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To open a password protected Word document without password, you can use a specialized tool to quickly find/recover the Word document password. Yep, there is no way to unlock a password protected Word document without the password, unless you remove the encrypted password.
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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
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
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
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
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.
![Break Password Protected Word Document Break Password Protected Word Document](/uploads/1/2/5/3/125365776/600535094.png)
References (2)
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Bowerman, Todd. 'How to Bypass a Microsoft Word Document Password.' Small Business - Chron.com, http://smallbusiness.chron.com/bypass-microsoft-word-document-password-77236.html. Accessed 10 November 2019.
Bowerman, Todd. (n.d.). How to Bypass a Microsoft Word Document Password. Small Business - Chron.com. Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/bypass-microsoft-word-document-password-77236.html
Bowerman, Todd. 'How to Bypass a Microsoft Word Document Password' accessed November 10, 2019. http://smallbusiness.chron.com/bypass-microsoft-word-document-password-77236.html
Note: Depending on which text editor you're pasting into, you might have to add the italics to the site name.
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