Quick Fix “Sorry PowerPoint Can’t Read” Windows & Mac

You spend your time and effort designing a top-notch PowerPoint presentation only to find out that it is now showing a “Sorry PowerPoint can’t read” error. Feel broken or frustrated? Don’t worry! This is a common and fixable error.

The PowerPoint can’t read error can show up on any PowerPoint file, whether it is created by you or someone else. Many reasons can cause this issue. However, it is easily fixable without compromising your PPT file. This is exactly what we will learn in this guide. 

Stick around to learn the possible reasons behind the sorry PowerPoint can’t read 0 error and then 9 best fixes to resolve it. 

Part One: Reasons for PowerPoint Can’t Read

The “sorry PowerPoint can’t read 0” error means that PowerPoint isn’t able to open the PPT file. The “0” in the error message can indicate an invalid or missing element from the file. However, the likely reasons behind why PowerPoint won’t open the file are as follows:

• The file is not accessible due to permission or security settings.
• The PowerPoint software is not installed properly.
• The file is corrupted due to an error during saving or an unexpected crash.
• The file is outdated.
• The file is saved in an incompatible format.
• The PowerPoint version is not compatible with the file.
• The PowerPoint version does not support the file’s complex features, such as unusual fonts or advanced animations.

In short, there are various reasons that can cause the PowerPoint can’t read error. However, there is nothing to worry about. The next sections of this guide present the best-proven ways to fix the error easily.

Part Two: Quick Fix “Sorry PowerPoint Can’t Read 0” on Windows/Mac

The best and fastest way to fix the sorry PowerPoint can’t read error is by using a powerful file repair software, like 4DDiG File Repair.

4DDiG File Repair is an AI-powered file repair software that can repair corrupted PowerPoint files with a few simple clicks. It can intelligently detect the root cause of the error and then fix it automatically. 

Key Features of 4DDiG File Repair

• AI-powered algorithms to expertly fix different types of file corruption, no matter the complexity.
• Click-based user-friendly interface.
• Repair corrupted files in various formats, such as PPT, Word, Excel, image, videos, PDF, etc.
• Repair multiple files simultaneously.
• Allow you to preview the repaired file before saving.
• Compatible with Windows and Mac. 

Simply put, 4DDiG File Repair is a powerful and reliable tool to fix the “sorry PowerPoint can’t read 0” error effortlessly. Here are the steps to fix a corrupted PowerPoint file with the intuitive approach of 4DDiG File Repair:

Step 1. Download and launch 4DDiG File Repair on your computer. Click the “File Repair” tab from the left sidebar and open the PowerPoint file(s) you want to repair.

Step 2. After uploading the file, tap “Start Repair” to initiate the repair process. Wait until the repair is completed.

Step 3. Once the repair is completed, click “View Results”. Afterward, preview the file, select it, and click “Export Selected” to save the repaired file back to your computer.

That’s it! This way, a 3-step process with 4DDiG File Repair lets you quickly fix the PowerPoint can’t read error. So, why remain more worried? Install 4DDiG File Repair and repair the PPT file right away.

Part Three: Alternative Ways to Fix PowerPoint Can’t Read

Other than the top-notch 4DDiG File Repair software, there are also a few other ways you can use to fix the sorry PowerPoint can’t read 0 error. Below, we have shortlisted 8 ways you can try:

Fix One: Unlock the PowerPoint Presentation

There is a possibility that the PowerPoint presentation you want to open is locked. If that’s the case, then PowerPoint won’t open the file. So, here’s how to unlock the PowerPoint presentation:

Step 1. Right-click the PowerPoint file and select “Properties”.

Step 2. Under the “General” tab, tick the “Unblock” checkbox and click Apply > OK. 

Now, try to open the PowerPoint presentation. If the file was locked, it should now open without error. 

