Troubleshoot: Windows Explorer Word Double Click Not Opening

How do I fix Word not opening in Windows 10?

Microsoft Word helps users to create, edit, modify, save, and share or send Word documents to others as one of the best word processing tools.

It is genuinely a very user-friendly app, allowing everyone to use it without many difficulties. Yet, still, some users will encounter problems using it. For example, a bunch of users has accidentally saved over a Word document.

In addition, some have found that Windows Explorer Word double click not opening it properly.

Some may receive a notice saying, “There is no program associated with the document.” And some others may get warnings saying their files were removed.

You may now suffer from a similar plight. If so, check the possible causes and the corresponding solutions.

Why won’t Word documents open when double clicked?

The following are the possible reasons you can’t open Word documents by double-clicking.

Knowing the causes can help us solve the problem better. Check the next part to learn how to open a Word document that won't open.

How to fix Windows Explorer Word double click not opening?

Multiple methods are feasible in helping you when you can’t access Word documents.

Method 1. Change Folder Options

If you find that double-click won’t open files, including almost all files, the incorrect settings in Folder Options might be the case.

>> File Explorer/This PC > View > Options > Change folder and search options > tick Double-click to open an item (single-click to select) under Click items as follows.

In Folder Options, you could specify and personalize your preferences in showing and visiting folders. E.g., you could tick the Show recently used files in Quick access option when you find Windows 10 doesn’t show recent files.

Method 2. Change Mouse Properties

The speed of double-click can also affect how the software responds to your operations. According to the causes, we could also check if your mouse settings are proper and try to fix the Windows Explorer Word double click not opening issue.

Step 1. Start Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers > find your mouse > right-click on it > Mouse settings.

Step 2. Under Buttons > check the Double-click speed > adjust the speed according to your preferences.

Then check if the double-clicking is working now.

Method 3. Update the mouse driver

How to open a Word document that won't open? What caused it? There might be a problem with your mouse if you can’t open Word documents by clicking it.

Sometimes, it even deletes your files by clicking if there are severe problems. Some users have reported that “my laptop deleted everything I clicked”.

You could try to check if there is dust, oil, or liquid in the connection pattern of the mouse. If all is good, try updating the mouse driver.

>> Right-click the Start menu > Device Manager > find the Mice and other pointing devices > choose the mouse driver > Update driver.

See if the Windows Explorer Word double click not opening issue still exists.

Method 4. Try to repair the Office program

If you can’t open Word documents by double-clicking them, or it opens in another wrong program, there might be a file association problem.

This issue might also occur after the Windows update. But don’t worry; you could disable Windows 10 update via registry easily.

Step 1. Go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features > find the malfunctioned Word or any Micro office program > right-click it > Change.

Step 2. Choose Quick Repair > Repair.

Wait for the repair process. Then, see if you still can’t access Word documents.

Method 5. Recover the deleted Word files

Except for the folder settings, mouse settings, malfunctioned app, or outdated driver, file deletion can also stop you from accessing Word documents.

If you access your Word files via shortcuts, you may receive this notice after the Word doc is deleted: “The item has been changed or moved”.

In this case, how to recover deleted Word documents without effort or difficulties? You might as well turn to professional Windows data recovery tools.

MyRecover will be your firm helper. It is specially designed for Windows users, helping them in data recovery with multiple unique features.

User-friendly. In three steps, choose and recover data from an HDD, SSD, USB, or SD card. 

Efficient. Recover data in more than 200 different formats, including Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, etc. 

Comprehensive. Restores files lost due to deletion, formatting, viruses, system crashes, etc. 

Compatible. Windows 11/10/8/7/Server operating systems are supported.

Step 1. Run the app > hover the mouse over the source drive where the Word docs were saved > click Scan.

Step 2. Search or filter the wanted Word doc by filenames, extensions, Path, Type, Date modified, etc.

Step 3. Go to Deleted files > navigate to the original location of the Word files > and select the Word docs > click Recover x files. 

With the help of this tool, you can also recover deleted Excel files not in the Recycle Bin.

Written in the end

Users who have met the Windows Explorer Word double click not opening issue can check out this page and get some help to fix this issue.

You could take these methods: changing folder settings, and mouse settings, updating the mouse driver, repairing the faulty Word app, and also using a data recovery utility.