How to UNBLOCK a file

Problem

When you download a file from the internet or from some other sources, Windows may block the file as a way of protecting your computer from potentially unsafe content.

Unfortunately, when you open a blocked file, PowerPoint may, pardon the highly technical term, go silly in the head. It may refuse to open the file, report that the file needs to be repaired, crash or it may come up with as-yet unreported annoyances.

So whenever PowerPoint has problems when you open certain files, check to see if the file is blocked, and if so ...

UNBLOCK the file

This only takes a moment to do, luckily:

• Right-click the file's icon.
• Choose Properties from the pop-up menu (usually it's at the very bottom).
• Click the General tab of the dialog box that appears (if it's not already selected for you).
• If you have Windows 10, put a check next to Unblock
  
  or if you have Windows 7 or earlier, click the Unblock button
  
  
• Click OK.

Now try opening the file again in PowerPoint.

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