Fix Two: Open PowerPoint in Safe Mode

Sometimes, the sorry PowerPoint can’t read error is due to application crashes or incompatible add-ons/extensions. In such cases, opening the file in safe mode might fix the issue. The safe mode disables unwanted customizations and add-ins. 

To open PowerPoint in safe mode, follow the below steps:

Step 1. Close all PowerPoint windows.

Step 2. Click “Windows + R” to open the Run window.

Step 3. Type “powerpnt /safe” and click “OK”. You have now entered PowerPoint safe mode.

Open the PowerPoint file and see if the safe mode makes the file open without error. 

Fix Three: Change the Presentation Format

There are occasions when the PowerPoint won’t open error is due to file incompatibility. Therefore, the next fix you should try is saving the file in a different format, like .pptx. Follow the below steps to do so:

Step 1. Open the existing PowerPoint file.

Step 2. Click the “File” tab from the top left corner and then click “Save As”.

Step 3. Choose a different file format. For example, if the file is currently in .ppt format, change it to .pptx format. Once done, save the file.

Now, try to open the PowerPoint file in the newly created format and test your luck. 

Fix Four: Update PowerPoint

If you haven’t updated PowerPoint for a long time, then it is likely that you are running an outdated software version. An outdated version can likely cause the sorry PowerPoint can’t read error. Therefore, you should update PowerPoint to the latest version, as follows:

Step 1. Open PowerPoint and click “File > Account”.

Step 2. Tap “Update Options” and select “Update Now”. 

Step 3. Complete the update process by following the on-screen instructions.

Step 4. Once the update is installed, restart your computer.

After restarting, open the PowerPoint file and see how it works this time. 

Fix Five: Deactivate your Antivirus for a While

When PowerPoint is accessed via untrustworthy or unknown sources, the computer’s antivirus program may block it. Therefore, you should deactivate the antivirus software if you are trying to open a PPT file received from a reliable website or trusted friend. 

Once you have viewed the PPT file, re-enable the antivirus software. 

Fix Six: Use Microsoft Office Repair

If you are unable to solve the sorry PowerPoint can’t read 0 error, then try using the Microsoft Office Repair function. Microsoft Office offers a built-in Repair function through which the tool can scan and repair issues automatically. 

Follow the below steps to use Microsoft Office Repair:

Step 1. Close all Microsoft Office programs.

Step 2. Search for “Control Panel” from the Windows Start menu and open it.

Step 3. Go to “Programs > Uninstall a Program” and find “Microsoft Office”.

Step 4. Right-click “Microsoft Office” and tap “Change”.

Step 5. Select the repair method of your choice and then click “Repair”.

Wait for the repair process to complete. Once done, open the PowerPoint file again and see if the error is fixed now. 

Fix Seven: View Version History on OneDrive

If you are trying to open a PowerPoint file from OneDrive, you can leverage its version history feature to access the older working file version. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1. Open Finder (or File Explorer) and go to the OneDrive folder where the PowerPoint file is stored.

Step 2. Right-click the file and click “Version History”. 

Step 3. Click the “3-dots” icon next to the version you want to restore and click “Restore”.

Once the previous version is restored, open the file again and see if it opens without error. 

Fix Eight: Upload and Download PowerPoint File in Google Drive

You can also upload the PowerPoint file to Google Drive and then download it back. Doing so can help you fix the error caused by issues related to formatting, compatibility, and similar others. Follow the below steps to upload and download PowerPoint file in Google Drive:

Step 1. Close all the PowerPoint files. 

Step 2. Open your Google Drive account and click “+New” from the left side. Afterward, click “Google Slides > Blank presentation”.

Step 3. In Google Slides, click “File > Import slides”.

Step 4. Click the “Upload” tab and then select and open the problematic PowerPoint file. 

Step 5. Once the PowerPoint file has loaded, click File > Download > Microsoft PowerPoint (.pptx).

Now open the newly downloaded PowerPoint file and see if you have resolved the sorry PowerPoint can’t read 0 error.