Error When Opening MS Office Documents Downloaded With Google Chrome

Platform Notice: Data Center Only - This article only applies to Atlassian products on the Data Center platform.

Note that this KB was created for the Data Center version of the product. Data Center KBs for non-Data-Center-specific features may also work for Server versions of the product, however they have not been tested. Support for Server* products ended on February 15th 2024. If you are running a Server product, you can visit the Atlassian Server end of support announcement to review your migration options.

*Except Fisheye and Crucible

Symptoms

When an Excel, Word or PowerPoint document is downloaded via Google Chrome, Office 2010 refuses to open the file with the error message "The file is corrupt and cannot be opened." Downloading with other browsers works without issue.

Cause

Office 2010 introduced a feature called Protected View, which prevents documents from being opened if they are determined to be from an unknown source. Unfortunately, this appears to designate files downloaded by Chrome as unknown.

Resolution

Updated on April 8, 2025

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