Fixed- Office Has Detected A Problem With This File Protected View Error

When trying to open an Excel document, you may experience “Office has detected a problem with this file, to help protect your computer this file cannot be opened. Editing it may harm your computer.” Encountering this message can be frustrating and appears due to various reasons. Below is the screenshot of the error:

Office has detected a problem with this file

This guide provides numerous solutions to fix this error and regain access to your files. So, without any further ado, let’s get started…

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What Are The Circumstances That Leads To Protected View Office Has Detected A Problem Error?

Mostly this error comes in the following situations:

  •   When you have opened an embedded object.
  •   While performing a mail merge.
  •   Opening Excel file from the viewer.

Why Is My Excel File Opening in Protected View?

When a file is opened in a protected view, the read-only mode is activated and thus most of the editing options are disabled in it. Well, there are so many reasons behind opening an Excel file in a protected view. Check out the listed reasons:

  1. Corrupted Microsoft Office suite or Excel file.
  2. Outdated software.
  3. Incorrect file extensions.
  4. File blocking settings.
  5. The file was opened from an unsafe location.

After knowing the common causes now it’s time to fix this error with the best possible fixes.

How to Fix Office Has Detected A Problem With This File Protected View Error?

Go through the given fixes one by one to troubleshoot the protected view Office has detected a problem with this file. editing it may harm your computer.

Method 1- Disable The Protected View Option

The very first solution that you all must try to fix protected view error is disabling this option.

  • Open your MS Excel application and tap on the File> Options tab.

Last Time You Opened It Caused a Serious Error

  • This will open the Excel Option window on your screen. Now from the left pane hit the Trust Center option.
  • Hit the button of Trust Settings and then select the Protected View option in the next opened window.

Protected View

  • Un-select the option “Enabled Protected View for files originating from the Internet”

If Excel files are being opened from the network drive it gets opened in the protected view. So, it is very useful for unknown sources.

Whereas in the product environment, this protected view is too annoying when this is done from NAS which is the central data server.

So by keeping it disabled, you can easily continue your work.

Method 2- Repair Corrupted Excel File

Sometimes, corruption in the Excel file can be another foremost reason for the occurrence of this runtime error. In such a case, you can run the ‘Open and Repair’ tool to repair the problematic Excel file.

Steps to be followed:

  • Open Excel >> click on Blank
  • In a blank workbook, go to the File>> Open.
  • After this, click on Browse to choose the Excel document.
  • Click on the Open button arrow to choose Open and Repair.

Open and Repair

  • Finally, click on Repair.

In case of severe corruption problems, the Open and Repair tool fails. At that time, you can opt for the sophisticated Excel Repair Software. This tool can easily repair the corrupted file and recover all the data saved within it.

Also Read: Excel “This File Type Is Not Supported in Protected View” Error

Method 3- Update the Microsoft Excel Application to Fix Office Has Detected A Problem With This File Protected View

Generally, MS Office takes its update automatically but in case it won’t work, it’s better to update it manually. Otherwise, you will get the error message upon opening.

  • First of all open the Microsoft Excel application, and then tap over the File tab.
  •  Now tap to the Product Information tab. Once the page of product detail gets open on your screen choose Update Options.
  •  Hit the button of Update Now.

Update Excel

Method 4- Repair Microsoft Excel

Various types of MS Office malfunctioning can be easily resolved with this repair process. So you must try this solution once.

  • Open the control panel on your PC, and hit the Program >> Programs and Feature tab.

control panel

  • Now choose Microsoft Office Suite from the list of installed applications.
  • Once you get it make a right-click over it, and then from the drop-down menu choose the Change option.
  •  In the next open window, you have to choose the “repair” button.

ms office repair from control panel

Method 5- Add A Trusted Location For The File

This solution is applicable for all works for all the latest MS Office products such as Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint and Visio etc.

  •  Open your MS Office application.
  •  Hit the File > Options tab.
  •  This will open the Excel Option window on your screen. Now from the left pane hit the Trust Locations option.
  •  Make a tap over the Add new location.

Add new location

  • Hit the Browse button and select your problematic file. After that hit the OK button.

Also Read: Excel “The File Couldn’t Open in Protected View” Error!

Related FAQs:

How to Enable Editing on Protected View in Excel?

To enable editing on protected view in Excel, follow these steps:

  • Navigate to File > Info.
  • Choose the Protect document >> Enable Editing.

Has Detected a Problem with This File Editing, It May Harm Your Computer. Click For More Details.?

This error message can occur for a malicious file and editing that file could be dangerous.

Why Can't I Exit Protected View?

If you are unable to exit from the protected view then chances are high that the system administrator has set some rules to prevent closing of the protected view. So, talk to the administrator to remove these rules.

How Do I Remove a Protected View from A File?

To remove a protected view from a file, click File >> Options >> Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Protected View. Now, clear the box for ‘Enable Protected View’ for files originating from the internet.

Conclusion:

The protected view Office has detected a problem with this file in Excel 2016 message is a very annoying one. But now that you know how to fix it you don’t need to deal with this anymore.

Besides this you are facing any other problem in your Excel file corruption or damage then you should try the Excel repair tool. It is the best professional tool to repair xls/xlsx files.

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Priyanka is a content marketing expert. She writes tech blogs and has expertise in MS Office, Excel, and other tech subjects. Her distinctive art of presenting tech information in the easy-to-understand language is very impressive. When not writing, she loves unplanned travels.