How to Unprotect Word Documents without Password

We’ve all been there. After scratching your head for hours, you couldn’t remember the password to the Word document. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. We have received thousands of requests from our readers to create a guide on how to unprotect a Word document without a password.

Fortunately, several ways to unprotect a Word document without a password exist. And this guide, we will discuss six methods to unprotect a Word document without a password, whether protected on a file level or restricted for editing. You can choose the best method and remove password or editing restrictions from your Word document to view, edit, and modify its contents.

Part 1. How to Unprotect A Word Document to Open It

There are several methods to remove the Word open password. From using third-party Word password recovery tools to writing your own password-cracking code, you can use various methods to remove passwords from a Word document.

1.1. Unprotect A Word Document with A Word Password Recovery

A Word Password Recovery tool is the most straightforward method to unprotect a locked file.

PassFab for Word is a professional tool to unlock Word documents without a password. It supports all Microsoft Word versions (including 2019, 2017, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, 2003, XP, 2000, and 97). And lets you remove easy or complex passwords from Word within seconds.

Step 1. Upload the Word document to PassFab for Word. 

>> Get PassFab for Word <<

Download and Install PassFab for Word.

Open the program. And from the main interface, choose Recover Word Open Password.

On the next page, select Add to import the password-protected Word document from the computer.

Step 2. Choose the desired Attack Modes to unprotect the Word document.

PassFab for Word offers three attack modes to unprotect a document in Word.

• Brute Force: Choose the Brute Force attack if you do not have any idea of the password. This attack mode will try all password combinations and unprotect the Word document.
• Dictionary Attack: Uses the thousands of readymade passwords stored in the dictionary to check if they can be matched with the correct password. PassFab for Word has its own dictionary. But users can also use their dictionary (or download random dictionaries online).
• Brute Force with Mask Attack: Brute Force with Mask Attack can be helpful if you have a vague impression of the password. Like the maximum or minimum length of the password, letters, or characters used. You can define the parameters, and the program will try to find the password with the help of the mentioned constraints.

Step 3. Unprotect the Word document.

After choosing the desired attack mode, click on Start.

Once the password is found, copy it and use it to unprotect the Word document.

1.2. Unprotect A Word Document Using VBA

To unprotect a Word document with VBA (the programming language developed by Microsoft to be used with its Office suite), you must write a code and save it as a Function (to unprotect a single Word document) or Macro (to unprotect multiple Word files). And execute the code to unprotect the Word document.

Here’s How To Unprotect Word Document Using VBA

Step 1. Create a New Word document.

Click on the Developer tab. Select Visual Basic (the first option in the ribbon) or press Alt+F11.

Once you select the Visual Basic option, you will see the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applicatons tab.

Step 2. In the Microsoft VBA window, choose Insert. From the drop-down menu, choose Module.

Paste the following VBA code to unprotect a Word document.

Sub openWordwithPassword()

    'Define

    Dim sFileName As String

    Dim passwd As String

    Dim oWord As Object

    Dim oDoc As Object

    'Init

    Set oWord = CreateObject("Word.Application")

    oWord.Visible = True

    sFileName = "C:\Filepath.docx"

    passwd = "enteryourpasswordhere"

    'Open document using password

    Set oDoc = oWord.Documents.Open(sFileName, PasswordDocument:=passwd)

    'Do pocessing

    Debug.Print oDoc.Content

    oDoc.Save

    'Save with password

    oDoc.SaveAs Filename:=sFileName, Password:=passwd

    'Close

    oDoc.Close

End Sub

Step 3. After pasting the following code, press F5 to execute the command.

From the pop-up, choose the password-protected Word documemt to unprotect it.

Step 4. Wait for some time while VBA tries to find the password.

You can use the found password to unprotect the Word document. For this:

• Open the protected Word document.
• Click on the File option.
• Choose Info.
• And select Encrypt.
• Type in the password and click OK.

That’s how to unprotect a Word document using VBA code.

However, it is essential to note that the VBA code cannot decrypt Word documents protected with a strong combination of passwords.

1.3. Unprotect Word Document Online

Password-Find is an online service that charges you money when it unlocks the Word document successfully. Additionally, the recovery process is independent of your computer’s physical resources. That is to say — the service will complete the password recovery on their servers.

Here’s How to use Unprotect a Word Document Online

Step 1. Go to the official Password-Find.com website.

Choose to UNPROTECT YOUR FILE option from the upper-right corner.

Step 2. Select the Browse option to upload your password-protected file from the local storage.

