Software⏱️ 4 min read📅 2026-06-11

How to Fix: "This file can't be previewed because of an error in the Microsoft Word previewer."

Error in Microsoft Word previewer prevents Outlook from displaying attachments.

Quick Answer: Check Trust Center attachment handling for specific file types, such as Microsoft Word.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 🛑 Root Causes of the Error
  2. ✅ Best Solutions to Fix It
  3. ✨ Wrapping Up

This issue affects users of Outlook 2013 on Windows 7 64bit SSD, specifically those who are unable to preview attachments from Microsoft Word documents. This error can be frustrating for users who rely on previews to quickly assess attachment contents. In this troubleshooting guide, we will explore the root causes and provide step-by-step solutions to resolve the 'This file can't be previewed because of an error in the Microsoft Word previewer' issue.

We will first examine the possible reasons behind this problem and then outline the primary fix method, followed by alternative solutions. By following these steps, users should be able to regain access to previews for attachments from Microsoft Word documents.

🛑 Root Causes of the Error

  • The primary root cause of this error is a misconfigured Trust Center setting in Outlook 2013. Specifically, the 'Microsoft Word' attachment type may not be explicitly listed in the Trust Center's attachment handling settings. This omission prevents Outlook from using its built-in previewer to display attachments from Microsoft Word documents.
  • An alternative reason for this issue could be a conflict between the version of Microsoft Word used to create the attachment and the version of Outlook 2013 being used to open it. If the versions are not compatible, Outlook may struggle to provide previews for attachments.

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

Resetting the Trust Center settings

  1. Step 1: Open Outlook 2013 and navigate to the 'Trust Center' by clicking on the 'File' tab and selecting 'Options'. In the 'Trust Center' window, click on the 'Trust Center Settings' button.
  2. Step 2: In the 'Trust Center Settings' window, click on the 'Attachments' tab and then select the 'Microsoft Word' attachment type from the list. Click on the 'Add' button to add this attachment type to the list of trusted attachments.
  3. Step 3: Click 'OK' to save the changes and close the 'Trust Center Settings' window. Restart Outlook 2013 and try opening an attachment from a Microsoft Word document again.
  4. Step 4: If the issue persists after resetting the Trust Center settings, proceed to the alternative solution.

Updating Microsoft Word

  1. Step 1: Ensure that Microsoft Word is up-to-date by running the 'Automatic Updates' feature. To do this, open Microsoft Word and click on 'File' > 'Options' > 'Add-ins'. In the 'Manage COM Add-ins' window, check for any available updates and install them.
  2. Step 2: Alternatively, you can manually update Microsoft Word to the latest version from the Microsoft website or by using a third-party update tool.
  3. Step 3: After updating Microsoft Word, restart Outlook 2013 and try opening an attachment from a Microsoft Word document again. If the issue persists, proceed to the next step.

✨ Wrapping Up

By following these steps, users should be able to resolve the 'This file can't be previewed because of an error in the Microsoft Word previewer' issue in Outlook 2013. Remember to regularly update your software and check for conflicts between different versions to prevent similar issues from arising in the future.

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