- In most cases, you should be able to fix the “PowerPoint found a problem with content” error by repairing or unblocking the file.
- Disabling the Protected View feature in PowerPoint can also help fix this error.
- You may have to restore an older version of your presentation if nothing else works.
Fix 1: Repair the Presentation File
When you receive the “PowerPoint found a problem with content” error, PowerPoint offers the option to repair the file. You should first use this option to allow PowerPoint to fix any corrupt or damaged elements within your PPT file. If it’s just a minor issue, this will resolve the error and get PowerPoint to open your file on Windows.
Fix 2: Unblock the File
PowerPoint may fail to open a file if it was modified by an untrusted program or downloaded from the internet. In that case, you will need to unblock the PowerPoint file first.
Step 1: On your PC, locate the PowerPoint file that’s triggering the error. Right-click on it and select Properties .
Step 2: Under the General tab, clear the Unblock checkbox at the bottom and hit Apply followed by OK .
Fix 3: Disable Protected View
Several users on the Microsoft forums reported fixing the “PowerPoint found a problem with content” error by temporarily disabling the Protected View feature. However, you should only do this if you are opening a file that you created yourself or that you received from a trusted source.
Step 1: Open Microsoft PowerPoint and click the File menu at the top-left corner.
Step 2: Select Options from the left sidebar.
Step 3: In the PowerPoint Options window, switch to the Trust Center from the left sidebar and then click the Trust Center Settings button from the right pane.
Step 4: Choose the Protected View tab from the left sidebar, uncheck three checkboxes in the right pane under the Protected View section, and click OK to save changes.
Fix 4: Mark the Folder Containing the File as a Trusted Location in PowerPoint
Errors like “PowerPoint found a problem with content” or “PowerPoint found unreadable content in PPTX” can also arise if your presentation file is located in an untrusted folder on your PC. To fix this, you need to mark the folder containing your presentation as a trusted location in PowerPoint. Here are the steps for the same.
Step 1: In Microsoft PowerPoint, head to File > Options .
Step 2: Click on the Trust Center from the left sidebar and then click the Trust Center Settings button in the right pane.
Step 3: Choose the Trusted Locations from the left sidebar and click the Add new location button from the right pane.
Step 4: Click the Browse button and head to the folder containing your PPT files. Then, hit OK .
Fix 5: Move the File Out From the Synchronized Folder
Are you getting the “PowerPoint found a problem with content” error while accessing files stored in a cloud storage folder like OneDrive? You can copy it from the cloud storage folder to your computer’s local hard drive and open it.
Locate the problematic PPT file, right-click on it, and select the Copy option . Then, switch to your preferred location on the hard drive and press Ctrl + V keyboard shortcut to paste the file. After that, check if PowerPoint can open it.
Fix 6: Restore an Older Version of the File
Lastly, if none of the above tips work, your PowerPoint file may be irreparably corrupted. In that case, your best option is to restore an older version of the PPT file. Of course, this is only possible if you have previously backed up the file in OneDrive .
Step 1: Press the Windows + S keyboard shortcut to open the search menu, type in OneDrive and select Open .
Step 2: In the File Explorer window that opens, locate your PowerPoint file. Right-click on it and select Show more options .
Step 3: Select the Version history option from the context menu.
Step 4: Hover your mouse over an earlier version of the file on the list. Click the three horizontal dots next to it and select Restore .
