Global StyleSheet?
MVP means?
Naming Files - A System is the Key
Posting tips in the Microsoft Word Forums
Getting rid of that (*)#"@^ paperclip! - Taming the Office Assistant
Page X of Y doesn't work in Microsoft Word!
Save Changes to the Global Template? Keeps Popping Up
Templates in Microsoft Word
Global Templates
Too Many Icons on the Taskbar in Microsoft Word 2000
Getting Rid of the Web Toolbar in Microsoft Word
Word for Word Perfect Users
Favorite Documents Menu
Work Menu in Microsoft Word
Spell Check Dialog Instead of Editor
Templates Menu in Microsoft Word
What books have been recommended about Microsoft Word?
Where can I find more templates?
Word Links

 

My documents open in the wrong application

This page last revised: 06 Jan 2024 23:47:34 -0500 .

 

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 2016-2021/365

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

or

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

If you are using a 64-bit version of Office for some reason, you would use “Program Files” instead of “Program Files (x86).”

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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Using Date Fields in Microsoft Word
Calculated Dates
Booklet Formatting and Printing in Microsoft Word
Changing the Default Font in Microsoft Word
Document linked to Printer in Microsoft Word
Fonts Missing from Menu in Microsoft Word
How can I get a different header / footer on the second page?
Heading? Header? Microsoft Word Help
More on Headers and Footers in Word
Letterhead
I want the filename in the footer of every document.
Margins Missing - White Space
Mapped Content Controls and Document Properties
Moving/Reorganizing Pages in Microsoft Word
Print Preview in Microsoft Word
Weird Lines and Borders
Macros and VBA
Malicious Macros vba in Microsoft Word
Master Documents Feature in Microsoft Word
A Back CoverPage in Microsoft Word
Normal Template in Microsoft Word - How to Open or Find the Normal Template
My docs open in the wrong program! Re-registering Word using the commandline.
Moving (Sharing) Customizations in Microsoft Word
Global StyleSheet?
MVP means?
Naming Files - A System is the Key
Posting tips in the Microsoft Word Forums
Getting rid of that (*)#"@^ paperclip! - Taming the Office Assistant
Page X of Y doesn't work in Microsoft Word!
Save Changes to the Global Template? Keeps Popping Up
Templates in Microsoft Word
Global Templates
Too Many Icons on the Taskbar in Microsoft Word 2000
Getting Rid of the Web Toolbar in Microsoft Word
Word for Word Perfect Users
Favorite Documents Menu
Work Menu in Microsoft Word
Spell Check Dialog Instead of Editor
Templates Menu in Microsoft Word
What books have been recommended about Microsoft Word?
Where can I find more templates?
Word Links

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