How do I remove password encryption from a Word document?

MS Office Word is very popular, because it not only offers various types of features for editing words, but also offers users many great and practical functions to protect their important files from being revealed or used by strangers. If you don't know how to encrypt a word document with password, just refer to Office password encryption, and here I would like to share some ways about removing Word password with you.

In fact, removing Word file password is quite easy if we know its password. But even we forgot it, it still can be removed with another way. Three ways to remove Word password are showed as follows.

Way 1: Remove Word Password by Reset Password for It

When you still remember your Word file password, this way will easily help to remove Word 2003-2013 password.

Step 1: Open the password-protected Word file.

Step 2: Setup Word password again.

For different Word versions, there are difference between password setup.

In MS Word 2003:

Click File, then Save As and follow these steps:

1. 1. Click on Tools in the upper right corner of the file save dialog box.
2. 2. Click on Security Options.
3. 3. The Security Options box provides a variety of options:
   Password to open and Password to modify keep blank.
4. 4. Click on OK to close the Security Options box.
5. 5. Select a name for your file and click Save.

In MS Word 2007:

1. 1. Click the circle Office button on the upper left corner in the surface, then choose Prepare, and select Encrypt Word file from pop-up menu.
2. 2. Then we can setup password for Word file in the dialog box of Encrypt Word file. Keep password field blank and Click OK.

In MS Word 2010/2013/2016:

1. 1. Cick Info - Protect Document.
2. 2. Choose Encrypt Document.
3. 3. Remove Word 2013 password from password box, and click OK.

Way 2: Remove Word files (*.doc) password by Word Password Remover

If word password is forgotten, you can try to use effective Word Password Remover to remove word password for MS Word 97/2000/2003. It seems simple but effective actually with high remove speed and safe guarantee.

1. 1. Install and run iSunshare Word Password Remover on computer.
2. 2. Click "Open" button to import encryted Word file (*.doc) into Word Password Remover.
3. 3. Click "Remove Password" button.
4. 4. Word (*.doc) file is shown for you to open without password.

Way 3: Recover Word Files (*.doc, *.docx) Password by Word Password Genius and then remove it manually.

If you don't have passwords of all word files (*.doc, *.docx), and you want to remove password for them, Word Password Genius is your best choice. It supports Microsoft Word 97/2000/2003/2007/2010/2013/2016. More detailed introductions about how to use it, turn to Word Password Genius User Guide.

1. 1. Get and run Word Password Genius on computer.
2. 2. Click Open button in interface to import encrypted Word file into Word Password Genius. And choose password recovery type.
3. 3. Click Start to recover Word password. Then open encrypted Word file with password, and remove Word password by Word password setup.

Related Articles:

• How to Remove Excel file/sheet/workbook Password
• Office Password Genius User Guide
• How to Open Office 2010 Encrypted Word Document
• More Ways to Remove Windows Password

Microsoft Word's password-protect functionality is designed to prevent edits and modification to templates and other important documents. However, it can be a real pain if you need to edit or change a document and either don't have the password or have forgotten it. Word's password protection isn't very secure, however, and is easily broken with a quick shift in format.

Creating an RTF File

1. Open the locked Microsoft Word file. While you can't actually edit its contents, you do have the ability to save the file into a new format. Open the “Save As” menu by pressing "Ctrl-Shift-S" and select “Rich Text Format” from the drop-down menu. Name the file whatever you want and save it somewhere convenient. The RTF file will not retain the password protection.

Copying the Contents

1. Close the original Word document and double-click the new RTF file you created. This file will open in Word and will be identical to the original, with the exception of having no password protection. Copy the contents of the file by pressing “Ctrl-A,” then “Ctrl-C,” then create a brand-new blank Word document. Press "Ctrl-V" to paste the contents into your new document. You're now free to edit the document as needed.

Creating a New Word File

1. When you're finished with the edits you need to make, press “Ctrl-S” to open the “Save” dialogue box. Save the document in whatever format you wish; the password protection will never return unless you turn it on yourself. Once complete, you'll have the document you need in the main Word file format (DOC) and will be able to edit it at will.

Considerations

1. If someone sends you a password-protected Word document, chances are good there's a reason for the lock. Sometimes businesses use them to protect core templates and sometimes they're in place to ensure marketing materials aren't edited before they go live. If you think you should have access to a document but do not, speak with your supervisor or the document creator to find out why.

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