Pages documents won't open -- "file format is invalid"

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Level 1

4 points

Pages documents won't open -- "file format is invalid"

Hi there,

I cannot open any Pages documents. It always gives me the message " "[file name]" can't be opened right now. The file format is invalid." This started about a week ago after Pages quit unexpectedly, as a result of hitting cmnd+shift+w to check the word count. I had 3 open Pages docs. Two reopened, but the third would not and gave me the above message for the first time. After the unexpected quit, some of my other pages documents would open but others wouldn't. Then some of the documents that wouldn't open would, and vice versa. This all changed seemingly randomly until now none of the documents open. That said, I can still write in and save the two documents that reopened when they quit unexpectedly a week ago, since I have never closed them. (This seems lucky as I am writing a book and these are the two documents I work with regularly.) I can still backup these documents via email (the only backup method I use). All documents can be opened in preview, including today's backups downloaded from email.

My computer is a MacBook Air 2018. I am still running the last Mojave, 10.14.6 . (The reason I never updated past that was because I didn't trust that things would always get better. The one time I updated a Mac OS previously was with an iMac 2011, updating to the newest OS in 2016. This update helped some things, but made other things worse, so I decided to avoid updating the OS.)

How can I fix the problem? How can I open my Pages documents again? Do I simply need to update the OS? Or just restart my computer (which I have not done in months)? Do I need to replace the files with the backups in some way?--Though just opening them from emails will fail and give me the same message.

I am also worried that if I attempt to fix the problem in a way that requires me to close my two open documents, and the attempt fails, that I am unable to continue writing my book for some time--though maybe this is inevitable. And this is why I have not simply restarted my computer. Hoping to hear the safest and most successful option!

Thanks in advance.

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 10.14

Posted on Dec 9, 2025 11:31 PM

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Answer 1

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,206 points

Dec 10, 2025 9:59 AM in response to luddite91

Once a Pages document is damaged, there is no reprieve other than hoping you are performing regular Time Machine backups and you can launch the Time Machine application and restore an older, viable version of that document.

The last compatible version of Pages for macOS Mojave 10.14.6 is Pages v10.1. If you are using an older version and it was not pre-installed by Apple or a third-party reseller, I can show you how to get v10.1.

Ensure that all of your open Pages documents have been saved, closed, and Pages has been formally quit from the application menu. Verify that if you are using iCloud Drive to save your Pages documents, that you have not exhausted your storage capacity there. If so, that will play havoc with normal Pages opening/saving documents to that location.

Shutdown (do not reboot) your Mac. Power it on and immediately press and hold the shift key (until a progress bar appears) to force it to boot into Safe Boot mode. This may take a while longer, but will display a red Safe Boot when you arrive at the login prompt. Once signed in, press and hold the shift key while launching Pages. See if it will open any Pages document you choose, including the one where it informed it couldn't be opened. Any success? Now, leave Safe Boot mode by rebooting normally.

Try Pages again and see if it behaves normally now with your documents.

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Answer 2

luddite91 Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 10, 2025 7:52 PM in response to VikingOSX

Thank you for your reply. I will try your method in a few days.

I have never done a Time Machine backup. I may have some stuff in iCloud, but generally never use iCloud.

I'm assuming that, if need be, I can replace my documents with a backed up copy from my email. If there is anything about that process I should know or be wary of, please let me know.

I'm running Pages v7.3. I assume my computer started with Pages somewhere in the v7.0 - v7.3 range. I bought my computer new in June 2019... though for whatever reason it is a 2018 model.

Will Pages v10.1 help to prevent the issue I'm having in the future? Or is there a different reason you suggest I use it? And yes, please let me know how to download Pages v10.1

On another note, would you recommend I update my OS? And if so, to which one? I understand that which one is best to choose is based on an individual's needs, and it's not always best to go to the most recent one offered (in my case, Sonoma, macOS 14, is the latest one Apple offers to me directly). I don't use my computer for much: Pages, web surfing, and youtube mainly. If I do update my OS, will all old Pages documents automatically update or at least still be readable?

Thanks again!

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Answer 3

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,206 points

Dec 11, 2025 7:32 AM in response to luddite91

luddite91 wrote:

Thank you for your reply. I will try your method in a few days.

I have never done a Time Machine backup. I may have some stuff in iCloud, but generally never use iCloud.

I'm assuming that, if need be, I can replace my documents with a backed up copy from my email. If there is anything about that process I should know or be wary of, please let me know.

I'm running Pages v7.3. I assume my computer started with Pages somewhere in the v7.0 - v7.3 range. I bought my computer new in June 2019... though for whatever reason it is a 2018 model.

Pages v7.3 was required for use with macOS High Sierra (10.13.6) and ended with v8.1 during that operating system lifecycle. Quite outdated for use with macOS Mohave 10.14.6, and it is unknown what issues may arise in that combination without running Pages v10.1 which is intended for Mojave.

What is the product description line found on the resulting panel when you select the  menu > About This Mac? That will help me understand the last version of macOS you can upgrade too, though for your described usage, it might be less disruptive at this point to just get Pages v10.1.

Will Pages v10.1 help to prevent the issue I'm having in the future? Or is there a different reason you suggest I use it? And yes, please let me know how to download Pages v10.1

There is no guarantee that Pages v10.1 will behave any differently than v7.3 or that it will no encounter future document errors. That is why one should be using Time Machine instead of hoping the undamaged file can be found in emails.

Only if you installed Pages yourself after Oct 2013 can you get a last compatible version of Pages v10.1 for macOS Mojave. If Pages was preinstalled on our Mac when you purchased it in 2019, then you cannot get v10.1 now.

Launch the Mac App Store and sign-in with your Apple ID used with the previous Pages installation. Press cmd+0 (zero) to open the Purchases panel and if Pages appears there, click the icon that would allow you to download/update. You will see one or more dialogs. Do not click Cancel. The last dialog will ask if you want to download the last compatible version of Pages for Mojave and you agree.

If this fails owing to the presence of Pages v7.3, then in your application's folder, right-click on that Pages v7.3 application icon and choose Rename from the secondary menu. I would rename it Pages 7.3_bak.app. Then redo the previous paragraph and not finding the old Pages v7.3 application, it may perform the installation of Pages v10.1.

On another note, would you recommend I update my OS? And if so, to which one? I understand that which one is best to choose is based on an individual's needs, and it's not always best to go to the most recent one offered (in my case, Sonoma, macOS 14, is the latest one Apple offers to me directly). I don't use my computer for much: Pages, web surfing, and youtube mainly. If I do update my OS, will all old Pages documents automatically update or at least still be readable?

Thanks again!

Since macOS Mojave 10.14.6 is the last version of macOS that can run older 32-bit and 64-bit applications, you may want to know what 32-bit dependencies you have before considering any upgrade to a newer operating system that strictly requires 64-bit software. Historically, we have recommended the download of the free Go64 application which will inform you of any 32-bit application or library dependencies. Depending upon what it finds will re-enforce your decision about an upgrade of the operating system.

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