Step 3. After uploading the Word document, choose the method of recovery. You will find two options:  Find Password or Remove Password.

Wait till the service tries to remove the password.

If the Word document is protected with a weak password, your file will be unprotected instantly. If the file is protected with a strong combination, it will take 24 hours to remove or find the password of the Word document.

Step 4. Download the unprotected Word document.

Part 2. How to Unprotect A Word Document for Editing

Now that you know how to unprotect a Word document, you can open a Word document easily. But what if there are editing restrictions on the Word document? Well, there are also ways to unprotect a Word document for Editing without a password. Learn the three best methods to unprotect a Word document for editing.

2.1. Unprotect Word Document in Word with A Program

You can also use PassFab for Word to remove editing restrictions from Word. You can edit, comment, print, and perform other operations after removing the editing restrictions from the Word doc.

Here’s How to Use PassFab for Word to Unprotect Word documents for Editing

>> Get PassFab for Word <<

Step 1. Open PassFab for Word. On the main interface, choose Remove Word Restrict Editing.

Step 2. Click on the + (icon) to upload the Word document. Select the Remove button after uploading the desired Word file.

Step 3. Wait until PassFab for Word unprotects the Word document for editing.

Choose Open Folder to locate the Word file.

You can now edit, copy, print, and perform other operations on the Word document.

2.2. Unprotect Word Document in Word Using Wordpad

You can also use WordPad to unprotect Word documents for Editing.

WordPad is the basic word processing that comes pre-installed with all Windows operating systems, and it does not include advanced features like Editing Restrictions, Sharing, and so on. As a result, all the files you open in WordPad automatically remove the editing restrictions from the Word document.

Here’s How to Unprotect Word Documents for Editing in Word using WordPad

Step 1. Right-click on the Word document with editing restrictions.

• Choose Open With.  
• And from the drop-down menu, choose WordPad.
• Choose OK.

Step 2. Access the Word document contents.

Step 3. Choose “Save” or “Save a copy” to access the file later without editing restrictions.

After saving a copy, you can open the file in a Word document. All editing restrictions from the Word document have been removed.

2.3. Unprotect Word Document in Word Using Google Docs

You can also open the restricted Word document using Google Docs to remove editing restrictions from the file. All you have to do for this is open the Word file using Google Docs.

Here’s How to Use Unprotect Word document for Editing Using Google Docs

Step 1. Open a web browser. Search for Google Docs. You will need a Google account to access Google Docs.

• Choose File.
• From the drop-down menu, choose Open.

Step 2. On the next page, choose Upload. And choose: “Select a file from your device.”

Step 3. Choose the desired file from the local storage, and select Open.

Step 4. You can now make the desired changes to the Word document.

You can Download and Save the file in Microsoft Word on your computer.

Frequently Asked Questions About Word Documents Unprotecting

1. What types of password protection are available in Word documents?

You can protect a Word document at the file level or content level. These are the types of protection available in Word documents:

• Password protection: A file-level protection, password protection requires users to enter the password before accessing or editing the content.
• Editing restrictions: This protection limits the users from changing the contents of the Word document. For instance, if you want to add, modify, change, or delete the existing content, you will need the password.

We have discussed how to unprotect a Word document protected with these two protection methods. There are also other types of protection, like read-only protection, comment protection, and forms protection.

2. How to unprotect a Word document with a password?

To unprotect a Word document with a password:

• Open the Word document and enter the password.

This will allow you to open the Word document and modify its content.

To remove the password from the Word document:

After opening the Word document with its password:

• Go to File.
• Choose Info.
• Choose Protect Document.
• Select Encrypt with Password option.
• Clear the password in the Password box.
• Click OK to save the changes.

This will remove the password from the Word document.

3. How to remove Editing restrictions from the Word document?

Open the Word document with Editing restrictions. You will see the Restrict Editing pane on the right side.

• Choose Review.
• Select Restrict Editing.
• Select Stop Protection.
• You will see a new pop-up box, i.e., Unprotect Document.
• Type in the password and click OK to save the changes.

Conclusion

Passwords have become a ubiquitous part of digital life. So, it is only reasonable if you use them even in your Word document. But ensure to retain the password so you do not have to fret in the future.

As mentioned, we have discussed six methods to unprotect a Word document. The guide also includes instructions on unprotecting a Word document with Editing restrictions. So, regardless of the type of protection on the Word document, you can use the methods discussed in the guide and access its content for viewing and editing.